Manchester’s hot ticket is tonight is Dragged into Sunlight, and people have turned out in force. As usual, their merch queue is ridiculous, and it stays ridiculous for a ridiculous amount of time. Good for them. They’re not the only tasty treat on this gnarled bill though; first comes death metal most foul. Continue reading “Dragged into Sunlight/Vacuous/Plague Pit – Club Academy, Manchester – 30/05/26 (Live Review)”
This is the second album from Cage Fight, a metalcore band from the UK.
After 2022’s enjoyable Cage Fight and proving themselves in the live environment, Exuvia carries certain expectations of quality around these parts. Have Cage Fight managed to live up to these expectations, which include the hope that they’ve taken the next step up from their debut? Continue reading “Cage Fight – Exuvia (Review)”
This is the seventh album from solo Portuguese black metal band Black Cilice.
This is raw black metal, steeped in esoteric atmosphere. Across four expressive songs, the artist behind Black Cilice spends 34 minutes weaving black magicks out of shadow and ritual. Votive Fire is transportive in that unique way that only black metal can be. Continue reading “Black Cilice – Votive Fire (Review)”
Cognizance are a death metal band from the UK and this is their fourth album.
Following on from 2024’s strong Phantazein, Cognizance have now returned with the 37-minute In Light, No Shape. Once again we get treated to the band’s take on modern technical death metal, and, as usual, it’s a winner. Continue reading “Cognizance – In Light, No Shape (Review)”
This is the fifth album from US progressive black metal act Ashen Horde.
2023’s Antimony was Ashen Horde’s best album up to this point. This means that The Harvest is an eagerly anticipated new record from this notable band. Will it have what it takes to knock Antimony from the top spot? Continue reading “Ashen Horde – The Harvest (Review)”
This is the second album from German black metal band Totenwache.
Der Thron der Uralten delivers a 72-minute classic blackened assault. Totenwache play their black metal with arcane skill, crafting a record that offers up the sort of material that adherents to the black metal underground simply cannot resist. Continue reading “Totenwache – Der Thron der Uralten (Review)”
Ordh are a death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.
Blind in Abyssal Realms brings us 43 minutes of progressive death metal from current/ex-members of Barishi and Come to Grief. Ordh impress with their ability to being multiple elements together into a very satisfying whole. Continue reading “Ordh – Blind in Abyssal Realms (Review)”
This is the third album from Spanish black metallers Aversio Humanitatis.
It has been six long year’s since 2020’s Behold the Silent Dwellers, but now comes its 34-minute successor, To Become the Endless Static. Aversio Humanitatis have produced a top tier album that’s sure to find favour with fans of bands such as Deathspell Omega, Misþyrming, Panzerfaust, and Selbst. Continue reading “Aversio Humanitatis – To Become the Endless Static (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Swedish instrumental post-metal band Sagor Som Leder Mot Slutet.
Existing somewhere between progressive metal, post-metal, doom, and post-rock, IV contains 44 minutes of atmospheric material. Sagor Som Leder Met Slutet have crafted a record of Continue reading “Sagor Som Leder Mot Slutet – IV (Review)”
This is the debut album from Italian black metal band Atlantic Ridge.
Brought to us by members of Bedsore and Thecodontion, Atlantic Ridge contains 41 minutes of atmospheric black metal, with added funeral doom and a touch of sludgy post-metal. Atlantic Ridge have crafted an engaging record of esoteric depth. Continue reading “Atlantic Ridge – Atlantic Ridge (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 