In Dante’s Inferno, the second circle begins the proper punishment of Hell, a place where “no thing gleams.” It is reserved for those overcome with Lust, where carnal appetites hold sway over reason. In Nine Circles, it’s where we do shorter reviews of new (ish) albums that share a common theme.

Sometimes the end of year releases can be funny. (Mostly) gone are the big hitters, and what’s left are more interesting, independent releases probably not on anyone’s radar. In other words, a great time to randomly run your fingers down the screen and discover something new. Or two somethings. This edition of Second Circle takes a brief look at two black metal releases (I know…you’re shocked looking at the album art) worth a listen as the year winds down. So let’s dig into Swords of Dis and Lilyum.

Time to descend.

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Nestled somewhere in the frigid cold of 90s black metal and the enveloping darkness of 90s doom lies Swords of Dis, who a decade out from their debut return with Melencolia, a lit torch meant to extinguish, as the duo of Alice and Richard Corvinus state, “the [Darkness] that is crafted by Man’s own hands through cruelty and brutality.” To be clear, though: this is no feeble light worship. Melencolia lays its oblations firmly at the foot of the Morningstar, and the music the pair conjure fits that belief perfectly.

Musically Melencolia may use the 90s as a foundation, but the way Richard Corvinus (who handles all the instrumentation) weaves guitar lines together, and swerves between the chaos of a blast beat to a more somber dirge, as on “Our Lady of the Naked Flame” shows a healthy respect to other forms, and knows that simple imitation isn’t worthy of the concepts the band is putting forth. There’s an almost death metal attack on “Mask of the Myriad” that mirrors the force emanating from the frankly astonishing vocals of Alice Corvinus. Her voice ranges from somber intonations to blood curdling raps and screams, and the variety of sounds she’s able to conjure across the album, making Swords of Dis an end of year highlight I highly recommend checking out.

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Melencolia will be available November 24 from I, Voidhanger Records. For more information on Swords of Dis, check out their Facebook page.

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The trio that makes up Italy’s Lilyum aren’t fooling around: We Are Disobedience, the band’s ninth full-length since the release of their first EP in 2007 is straight ahead vicious black metal, redolent in the cavernous airs of the second wave. And I mean that in the best possible way, because once you listen to the drum sound (courtesy of new drummer Summum Algor) you’ll hear how sometimes a slavish dedication to the old school can reap dividends.

“No holds barred” is a good way to describe the music on We Are Disobedience. The tempo varies from punishing to, well…punishing – there’s no letting up on cuts like early favorites “Boneseeker” and “Mock the Traitor.” Ambience does manage to rear its head on the synth intro to “Sermon of the Sword” which lets up the onslaught in favor of a sinister mechanical vibe, throwing a welcome wrench into the band’s 90s devotion. But it’s a small deviation on an album that otherwise wants to split your skull with copious amounts of gnarly black metal. I’m all for the new wave of dipping your slick productions and progressive twists and turns (and bluesgrass, thanks Austin) into your black metal, but I’m happy there’s still a vibrant community of musicians who just want to keep it raw and bloody, too. Lilyum do just that on We Are Disobedience, and I ask you now to join the call.

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We Are Disobedience will be available November 21 on Broken Bones Promotion, in co-production with Join This Order and Ghost Record Label. For more information on Lilyum, check out their Facebook page.

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Until next time, keep it heavy…keep it safe.

– Chris