There was a lot of very fine music that saw the light of day in September. It was a struggle to limit the below list to just a handful of releases, but I think you’ll find below a good selection of metal albums that should satisfy your musical itches…
Rarely has an album sounded as massive or as apocalyptic as this. There’s a colossal grandeur here that’s intoxicating. LLNN’s Unmaker is simply one of the most malevolent and immense slabs of groovy post-metal sludge heaviness you’re likely to hear this year.
Beyond Grace’s intelligently-crafted death metal has reached its apex on Our Kingdom Undone. The band’s progressive and technical death metal is hideously well-realised. If you let it, over multiple spins this album will burrow its way into your psyche and stay there.
The Work is the latest evolution of Rivers of Nihil. Moving away from progressive death metal and into more rarefied progressive metal waters, the band’s latest album is a successful reinvention that’s an expansive joy to listen to.
Conquering is the type of album that doesn’t come along very often. Packed to the gills with the sort of raging metal tunes that have you moving whether you want to or not, Employed to Serve’s latest album makes quite an impression. Thankfully, this more than holds up over time too. Killer stuff.
Cognizance’s Upheaval is the sort of crunchy, punchy, technical death metal album that I could listen to all day. It’s satisfying and enjoyable in the way that only truly top drawer death metal really is. With brutal impact and depth of songwriting, Cognizance have produced something great here.
Doctor Smoke’s Dreamers and the Dead is just an insanely fun and entertaining collection of metal/rock tunes. Packed full of catchy songs that quickly worm their way into your brain, Doctor Smoke have created a shockingly good album.
We’ll end with the pure destructive brutality of Leave Me the Ashes of the Earth by Mastiff. This is a dark and violent hardcore sludge album that’s utterly without hope or reprieve. The band’s misanthropic heaviness is crushing as they deliver a pummelling collection of devastating songs.
Wonderbox Metal 