Athenaeum of Sin Reviews: A Ritual of Sound, Sight, & Story

Welcome to the Athenaeum of Sin

Welcome to the Athenaeum of Sin Where sound becomes scripture, and every riff is a ritual. We do not merely review music—we commune with it. Here, artistry is sacred, critique is ceremonial, and discovery is devotion. Step inside. The underground awaits.

Who We Are

Athenaeum of Sin Reviews is an independent music review platform rooted in the North East of the United Kingdom (County Durham). Before adopting our current name, we operated under a different brand—one that laid the groundwork for our ritualistic approach to critique.

In 2024, we faced significant technical disruptions. By 2025, we migrated to a more stable hosting platform. Though the transition brought renewed clarity, it also came with setbacks: a handful of cherished reviews were lost in the process. Yet, we press forward—undaunted and devoted—to bring you even more immersive, mythic reviews.

For years, we’ve delivered in-depth analyses of music across the extreme spectrum—from black metal to doom, ambient horror to dungeon synth. Our team, led by passionate metalheads Kris and Gemma, handles everything from writing and editing to site maintenance and ceremonial design. Together, we uphold a shared commitment to honest, high-quality content that honours the underground.

Meet The Team

Kris – Music has always been an integral part of my life, spanning genres beyond rock and metal. I’m also drawn to horror and cult classics like The Wicker Man, The Crow, Predator, and Alien. At heart, extreme and black metal define my world.

Gemma – I have a deep love for music, especially bands like The Raven Age, Amon Amarth, and Lordi. I’m also inspired by films like V for Vendetta and the artistry of Ghibli Studios. Outside of music, I sketch while listening to my favourite bands and explore witchcraft and Viking/Pagan history.

Our Unique Review System

We use The Seven Sins Reviews, a format inspired by Aetherial that replaces traditional scoring with detailed analysis: Later in 2025, we introduce alternative tag line Seven Sins, One Review.

01) Strings/Keys – Examines tones, riffs, rhythms, and synths.
02) Vocals – Styles, tone, delivery
03) Percussions – Beats, tempo, energy
04) Overall Discussion – Production, instrumentation, artistic merit
05) Memorable Elements – Standout moments
06) Artwork – Visual themes and presentation
07) Disrelish – Elements that may not align with our tastes, noted constructively. “Disrelish” is our way of acknowledging what didn’t resonate—without resorting to harsh critique.

Our Review Process

(a) Publishing Days: Monday to Friday
(b) Submissions: Accepted daily
(c) Special Requests: Please let us know in advance for date-specific reviews
(d) Holiday Delays: Submissions welcome, but responses may be slower

What we Accept

We welcome diverse styles—from dungeon synth to ambient horror. However, we do not support music that promotes political, religious, or extremist ideologies, including:
— National Socialist Black Metal (NSBM)
— Porno/Gore Grind
— AI-generated music
— Any artist engaging in plagiarism or stealing creative works

“Music should unite people. At Athenaeum of Sin, we strive to create an inclusive space where music lovers can connect and explore new sounds.”

Accepted Formats

We review full-length albums, singles, EPs, demos, splits, and compilations. While we focus on releases from 2020 onward, we may consider earlier works if republished or remastered.

Promotion

Once published, your review will be promoted via Facebook and Instagram, tagging artists, labels, and PR teams to help spread the word.

Unique Terminology

We enrich our reviews with distinct language:

  • Forbidden Fruit of Art / Fruit of Art – With permission from Grant Crossan and Paul Taylor of Acherontia Styx, we use these terms to celebrate exceptional artistry.
  • Devilmanship – A term created by the Athenaeum of Sin, it amalgamates musicianship, craftsmanship, and showmanship in a gender-neutral manner.
  • Usage Guidelines
    Our terminology, name, tag lines, and review format may be referenced for promotional purposes with our explicit consent. We kindly ask that these elements should not be used beyond that scope without prior approval. (See our [T&C page] for further details.)

Our Philosophy

We’re committed to honest, unbiased reviews. Every piece we publish is crafted with care, ensuring no detail is overlooked. We don’t publish negative reviews—instead, we highlight strengths and use “Disrelish” to note what didn’t resonate.

  • Our Review Philosophy – At Athenaeum of Sin, we pride ourselves on delivering in-depth music reviews that meet the highest standards of attentiveness and quality. Our commitment is to objectivity—we ensure that both the music and lyrics are fully understood, leaving no detail overlooked and never rushing through a review.
  • Privacy & Confidentiality – We respect the privacy of artists and their submissions:
  • Anonymous Submissions – We acknowledge and protect the anonymity of all submissions.
  • Exclusive Access – Any files, music, or confidential information submitted to Athenaeum of Sin are strictly used for review purposes only.
  • No Third-Party Sharing – We do not share submitted content with social media platforms, radio stations, blogs, or any external entities.
  • Our Approach to Criticism – We believe in highlighting the best of an artist’s work, which is why we do not publish negative reviews. Instead, we incorporate a “Disrelish” section that notes elements that may not resonate with us—without resorting to unfair criticism. Our focus is on what stands out rather than what falls short.
  • Helping You Discover Music – Looking for detailed, insightful, and unbiased reviews? You’ve come to the right place! We strive to introduce our readers to new and underrated artists—bands you may not have heard of, those flying under the radar, or unsigned musicians just beginning their journey. If you want authentic music critiques, Athenaeum of Sin is your trusted source.

Copyrighted Material Policy

We respect copyright laws. If you identify any content on our site that should not be displayed, please contact us for its removal.

All audio and image content remains the property of the respective artists and labels. Visual materials featured in this publication are used with explicit permission from the copyright holders and are intended solely for editorial and review purposes.

Thank You

Thank you for visiting Athenaeum of Sin Reviews! Our platform is a passion project, free from advertising or financial incentives. We believe in unbiased, honest reviews—because music is meant to be shared and celebrated.

Interested in having your music reviewed? Submit your work via our contact form or connect with us on social media. We’re always eager to discover new sounds and support emerging artists.

Let the underground speak. Let the art be heard. Athenaeum of Sin Reviews — Where music is not judged, but revered.