New York's Black Anvil were created in 2007 by former members of then-recently defunct hardcore activists Kill Your Idols: vocalist/bassist P (Paul Delaney), guitarist G (Gary Bennett), and drummer/vocalist R (Raeph Glicken). Now flying the shroud-like flag of vintage Scandinavian black metal -- N.Y.C. style! -- the trio recorded its debut album, Time Insults the Mind, for release through Monumentum Records in 2008, but soon drew the attention of Relapse Records, which reissued the LP a year later and put the band on the road opening for Marduk in the summer of 2009. At the same time, Black Anvil were already busy recording their second album, Triumvirate, which dropped the following year. A heavy bout of touring followed, with the band sharing stages with the likes of Watain, Goatwhore, and Behemoth, and in 2012 they headed back into the studio to begin laying down tracks for album number three. The resulting Hail Death was released in 2014, and marked the debut studio outing for new second guitarist Jeremy Sosville. As Was, the group's much anticipated fourth studio long-player, dropped in 2016, again via Relapse. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia