Barrowlands – Tyndir (Review

BarrowlandsBarrowlands are from the US and play progressive black metal. This is their second album.

Tyndir is a case study in dark emotion and bleak, sorrowful atmospheres. The songs are progressive explorations of the awe and majesty of nature, replete with all of the danger and lurking terror that seems to accompany a dark forest in the dead of night. Continue reading “Barrowlands – Tyndir (Review”

Voids – No Character: No Crown (Review)

VoidsVoids are a metalcore band from the US and this is their debut album.

Heavy, heavy, heavy! That’s the aim of Voids. Well, that and ripping up your local pit. Well, that and providing a singable chorus. Well, that and…okay, so there’s more to Voids than you might initially think, as they operate in a few different metalcore circles, and largely do all of them quite well. Continue reading “Voids – No Character: No Crown (Review)”

Promethean Misery – Ghosts (Review)

Promethean MiseryPromethean Misery is a one-woman project playing atmospheric and doom metal-influenced neo-classical music.

After her extremely impressive and enjoyable Bloodlet EP from earlier in the year, this new album contains more alluring, dark, and wonderfully-realised music. Continue reading “Promethean Misery – Ghosts (Review)”

Savage Messiah – Hands of Fate (Review)

Savage MessiahThis is the fourth album from UK metal band Savage Messiah.

Savage Messiah specialise in modern melodic metal, while combining elements of both old and new into their sound. Hands of Fate contains over 45 minutes of this anthemic, personable metal. Continue reading “Savage Messiah – Hands of Fate (Review)”

Ne Obliviscaris – Urn (Review)

Ne ObliviscarisNe Obliviscaris are an Australian progressive extreme metal band and this is their third album.

Urn is epic, progressive, aggressive, and textured. It’s a release that has a lot to absorb and experience, requiring multiple sittings to really even start to get the most from it. This is a complex and emotive listen, one that’s highly rewarding and enjoyable. Continue reading “Ne Obliviscaris – Urn (Review)”

Gnaw – Cutting Pieces (Review)

GnawThis is the third album from US experimental doom band Gnaw.

Featuring the inimitable vocals of the singer that graced Khanate with his serrated, searing voice, 2013’s Horrible Chamber was a must-listen record as soon as I knew it was available. It’s been a long four years, but now we finally have the follow up in Cutting Pieces. Continue reading “Gnaw – Cutting Pieces (Review)”

Sifting – Not from Here (Review)

SiftingSifting are a progressive metal band from the Venezuela and based in the US. This is their debut album.

Combining modern groove and classic rock with progressive flavour, this is an enjoyable album that manages to stitch together several different rock and metal eras and styles, and is largely quite successful at doing so. Continue reading “Sifting – Not from Here (Review)”

Inconcessus Lux Lucis – The Crowning Quietus (Review)

Inconcessus Lux LucisHailing from the UK, this is the second album from black metallers Inconcessus Lux Lucis.

I love a bit of occult black metal, and Inconcessus Lux Lucis’ material hits the spot nicely. Here’s a band that draw in some heavy and thrash metal influences into their blackened sound, and seem extra-blessed by the dark powers because of this. Continue reading “Inconcessus Lux Lucis – The Crowning Quietus (Review)”

Death Rattle – Volition (Review)

Death RattleDeath Rattle are a metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Death Rattle play heavy music that’s a combination of thrash and groove metal. Think of a mix of The Haunted, Lamb of God, and Dew Scented, with a hint of Gojira, for a good idea of where they’re coming from. Continue reading “Death Rattle – Volition (Review)”