Insomnium – Argent Moon (Review)

Insomnium - Argent MoonThis is the latest EP from Insomnium, a melodic death metal band from Finland.

I haven’t caught up with Insomnium since 2016’s excellent Winter’s Gate, so this new EP seems like the perfect point to become reacquainted with their work. Argent Moon delivers 23 minutes of material across four powerful tracks. Continue reading “Insomnium – Argent Moon (Review)”

Ghostheart Nebula – Ascension (Review)

Ghostheart Nebula - AscensionThis is the debut album from Italian funeral doom band Ghostheart Nebula.

Ghostheart Nebula play a mixture of funeral doom and melodic doom metal, with added post-metal and post-rock flavour in places. Continue reading “Ghostheart Nebula – Ascension (Review)”

ILLT – Urhat (Review)

ILLT - UrhatThis is the debut album from one-man Norwegian blackened extreme metal project ILLT.

This solo act is rounded out by session musicians from such notable bands as Megadeth, Soilwork, Nile, and Chrome Division. There’s 36 minutes of material on Urhat containing a modern blackened mix of death metal, thrash, hardcore, and splashes of doom and hard rock. Continue reading “ILLT – Urhat (Review)”

Teitan – Vákuum (Review)

Teitan - VákuumTeitan is a one-man black metal band from the Netherlands and this is his latest EP.

Vákuum contains 22 minutes of avant-garde black metal that’s played with skill and charisma.

This is atypical black metal that reminds me of the more experimental edges of the late 90s and early 00s black metal scenes. When bands like Dødheimsgard, Continue reading “Teitan – Vákuum (Review)”

Doctor Smoke – Dreamers and the Dead (Review)

Doctor Smoke - Dreamers and the DeadThis is the second album from Doctor Smoke, an occult metal/rock band from the US.

Doctor Smoke combine metal and rock influences into 43 minutes of infectious material. The songs boast a relatively good range of stylistic influences, while still retaining a holistic feel and good flow to the album; the tracks all share largely the same template, but one that’s made up a few different details and nuances. Continue reading “Doctor Smoke – Dreamers and the Dead (Review)”

Lvcifyre – The Broken Seal (Review)

Lvcifyre - The Broken SealLvcifyre are a blackened death metal band from the UK and this is their third album.

Now here’s an album that’s been much anticipated by your truly. I really enjoyed 2014’s Svn Eater, so have been eager for a follow up. Now, seven years, (and one EP), later, Lvcifyre are back with the 44-minute The Broken Seal. Continue reading “Lvcifyre – The Broken Seal (Review)”

Aborted – Maniacult (Review)

Aborted - ManiacultAborted are a death metal band from Belgium and this is their eleventh album.

Following on from 2018’s TerrorVision, the mighty Aborted have returned to bless us with horror once more. It’s always good to hear new Aborted, and on Maniacult the band deliver with great skill 41 minutes of gory blast beats and sickening groove. Continue reading “Aborted – Maniacult (Review)”

Mastiff – Leave Me the Ashes of the Earth (Review)

Mastiff - Leave Me the Ashes of the EarthMastiff are a hardcore/sludge metal band from the UK and this is their third album.

Following on from 2019’s well-received Plague, Leave Me the Ashes of the Earth contains 32 minutes of anger and violence. Continue reading “Mastiff – Leave Me the Ashes of the Earth (Review)”

Chrome Waves – The Rain Will Cleanse (Review)

Chrome Waves - The Rain Will CleanseChrome Waves are a shoegaze/post-black metal band from the US and this is their third album.

The Rain Will Cleanse gives us a 41-minute journey into shoegaze-style post-black metal. The band’s style is essentially that of a heavier, post-blackened, shoegaze act. If you’re a fan of bands like Alcest, as well as acts like Varaha and Agalloch, and a touch of Anathema, then this is one you’re sure to want to check out. Continue reading “Chrome Waves – The Rain Will Cleanse (Review)”