Olhava are a Russian black metal band and this is their fourth album.
Frozen Bloom is a 59-minute exploration of loss and mournful intensity. The band’s post-blackened brew is concocted from the bones of atmospheric black metal, blackgaze’s warmth of emotion, dark ambience, and synth-driven drone. Continue reading “Olhava – Frozen Bloom (Review)”
In Asymmetry are an international death metal band and this is their debut album.
Featuring current and ex-members of bands such as The Ritual Aura, Deeds of Flesh, Arsis, Eschaton, Pillory, Inanimate Existence, and The Kennedy Veil, Ashes of Dead Worlds contains a lot of experience packed tightly into its 34 minutes. Continue reading “In Asymmetry – Ashes of Dead Worlds (Review)”
Inferno are a black metal band from the Czech Republic and this is their eighth album.
I always enjoy a new encounter with the work from Inferno. Both 2013’s Omniabsence Filled by His Greatness and 2017’s Gnosis Kardias (of Transcension and Involution) were enjoyable and satisfying examples of sophisticated black metal art. Continue reading “Inferno – Paradeigma (Phosphenes of Aphotic Eternity) (Review)”
This is the debut EP from Empty Throne. a blackened death metal band from the US.
After giving the promo email the once over, how could I not want to give Glossolalia a spin? Recommended for fans of bands such as At the Gates, God Dethroned, Dark Tranquillity, and Carpathian Forest? Containing current/ex-members of Possessed, Decrepit Birth, Black Crown Initiate, The Kennedy Veil, and Angerot? Listening to this was always going to happen. Continue reading “Empty Throne – Glossolalia (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Vokonis, a progressive doom metal band from Sweden.
Vokonis’ style mixes together progressive metal with stoner and doom metal, resulting in a colourful and enjoyable collection of tracks. While Mastodon is the obvious reference point, it’s also an inadequate one for Odyssey, as there’s a lot more at play here than simply Mastodon worship. I can also hear elements of bands as diverse as Sleep, Slomatics, Elder, Perihelion Ship, Rush, Khemmis, Alice in Chains, Witchkiss, Monolord, and Black Crown Initiate, to name but a few. Continue reading “Vokonis – Odyssey (Review)”
Nordjevel are a Norwegian black metal band and this is their latest EP.
This EP contains two new songs exclusive to this release, one new song that will be on the band’s upcoming album, a live track, and a cover of a Possessed song. All told, it’s 23 minutes of material. Continue reading “Nordjevel – Fenriir (Review)”
Another month, another truckload of top tier metal releases. 2021 just keeps on giving when it comes to music. I struggled hard to limit the below list to the ones that I did, and could easily have included more albums from what was a very packed April. Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of April 2021”
Hadit are an Italian death metal band and this is their debut album.
Hadit play death metal that has both a malevolent blackened side and a secret doom heart.
Cold dissonance and grim Continue reading “Hadit – With Ardour and Joy Through the Incommensurable Path (Review)”
This is the third album from UK deathcore band Osiah.
Following on from 2019’s crushing Kingdom of Lies, Loss offers up 50 minutes of advanced-level deathcore. Yes, Osiah have levelled up.
These new songs mix the rampant Continue reading “Osiah – Loss (Review)”
Akhenaten are a death metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.
Akhenaten play a hybrid style of black and death metal that’s been spiced up with Middle Eastern folk influences. The music brings to mind a cross between aspects of bands such as Nile, Melechesh, Arallu, Orphaned Land, Rudra, Septic Flesh, and the like. In other words, bands that use their extreme metal for more than simple brutality. Continue reading “Akhenaten – The Emerald Tablets of Thoth (Review)”
