HELL FURNACE fanzine features the best in underground Black Metal releases, as we discover them - plus interviews with interesting bands from around the world.
BLACK METAL REVIEWS: If you want HELL FURNACE to consider your music for review, email us.
Italian Black Metal is quite often a bit of a hit and miss affair. Asides from a few really good bands who get it right the rest apparently suffer from attention deficit disorder! SejtanE are not one of those thankfully and have created a consistently good album with a couple of really belting songs to boot. The intro is a proper ritual with tolling gong, demons and sacrificial virgins being ass-fucked and abused... More »
It is amazing to think that five or six years back American Black Metal was nowhere and now we're receiving regular raids from them. This is yet another quality release from the USA in the shape of a one man band from San Francisco who's music is aimed more towards the mainstream than outfits... More »
Temple of the Maggot have a way with words. Usually words of aggression and harsh grim realism but flavoured with a nice sick sense of humour. Barag-aghur Gulugjab, snake-tongued deadite frontman granted us access to his laboratory and the Temple of the Maggot Inner Sanctum to discuss all things perverse. Although it is difficult to... More »
It is widely accepted that Old Wainds are the pioneers of Russian Black Metal. They discovered the hideous verdant pastures of evil in their country and opened the way for grazing to commence below them. Since then, bands have come and gone but recently some... More »
The Hell Furnace isn't always stoked to maximum capacity, because between shifts both Stug and myself have to venture down the adjoining Black Metal mine to the seam and whip out our specially imbued pickaxes. We don't always chip off what we're prospecting for, but... More »
Since digging up this fucked-up two man outfit towards the end of last year, I've been waiting impatiently for their debut album to arrive. Entitled "How to perform a human sacrifice - the blood rites", it is finally here - unleashing with it some highly... More »
Finally, the moment has arrived... The moment for Dødsengel to show us how they have followed their supreme debut album, Visionary. With 5 songs spanning a massive 55 minutes, it seems Mirium Occultum is going to take us on a different musical journey to... More »
There are few bands who not only write excellent Black Metal, but who are also actively involved with the beliefs that inspire their music. Argentina's Gevurahel is one such band, which makes this hard-to-find CD all the rarer. The band's name is derived from 'Gevurah', part... More »
Imagine another holocaust! One in which the Jews are not the quarry but one where the exterminees are German Black Metal bands. I would be the aggressor and those who survive a perilous train journey, brutal working conditions, dubious washing facilities and finally manage to... More »
Coming from the same city as Black Metal founders Venom will always produce high expectations. Although Blooddawn's previous release was pretty chaotic this plants a heavily booted kick up its arse and marks a significant progression for the band ...and meets the expectations of the... More »
This is a re-release of their 2005 demo, remastered and professionally manufactured with new artwork. I don't pretend to know what the initial release was like but this is well produced with excellent monotone photography to give you a flavour of the cold atmosphere within... More »
Written and performed by a person calling himself 'Lurker' you just know this is going to be filthy Black Metal. Bits of soil cover the whole studio and recording equipment. In fact, this was probably recorded in a hole dug by his own hands at... More »
Good quality American Black Metal bands are becoming less of a novelty these days. As the USA seems to be awakening from its Death Metal malaise, they are appearing with all the ruthless efficiency of a Stalinist production directive. With an underground elite now propping... More »
In the early days of Death Metal, the Netherlands was one of the countries that dominated. Throughout the subsequent growth of Black Metal in Europe, Dutch bands haven't played such a leading role, but one band who are working hard to restore their country's former... More »
Turkey's Malefic Order have made a serious mark on my playlist this month. As manufacturers of fast and angry Black Metal, their debut album, released through Satanic Propaganda Records, entitled 'Raging Evil Desekration' does exactly what it says on the tin! This is raging evil and... More »
UPDATE (12 March) Competition now closed!
Interesting Black Metal fragments we found.
How long has it been since a really good Black Metal release from Brazil? Unforetelling Philosophism by Regnum Umbra Ignis was the last that I’m aware of. That was 2005! This was released in 2008. Anyway, thanks to a timely request sent to the Hell Furnace labs for analysis we have one. With the disturbing [...]
Grab your old SS uniforms, smack down those infantry helmets and slip into your paratrooper boots. Oh yeah, and don’t forget your fucking Nebelwerfer! I’ve listened to tons of NSBM recently and to be totally honest 99% of it has been shite. Focusing on hate propaganda under the guise of extremely dire music it has [...]