War Cry

Shataan are a part of the extremely interesting Black Twilight Circle, but they may be the least Black Metal of the lot, the sound here is more akin to Hearse favorites Mighty Sphincter (R.I.P. Joe.) Shataan take the BTC's fascination with indigenous culture a bit further starting this oddball artifact with a flute laden instrumental called "Trail of Tears." This tape is a truly strange and engaging piece of work that didn't leave my deck for weeks. 

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Vesicus

Hearse friend Z. Allen was gracious enough to send over a sonic oddity from his own band, Vesicus. With this astonishing release Vesicus have created some distant and evocative Black Metal that reminds me a lot of the work of The Black Twilight Circle. The band hails from the darkest recesses of occult Tennessee. This cassette is their only work so far. Hopefully there will be more.

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Kallathon

Kallathon is a guy, not a band, and is part of the elusive Black Twilight Circle of absolutely mesmerizing Black Metal bands from Southern California. Before Drifting Into The Abyss is Kallathon's first tape and it is as great as Black Metal can be. So far the BTC hasn't failed. Essential kvlt materials.

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Southern Elite Circle

Like the BMIA, the Black Twilight Circle, and Blazebirth Hall, The Southern Elite Circle is yet another alliance of like-minded Black Metal bands that share members and hail from a particular region, this time Argentina. Oddly enough the bands associated with the SEC promote a nationalist socialist agenda that may offend some of you more sensitive readers. This lengthy compilation showcases the bands with each band delivering two tracks. First up is the extremely harsh Argenraza (who were featured on the Hearse here.) Argentum's acoustic guitar and flute folk metal track "La Tierra Blanco" sounds pretty tame after Argenraza, and their second track "Jose Antonio" is a corny darkwave number with lazy samples of some speech, presumably by canonized Spanish Fascist, Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera. Campo de Mayo's first track is rather bland generic Black Metal, but their second is a more primitive sounding repetitive piece that is far more interesting. Furor's first track is just layers of hypnotic guitars, it works much better than the second track, which is rather base poorly recorded Black Metal. Nachtgeblut are clearly the most proficient band of the group, but this doesn't mean they are the most enjoyable. They turn in a rather plain Black Metal song and a hokey keyboard piece. Permafrost has cool guitar tones and simple robotic riffs, at first the obvious drum machine and generic vocals were a distraction but I found myself liking the band by the end of their two songs. The compilation wraps up with Ulfhethnar who aren't terribly original but their no frills blasting chaotic Black Metal is enjoyable just the same. Argenraza and Permafrost are the real standouts here, but from front to back the Southern Elite Circle compilation is a dynamic and consistently interesting listen, even if the bands aren't spectacular on their own.

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Arizmenda

Another Black Twilight Circle release that will soon be out of print and hard to come by. Arizmenda is sort of the BTC supergroup with two vocalists and members of Kallathon, Ashdautas, Axeman, and Volahn filling out the ranks. Within The Vacuum of Infinity, in my opinion, is the best release to come from this incredibly productive and provocative scene as of yet. I only hope there is more to come from all these bands.

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Axeman

These guys are part of the super kvlt Black Twilight Circle operating out of Southern California, but Axeman, as the name implies, are Amebix worship and not a Black Metal band. Like Japan's Zoe, Axeman do little to rebuff the comparisons, hell, even some actual Amebix riffs appear on Arrive (get it? It's like Arise.) Like I said back when I posted Zoe's The Last Axe Beat EP, There are worse bands to emulate than Amebix.

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Shadow Plays

It wasn't long ago that the words "American" and "Black Metal" in the same sentence would produce laughter and scorn from many staunch supporters of deep Satanic art. Nowadays it would seem that some of the most interesting and violent Black Metal comes from the states. It's difficult to peruse the pages of the metal mags and miss all the accolades thrust upon bands like Xasthur, and Leviathan. Los Angeles' Ashdautas may not get the attention of the aforementioned hordes, but their 2005 album Shadow Plays Of Grief And Pain is so harsh and so mephitic that it demands to be heard. Most noticeable are the tortured vocals of Naeth. The guy seems torn apart from within, and combined with the fumbling, discordant chaos of the band, Shadow Plays is a noxious cocktail of pure, unabashed agony. Ashdautas received a bit of attention some time back for their hardline stance against "MySpace bands" and their threats of violence to other bands and individuals in "the scene." This all makes for interesting threads on the interweb forums, but also serves as a distraction from Ashdautas's real appeal, their brutally stark and manic cacophony. Ashdautas belong to a devout sub-sect of Black Metal bands calling themselves The Black Twilight Circle. Other bands in this rigid group include Volahn, Aresmenda, and Kallathon. Ashdautas is no joke. If your interest in Black Metal is only an ironic gawking concern to be tittered at between rides on your fixed gear and lines of coke at Pop's then turn back right now. This is the genuine article, you are not.

Die!