"7.5/10" - Martelgang (The Netherlands)

"8/10 - A great comp. with some of the rawest and meanest black metal bands from the american underground. Gives you a great insight in the american black metal scene."
- Nocturnal Horde (Denmark)

"Black Metal compilation for everyone who wants more to know about the US BM scene; some bands are good, but others are not; it still sounds like underground and it's only interesting for people who are searching for underground."
- Amboss (Germany)

"This is a compilation from Lost Disciple Recs. showing black metal bands from the USA. Bands like Bloodstorm, Kult ov Azazel, Abysmal Fall, Bloodshed Divine, Noctuary or Averse Sefira have their place here together with a lot of others of the same style. Due to their power and quality I would like to pick up some of the bands, first of all Noctuary (for the reasons that I wrote in the review of their record) with "Eternity Everfading", then Kult ov Azazel that are a very interesting ban, despite the sound that the song presented her has that is worse than the one in their debut CD, also Averse Sefira with all their strength (they use an electronic drum but now they have a killer drummer), Cryptic Winds that presents us their track "Storms of the Black Millenium" with a strange black metal sound (the mix is not too good, it has too much reverb in the vocalsā¤|it seems recorded in a cave) and Corvus Coraz, with one of the best tracks (at least one of the most elaborated ones) that is "Terminus Est" with clean guitar introduction and melodies."
- Music Extreme (Argentina)

"I consider the American black-metal scene as an original scene with extreme and really underground band far of those who are searching about money. Maybe it is due to the fact that the death-metal is the American music, as in Norway where the music is the black-metal. In spite of this, Lost Disciple Records joins the forces of 13 bands, the best black-metal bands in USA excepted Absu that aren't in this compilation. You'll find Thornspawn, Krieg, the new sensation Kult Ov Azazel, Noctuary... Don't search for commercial bands, this compilation is a must for all the fans of the underground and true black-metal. (8.5/10)"
- Darkwave (France)

"American black metal has a horrible reputation; it has earned this reputation by turning out truckloads of less than mediocre black metal bands. Black metal isn't just black leather wimps in corpsepaint wielding swords as they prance about in the snow, forests, or some equally remote spot. It isn't always about supporting Lucifer. It really is more of a madness which results in culturally-reprehensible views and violent behavior. It is a sense that there are other worlds and forces that can be utilized by those with the vision to do so. It is an interest in those other worlds to a point that reality becomes quite boring. Black metal is the culmination of the evil inherent in each of our souls translated into a music or non-musical form. Some choose to adorn themselves with tattoos, black leather, spikes, corpsepaint and other notions to enhance a spirituality and mood that matches the music. It is blindingly fast at times, but always with a sense that the anger and vitriol is only barely being held in check by a tiny shred of humanity. It is entirely pagan and almost animal-like in viciousness. All of these must be present to form excellent black metal. If you don't have it in you now, you may never be able to cope with or reconcile with your dark side. It is utterly essential that we never believe that most of these bands are truly satanic, but rather entirely non-religious and bloodthirsty in nature. It is the serial killer, the sickness, the anger which is barely held in check under our easily-shed skins that must scare the unbeliever who has yet to come to terms with the violence within themselves. Now you understand why countries like Norway, Sweden, Finland, Ireland and England which are rife with lore enhancing these images produce the best black metal. America is catching on and Visionaries of the Macabre more than illustrates the glory that awaits. Not all of these bands will rock your world, but they are indisputable proof that hate is festering in the promised land. All the road rage, hatred and serial killings have finally set up entrance into the next dimension. If a few of the greater bands can bust through into the next stage, America will finally be able to proudly boast of one or two quality black metal triumphs. Most likely to cross Lethe are Abysmal Fall, Noctuary (the best on this sampler), Bloodshed Divine, Cryptic Winds, Kult ov Azazel (recently signed to Pavement), Thornspawn (on Baphomet), Corvus Corax (slow but smart band on Dark Symphonies) and Krieg. Other bands are almost there and perhaps they have other material that would appeal a bit more than the tracks represented here, but I'll withhold judgment for the time being. For a measly, stinking five dollars, you can get this sampler of destruction from Lost Disciple."
- Earpollution