The Ruins of Beverast – The Thule Grimoires (Review)

The Ruins of Beverast - The Thule GrimoiresThis is the sixth album from one-man German black/doom metal metal band The Ruins of Beverast.

The Ruins of Beverast’s music is an intriguing and exotic combination of atmospheric black and doom metal. Okay, so what’s so exotic about it, you might ask? Well, it’s the artist’s sublime ability to combine lesser-heard influences, (an occasional touch of Continue reading “The Ruins of Beverast – The Thule Grimoires (Review)”

Oceana – The Pattern (Review)

Oceana - The PatternOceana are a progressive metal band from Italy and this is their debut album.

As an introductory description of The Pattern, I’m just going to be lazy and quite the promo blurb – “The intent was to mix progressive metal elements with European-style death doom. Influences, from a musical point of view, range from Edge of Sanity to Katatonia, from Paradise Lost to Duran Duran, from Metallica to Dream Theater, in a Continue reading “Oceana – The Pattern (Review)”

Portrayal of Guilt – We Are Always Alone (Review)

Portrayal of Guilt - We Are Always AlonePortrayal of Guilt are a blackened hardcore band from the US and this is their second album.

And now for 26 minutes of grim darkness and murderous brutality. Portrayal of Guilt play the sort of ultra-nasty hardcore that can lacerate flesh at 1000 paces. Mixing together blistering hardcore and angry punk with a blackened sheen, this is not for the faint of heart. Continue reading “Portrayal of Guilt – We Are Always Alone (Review)”

Starer – 18° Below the Horizon (Review)

Starer - 18° Below the HorizonThis is the debut album from Starer, a one-man black metal band from the US.

Brought to us by a member of Bihargam, Starer is a different proposition from that band, and offers 45 minutes of modern darkness for the listener to become absorbed by. Continue reading “Starer – 18° Below the Horizon (Review)”

Eximperitus – Å ahrartu (Review)

Eximperitus - Å ahrartuEximperitus, (full name – EximperituserqethhzebibÅ¡iptugakkathÅ¡ulweliarzaxuÅ‚um), are a death metal band from Belarus, and this is their second album.

Eximperitus play technical death metal delivered with occult trappings, resulting in a 39-minute journey into an extremely high quality and well-defined world. If you’re a fan of bands like Nile, then this is definitely one to check out. Continue reading “Eximperitus – Å ahrartu (Review)”

The Body – I’ve Seen All I Need to See (Review)

The Body - I've Seen All I Need to SeeThis is the eighth album from US experimental sludge band The Body.

You never quite know what you’re going to get with The Body. I’ve Seen All I Need to See contains 38 minutes of experimental music that focuses on an exploration of distortion and of the live aspect of the band’s sound. This means Continue reading “The Body – I’ve Seen All I Need to See (Review)”

Virulence of Misconduct – Infected (Review)

Virulence of Misconduct - InfectedThis is the debut album from international brutal deathcore band Virulence of Misconduct.

Infected comes roaring out of the underground like a possessed daemon in a bloodthirsty rage. It’s only 25 minutes long, but that’s all you need when you’re selling this sort of thundering slam. Continue reading “Virulence of Misconduct – Infected (Review)”

Altered Dead – Returned to Life (Review)

Altered Dead - Returned to LifeThis is the second album from Canadian death metal act Altered Dead.

Altered Dead play old-school death metal that’s raw, filthy, and exceedingly nasty. Rising from the underground like some form of malformed monster, Returned to Life is a 35-minute slab of ugly death metal that is highly enjoyable. Continue reading “Altered Dead – Returned to Life (Review)”

Regnvm Animale – Ignis Sacer (Review)

Regnvm Animale - Ignis SacerRegnvm Animale are a black metal band from Sweden and this is their latest EP.

Regnvm Animale play black metal with a crust influence. As far as EPs go, Ignis Sacer is longer than some albums at 27 minutes in length. Due to my intense dislike of anything spoken word, the intro is a complete waste of space for me, but the remaining four tracks certainly aren’t. Continue reading “Regnvm Animale – Ignis Sacer (Review)”