February 2022 – Page 2 – Wonderbox Metal

KYOTY – Isolation (Review)

KYOTY are an post-metal/sludge band from the US and this is their second album.

KYOTY, (or Keep Your Opinions to Yourself), are an instrumental act that have an atmospheric approach to music, taking in styles such as post-metal, post-rock, and sludge, combined with an industrial edge. Gathering together nine songs that were released over the 2020 isolation period, along with a new track exclusive to the album, this is a 70-minute work of rich evocative soundscapes. Continue reading “KYOTY – Isolation (Review)”

Cobra the Impaler – Colossal Gods (Review)

Cobra the Impaler are a Belgian metal band and this is their debut album.

Colossal Gods boasts 42 minutes of charismatic metal. Taking elements from thrash, progressive, stoner, and heavy metal, Cobra the Impaler write songs that stick in the mind with their big hooks and big personality. Continue reading “Cobra the Impaler – Colossal Gods (Review)”

Deathbell – A Nocturnal Crossing (Review)

This is the second album from French doom metal band Deathbell.

Deathbell present us with 42 minutes of doom that’s based on the traditional style, but shot through with occult psychedelia and haunting atmosphere. The music is heavy and immersive, drawing you in with fuzzy riffs and keeping you close with hazy melodies and seductive singing. The band’s doom is very moreish and slips easily into the soul. Continue reading “Deathbell – A Nocturnal Crossing (Review)”

Immolation – Acts of God (Review)

This is the eleventh album from veteran US death metallers Immolation.

Immolation are one of those timeless, classic death metal acts with a sound all of their own; nobody else sounds quite like them, although many have taken influence from their otherworldly brutality. Continue reading “Immolation – Acts of God (Review)”

Archvile King – À la Ruine (Review)

Archvile King is a solo black metal band from France and this is his debut album.

The music of Archvile King is that of classic black metal mixed with elements of thrash, punk, and folk. The latter style is lesser-heard in general, but can be detected in some of the melodies and the occasional acoustic guitar, (and is especially apparent in tracks like Chroniques du Royaume Avili and À la Ruine). The punk and thrash elements are embedded in parts of the blackened guitars that rage and tear out of the speakers like envenomed claws. Continue reading “Archvile King – À la Ruine (Review)”

Nightrage – Abyss Rising (Review)

Nightrage are a melodic death metal band from Greece/Sweden and this is their ninth album.

I missed 2019’s Wolf to Man, but caught and enjoyed 2017’s The Venomous. Back now with 39 minutes of new material, Nightrage are firing on all cylinders and sound ready to take on the world. Continue reading “Nightrage – Abyss Rising (Review)”

Pure Wrath – Hymn to the Woeful Hearts (Review)

This is the third album from Indonesian one-man black metal band Pure Wrath.

While the name Pure Wrath might conjure images of ultraviolent brutality of some sort, what we actually get on this album is 44 minutes of atmospheric black metal with an emphasis on melancholic emotion. Joined by a handful of other musicians, Continue reading “Pure Wrath – Hymn to the Woeful Hearts (Review)”

Once Human – Scar Weaver (Review)

Once Human are a metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Brought to us my an ex-member of Machine Head, Once Human play a heavy brand of modern metal that is designed to get pits moving everywhere, but also offers a bit more depth than you’d expect. Think of a mix of bands such as Machine Head, Fear Factory, Gojira, Jinjer, Strapping Young Lad, and Lamb of God, and then add some increased progressive and technical metal influences, and a touch of classic heavy metal, and you’ll have a decent starting point for Scar Weaver. Continue reading “Once Human – Scar Weaver (Review)”

A Pale December – Death Panacea (Review)

This is the second album from Italian black metallers A Pale December.

A Pale December play bleak atmospheric/melodic black metal, riven with despair and devoid of hope. Mixing old and new influences with ease, Death Panacea is quite the impressive piece of art. Continue reading “A Pale December – Death Panacea (Review)”

Amorphis – Halo (Review)

This is the fourteenth album from veteran Finnish metal band Amorphis.

Following on from 2018’s immense Queen of Time, Amorphis have returned to once again treat us with 56 minutes of splendid music.

Boasting big songs and bigger choruses, Amophis’ new album is Continue reading “Amorphis – Halo (Review)”