Review by JD on April 22, 2014.

As a bona fide Canadian metalhead, I do take pleasure in finding bands here in our freezing cold wastelands that blow the doors off of most. Canadian metal is simply fucking good, and there are many that fit that description. Here to prove this piece of headbanging info is Calgary based old school blackened thrash trio Blackrat.

Taking a nearly lo-fi approach to their black/thrash in the vein of such bands as Mayhem, Celtic Frost and Bathory (old), these guys are not fucking around. With thick pounding riffs and evil vocals growling from the bowels of the earth, the music invokes the early 80’s black metal, and has Satan breathing new life in to it all.

I was intrigued as the doom metal-ish intro rumbled through, then knocked on my ass when the album kicked into its black/thrash gear. Tracks like the evil exploding album’s title track to the insane brutality of "Black Thrashing Massacre" show the power that old school still holds for the newer musicians. The whole disk holds this vibe throughout – never once backing off of the accelerator. A true metal album, in the classic Canadian assaultive way.

I think this is one hell of a record that Blackrat has delivered for us all. Ignoring a few recording glitches that even a purposely done Lo-Fi approach can’t ignore, the album is nothing new and yet so powerful and rich with flying hooks and insane heaviness in its own way. Blackrat may not have invented anything new here, but they have delivered a fresh take on a somewhat lost art in metal. For me, that is a win for Canadian metal for its march for domination.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Alex on December 17, 2018.

Luguber from Eadem is something much more than black metal; in fact, after hearing this daring take on the genre, the main impression left is Eadem were not even trying to make something unique in black metal, it all sounds as if it manifested subconsciously as a result of dabbling with occult forces. The music on Luguber sounds like it is meant to be listened when in a remote cave, lit by candles; such a creepy unnerving presence is felt when engaging the record. It’s only 22 minutes in length but for such a short run-time, it accomplishes inquisitive arousal. "What the heck is this?", my initial thought, I still can't find an answer yet I continue to listen. 

The Introduction of the first track “Consecutive Dementia” features a general hint at the blueprint of musical direction of what is to follow. “Restrained by an Old Rite” is then presented afterwards and immediately, landscaping guitars, lo-fi un-orthodox drumming, a twisted sounding vocalist and an unnerving chorus ushers the listener to the ceremony. Luguber is a mixture of male and female possessed sounding singing, some 2nd wave black metal riffing and unorthodox black metal drumming, sung chants and psychedelic metal undertones, most of which can be heard on the tracks “Delusions of Grandeur” and “Head Held Up”. “Acute Scarlet Melancholia” is the selling point of Luguber, the song has a ghastly emanation, a feeling of overwhelming freight, yet pleasurable, soft female vocals trail alongside the opening melody. There is also an expression of melancholy (hence the title) but it is not so strong that it overrides the mystique and horror. It’s a strange album this one, you always get the impression that Eadem are actually performing a ritual in the background as the music plays. Some sort of mischief/wickedness is unfolding before your ears for your mind to envision. 

Spiritual practices in Dementia/A spellcaster’s dangerous dabbling:

• “Restrained by an Old Rite”
• “Delusions of Grandeur”
• “Acute Scarlet Melancholia”

Rating: 7.3 out of 10