This is the debut album from UK death metallers After the Abduction.
Here we have 25 minutes of slam-soaked brutal death metal. Falling somewhere between Dying Fetus and Decapitated, (roughly speaking), Cracked and Bled takes influence from both old and new strains of brutality to present us with a brief whirlwind of violence and carnage. Continue reading “After the Abduction – Cracked and Bled (Review)”
This is the second album from Aodon, a black metal band from France.
Aodon mix atmospheric and post-black metal to create an album of layered texture and blistering intensity. The result is an effective and striking collection of music. Continue reading “Aodon – 11069 (Review)”
Wake are a Canadian grindcore band and this is their fourth album.
I really, really enjoyed 2018’s Misery Rites, so I new that as soon as Devouring Ruin appeared, it was a must-listen. Continue reading “Wake – Devouring Ruin (Review)”
Neck of the Woods are a progressive metal band from Canada and this is their second album.
The Annex of Ire contains 40 minutes of modern, hybrid progressive metal from the band that enjoyably produced 2015’s Neck of the Woods and 2017’s The Passenger. Continue reading “Neck of the Woods – The Annex of Ire (Review)”
Neorhythm are a Russian metal band and this is their second album.
Here we have 45 minutes of progressive metal that takes elements of groove, technical, and death metal into its make-up. The band know how to handle the style, and Terrastory is effortless to digest and enjoy. Continue reading “Neorhythm – Terrastory (Review)”
Hyborian are a stoner metal band from the US and this is their second album.
Hyborian’s first album Vol. 1 was infectious and moreish, and made a strong impression. Volume II continues with Hyborian’s hyper-palatable style, providing 40 minutes of anthemic tunes that are near-impossible to dislike. Continue reading “Hyborian – Volume II (Review)”
This is the third album from Swedish death/doom band Soliloquium.
This is a progressive, melodic brand of death/doom, one that also takes elements of post-metal and shoegaze into its mix. The end result is a 45-minute album that strikes a balance between instant-appeal heaviness and songwriting smarts on one hand, and Continue reading “Soliloquium – Things We Leave Behind (Review)”
This is the debut album from US death/doom metal band Rotting Kingdom.
Rotting Kingdom’s 2017 EP of the same name was one that I very much enjoyed, so now that a full length is on the horizon, it’s time to immerse ourselves in the band’s worthy take on the death/doom style. At only 38 minutes in duration, A Deeper Shade of Sorrow is shorter than many albums of this style, and therefore doesn’t outstay its welcome. In fact, I could easily have taken a little more material. Continue reading “Rotting Kingdom – A Deeper Shade of Sorrow (Review)”
Spectral Lore and Mare Cognitum are both one-man black metal bands, (from Greece and the US respectively), and this is their latest collaborative split.
No stranger to teaming up with each other, these two atmospheric black metal bands have created an epic project with Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine. Just under 2 hours in total duration, this monolithic release features four tracks from each band interspersed with each other, topped by a final two tracks that are collaborative, with both artists creating music together. Continue reading “Spectral Lore/Mare Cognitum – Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine – Split (Review)”
Huntsmen are a US progressive metal band and this is their second album.
I really enjoyed 2018’s American Scrap, and it grew in my estimation over time too. At almost 80 minutes in duration this new album is almost double the length of the band’s first full length; Huntsmen are clearly not lacking in ambition. Driven by storytelling, Mandala of Fear takes the listener on a dystopian journey, one that has the musical ability to back up its concept. Continue reading “Huntsmen – Mandala of Fear (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 