Sutekh Hexen are just the best.

I was going through my room and  found this. It's a note that Sutekh Hexen included with some stuff I ordered from their webstore a couple of months ago. I guess it's some sort of magic spell. Sutekh Hexen have been a massive influence on what I've done with Kastchei so far, and I genuinely think they're one of the best bands playing in any genre right now. More bands and labels should be doing stuff like this!

Some bands that are way better than Kastchei...

I don't have much to say about Kastchei for now, so here's a bunch of stuff I've been listening to recently. Some of it's black metal, most of it isn't. There's probably more screamo than anything else to be honest. This is all pretty recent, or at least by bands who are active right now. All of these bands are far more established than Kastchei so they don't exactly need my support, but I guess there's an outside chance that someone could stumble across this blog without following UK/international hardcore/metal/punk that closely.

Crows-An-Wra - Kalopsia
Progressive punk/screamo with spacey guitar work and spooky melodies. Mindblowing.
https://crows-an-wra.bandcamp.com/album/kalopsia

Iron Eagle - On The Attack
Bolt Thrower/Entombed/Integrity/Ringorm worship from some people from a few other decent bands. The good type of deathcore.
https://ironeagle.bandcamp.com/album/on-the-attack

We Came Out Like Tigers - Ever-Crushed At Peckett's Well
Passionate, political screamo/black metal with whispy bits of folk.
https://wecameoutliketigers.bandcamp.com/album/ever-crushed-at-peckets-well

Magic Moments - Don't Fall For Me
I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that these guys are also in a black metal band, but I don't know which black metal band. This is pretty cool stuff anyway. They sound like the bands your dad used to listen to when he wore more makeup than your mum.
https://magicmoments.bandcamp.com/album/dont-fall-for-me

Healing Powers - self titled
Solid live band, some of the prettiest music coming out of the UK right now. Play it for your friends who like indie and watch their disappointment as the vocals come in.
https://healingpowers.bandcamp.com/album/7

Moonknight - Death Card
This is tagged as dsbm on Bandcamp, but it's nowhere near as messed about with and self-consciously miserable as most of that stuff. This got a mention on Pitchfork, so I guess he doesn't need my help, but if you like raw, full-sounding wall-of-sound black metal it doesn't get much better than this.
https://risingbeast.bandcamp.com/releases

knifedoutofexistence - Immaturity Of Movement
I've seen two knifedoutofexistence sets and expected this record to be a half-hour wall of noise. It's actually a surprisingly subtle set of songs (can you call them that?), with evocative guitar work and subdued ambience.
https://knifedoutofexistence.bandcamp.com/album/immaturity-of-movement

Charlotte Light and Dark - self titled
Creepy Pg. 99 style screamo. Decent.
https://charlottelightanddark.bandcamp.com/album/charlotte-light-and-dark

Vermapyre/Vehrmöedr - split
Spooky noise/black metal/blues. It's on Holy Terror, so I'm assuming at least one side of this is a Dwid Hellion solo recording.

https://holyterror.bandcamp.com/album/vermapyre-vehrm-edr-split-7

Carrion Sunflower - a whole bunch of stuff
Neofolk with a vague occult/holy terror vibe to the lyrics. All of this stuff is cool, and it's recently been made free/pwyw to download. Super creepy live.
https://carrionsunflower.bandcamp.com/

Leviathan/Krieg - split
I really don't need to say anything about this, I'm just posting it because it's slipped under the radar a bit in the wake of the new Krieg LP (which is really good too, but you already knew that).
https://holyterror.bandcamp.com/album/leviathan-krieg