Neige et Noirceur: "Les Ténèbres modernes"

The ground trembles with every lumbering step from Neige et Noirceur

Neige et Noirceur is arguably among one of the better known Quebecois black metal bands, and is - of course - shrouded in a degree of mystery. The sole member, Zifond, has previously called himself Spiritus, but by now goes by the name Sion Daus. Since the creation of Neige et Noirceur in 2005, Zifond has conceived an abundance of releases losely tied together under the black metal category.

Minus One World: "Sewage"

Breakaway attempt at innovation ends up an airless affair

Minus One World from Salo, Finland, are something akin to mold breakers. Created in 2008, they haven't been much for following trends or traditions since then. Their 2013 EP Sewage is upbeat and almost pleasant when held against the filthy and abrasive traditions of the country's once sprawling death and doom metal scene.

Serpenthia: "Beyond"

Finnish unknowns positively surprise with a grand declaration of war in EP format

Like Sweden and Norway, Finland is home to its own host of excellent black metal bands, even if bands like Horna, Behexen or Impaled Nazarene doesn't ring a bell quite as loudly as, say, Marduk or Darkthrone. Serpenthia from Joensuu has very little in common with the bestial cacophonies of Beherit or the raw tremolos of Satanic Warmaster though.

Power Glove: "Trials of the Blood Dragon OST"

Hits but mostly commercialised misses for undiscerning fans

Mysterious Australian elecro-duo Power Glove have been lurking and looming for some time, poking their cyborg heads out once in a while to drop off a new track, an EP or a soundtrack at regular intervals. Their hugely popular soundtrack for the Ubisoft game Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon in 2013 was many people's first look into the neon-bathed vector lines of retro-futuristic synthwave music, and now they're back, revisiting the franchise that to some degree broke new ground for them.

Twilight Fauna & Filsufatia: "Fallen Leaves in a Tide of Sorrow"

As an international effort, this split shows that failure has no nationality

Though the black metal genre is rich in history, for better or worse, many amateur musicians now seek musical refuge in hugely simplified riffs hidden behind veils of distortion and ambience. These one-man "bedroom" bands are deservedly so notorious for being awful beyond comprehension.

Phidion: "Flesh of the Forsaken"

Rich in history without looking forward too often

When the five man strong thrashing death metal outfit from Stockholm come into play, their moods vary from narrow interpretations of ominous aggression, menacing fury and focused anger. The group's third release, the Flesh of the Forsaken EP from 2012, explores a lyrical universe consisting of the recurring history of humanity's affinity for warfare as well as other topics, set to a barbaric soundtrack of mid-paced, thrash-laden death metal that only Swedes can deliver.

Forteresse: "Thèmes pour la rébellion"

News from Canada's prime metal export bodes well

It's time to dust off the accent button on your keyboard, the Canadian black metal scene is stirring once again! Athros, Moribond and company return with another dose of black metal from the northern hemisphere, fully five years since their last album.

From their debut in 2006 until the release of the critiqued fourth album Crépuscule d'Octobre in 2011, Forteresse had a long streak of releases coming out at regular intervals. But apart from a single track, Wendigo, on the 2014 split with three other Canadian black metal acts, the Québécois separatists have been laying suspiciously low.