No one on Earth has ever said, “You know what we need more of?  Melodic, atmospheric black metal.”  And yet, here we are with Mavradoxa, nailing that melodic mid-paced black metal to the bone on third album Nightmarrow and you know what?  I dig it.  I dig it quite a bit.  More than just another band hitting the same notes as everyone else, there’s a strong melodic bent and a tendency to shy away from more overt black metal moments to craft something that feels melancholic and personal, with a strong sense of place owing to their upstate New York region.  I can do with more music like this. Continue reading →