A Ritual of Sound, Sight, & Story
Editorial Manifesto
Welcome to the Sanctum
Here, critique is ritual, discovery is devotion, and every review becomes scripture for the underground.
The Sanctum We Keep
Athenaeum of Sin Reviews is an independent altar of sound rooted in County Durham, UK — where the underground is documented, preserved, and given voice.
Disciples of the Craft
The Athenaeum is helmed by two sworn disciples, Kris and Gemma, who tag-team every rite of creation — writing, editing, site maintenance, and ceremonial design. In 2025, a new brother joined our circle: Alessandro Paiz of Brazilian doom band Coldwinter, who prints our monthly online magazine for readers in Brazil, where it is available exclusively.
Kris — Extreme metal and black metal define my world. Horror and cult cinema — The Wicker Man, The Crow, Predator, Alien — fuel my vision.
Gemma — Devoted to bands like The Raven Age, Amon Amarth, and Lordi. Inspired by V for Vendetta and Ghibli artistry, I sketch while listening to my favourite bands and explore witchcraft and Viking/Pagan history.
Seven Sins, One Review
Our reviews follow the Seven Sins system — a ritual format that replaces hollow scoring with deep analysis:
- 01) Strings/Keys — tones, riffs, rhythms, and synths
- 02) Vocals — styles, tone, delivery
- 03) Percussion — beats, tempo, energy
- 04) Overall Discussion — production, instrumentation, artistic merit
- 05) Memorable Elements — standout moments, treasures we never forget
- 06) Artwork — visual themes and presentation
- 07) Disrelish — what didn’t align with our tastes, noted constructively. “Disrelish” is our way of acknowledging what didn’t resonate — without descending into harsh critique.
Thirteen Questions, One Interview
Our interviews follow a thirteen-question rite — structured, consistent, and designed to let artists speak with clarity rather than hype.
The Ritual of Review
- (a) Publishing Days: Sunday to Monday
- (b) Submissions: Accepted daily
- (c) Special Requests: Date-specific reviews by arrangement
- (d) Holiday Delays: Submissions welcome, responses may be slower
Boundaries of Sound
We embrace diverse styles — dungeon synth, ambient horror, doom, thrash, black metal, hard rock, gothic, industrial, aggrotech, and heavy metal.
- We reject music that promotes political, religious, or extremist ideologies
- We reject NSBM, porno/gore grind, AI-generated music, and plagiarism
- Music must unite. At Athenaeum of Sin, we forge an inclusive sanctum where devotees commune and discover new soundscapes.
Formats We Sanctify
Albums, singles, EPs, demos, splits, compilations. Our focus is on releases from 2020 onward, though earlier works may be considered when republished or remastered.
Echoes Beyond the Page
- Once published, reviews are promoted via Facebook and Instagram, tagging artists, labels, and PR teams to amplify the word.
- All reviews and interviews are also included in our monthly online magazine, which can be found on our Facebook page
- Forbidden Fruit of Art / Fruit of Art — with permission from Acherontia Styx, celebrating exceptional artistry
- Devilmanship — our own term, fusing musicianship, craftsmanship, and showmanship in a gender-neutral rite
- Usage Guidelines — our terminology, name, tag lines, and review format may be referenced only with explicit consent (See our Privacy Policy page for further details.)
- Review Philosophy — in-depth, attentive, objective reviews of music and lyrics
- Privacy & Confidentiality — we protect anonymity
- Exclusive Access — files and music used strictly for review purposes
- No Third-Party Sharing — we do not share content externally
- Criticism as Rite — no negative reviews, only constructive “Disrelish”
- Discovery — spotlighting new, underrated, and unsigned artists
Our Ritual Lexicon
Philosophy of the Sin
We sanctify strengths and use “Disrelish” to note what didn’t resonate.
Copyright & Sanctity
All audio and image content remains the property of the respective artists and labels. Visual materials are used with explicit permission, solely for editorial rites.
Echoes Beyond the Threshold
Thank you for crossing the threshold. This is a passion rite, free from advertising or financial gain.
Let the underground speak. Let the art be heard. Athenaeum of Sin Reviews — Where music is not judged, but revered.
Here, doom weighs heavy, death cuts deep, black metal chills the marrow, and progressive forms stretch beyond comfort. Each release is treated as ritual. Each review, as scripture.