Well, what a stacked death metal bill this is. Each band has a lot to offer on their own, but as part of the mighty Archspire’s European Vacation tour package, it promises a great evening of growls, riffs, and shreds. Continue reading “European Vacation – Archspire/Crown Magnetar/The Zenith Passage/Analepsy – Academy 2, Manchester – 27/10/26 (Live Review)”
Darkest Hour are a US metal band and this is their eleventh album.
Hot on the heels of 2024’s Perpetual | Terminal, Darkest Hour are now back with the 42-minute Suffer Divine. Darkest Hour long ago perfected their template for combining hardcore and melodic death metal, and this fusion has resulted in so much quality output from the band over the years. What will this new record bring us? Continue reading “Darkest Hour – Suffer Divine (Review)”
Sea Bastard are a sludge/doom band from the UK and this is their third album.
Oh, Sea Bastard, where have you been? It’s been a decade since their last release, and even longer since 2013’s colossal full length Scabrous. Something new from this superlative crew is long overdue. And here it is – unlooked for, unexpected, yet very welcome. Continue reading “Sea Bastard – Cyclopean (Review)”
Enslaved are a Norwegian progressive black metal band and this is their seventeenth album.
After the transformative journey that properly started with 2020’s Utgard and continued with 2023’s Heimdal, Enslaved have now arrived at the 44-minute Mið. An exemplar of progressive texture and classic blackened depth, Enslaved’s new record is a real winner. Continue reading “Enslaved – Mið (Review)”
This is the second album from Polish post-black metal band Cursebinder.
Psychohazard is the 53-minute follow up to 2023’s well-received Drifting. Cursebinder’s return is a welcome one as they bring their vision of blackened extremity to life across eight engaging tracks. Continue reading “Cursebinder – Psychohazard (Review)”
Boss Keloid are a progressive rock/metal band from the UK and this is their fifth album.
If Herb Your Enthusiasm, Melted on the Inch, and Family the Smiling Thrush weren’t enough to convince you of the merits of Boss Keloid’s individual take on sludgy music, then you’ve simply been missing out. Well, now we have Float & Aperture, a record that you didn’t know you needed, but you clearly do. Continue reading “Boss Keloid – Float & Aperture (Review)”
This is the third album from Belgian progressive metal band Hippotraktor.
Roll up, roll up! Come one, come all! Have you had your fill of 2024’s Stasis, and crave something new? Sure you have, and Annihilist is here to satisfy your needs! Seven songs, 38 minutes; get it while it’s hot! Continue reading “Hippotraktor – Annihilist (Review)”
This is the second album from German doom metal band Fvneral Fvkk.
Fvneral Fvkk’s 2019’s debut Carnal Confessions was one of that year’s unexpected highlights. So, when Indecent Idols appeared on the horizon, all manner of alarms were triggered. Expectations, shall we say, are sky high. Fvneral Fvkk deliver 42 minutes of new material, and it’s as harrowing as it is excellent. Continue reading “Fvneral Fvkk – Indecent Idols (Review)”
Embryectomy are a Greek death metal band and this is their third album.
Beware, for a monster of slamming deathly brutality this way comes. Armed to the teeth with guttural ferocity and remorseless belligerence, Embryectomy are here to cause carnage. Vitriolic Baptism contains 31 minutes of slamming violence. Continue reading “Embryectomy – Vitriolic Baptism (Review)”
Entheos are a progressive metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.
Entheos made somewhat of a splash with 2023’s Time Will Take Us All, which means many people are looking forward to see what Empty on the Inside has to offer. Across 41 minutes, Entheos showcase an updated sound that works remarkably well for them. Continue reading “Entheos – Empty on the Inside (Review)”
