Nadja – Labyrinthine (Review)

Nadja - LabyrinthineThis is the latest release from Nadja, a doom/drone duo from Canada.

Nadja are a great band, (make sure you check out the stunning Sv), and they have an astonishing amount of releases under their belt. This latest one is something a little exceptional though, as the normally largely instrumental duo have recruited a different vocalist for each of the colossal four songs that make up this 63-minute album. Continue reading “Nadja – Labyrinthine (Review)”

Unru – Die Wiederkehr des Verdrängten (Review)

Unru - Die Wiederkehr des VerdrängtenThis is the second album from German black metal band Unru.

Die Wiederkehr des Verdrängten actually saw the light of day back in March, but I’ve been listening to it a lot and I just had to give it the attention it deserves with a review. I’ve enjoyed Unru’s work for a while, (check out the band’s 2014 split with Paramnesia and their 2016 debut album Als Tier ist der Mensch Nichts), but this new one is a different beast. The Unru of 2022 have crafted their most expansive, ambitious, and affecting work yet. Continue reading “Unru – Die Wiederkehr des Verdrängten (Review)”

Blind Guardian – The God Machine (Review)

Blind Guardian - The God MachineBlind Guardian are a German power metal band and this is their twelfth album.

Blind Guardian return with a new 51-minute opus. Fans of the band will be interested to know that The God Machine doesn’t directly continue with the trajectory of their last few albums, and instead offers a compelling mix of past and present. Continue reading “Blind Guardian – The God Machine (Review)”

Trial (Swe) – Feed the Fire (Review)

Trial (Swe) - Feed the FireThis is the fourth album from Swedish heavy metallers Trial (Swe).

Since I last encountered Trial n 2017’s (Vessel), the band have changed their name to Trial (Swe), released another album and an EP, and changed singer. So, what does Feed the Fire bring us? The answer is 46 minutes of rousing heavy metal. Continue reading “Trial (Swe) – Feed the Fire (Review)”

Aeternam – Heir of the Rising Sun (Review)

Aeternam - Heir of the Rising SunThis is the fifth album from Canadian symphonic death metal band Aeternam.

Aeternam play a form of orchestral death metal that takes in Middle Eastern folk influences. If you’re a fan of the type of individual approach that bands such as Arallu, Melechesh, Orphaned Land, Septicflesh, Rudra, and Nile bring to extreme metal, then Aeternam is definitely an album you should check out. Continue reading “Aeternam – Heir of the Rising Sun (Review)”

Gone Cosmic – Send for a Warning, the Future’s Calling (Review)

Gone Cosmic - Send for a Warning, the Future’s CallingGone Cosmic are a rock band from Canada and this is their second album.

Gone Cosmic play retro blues-laced psychedelic rock with a progressive edge, and touches of heavy metal. Which is a relatively simplistic description for such a potent record. Continue reading “Gone Cosmic – Send for a Warning, the Future’s Calling (Review)”

Feather Mountain – To Exit a Maelstrom (Review)

Feather Mountain - To Exit a MaelstromFeather Mountain are a progressive metal band from Denmark and this is their second album.

To Exit a Maelstrom contains 45 minutes of modern progressive metal that incorporates elements of alternative and progressive rock. There’s also a djent influence, but it’s not an overbearing one. Continue reading “Feather Mountain – To Exit a Maelstrom (Review)”

Imperium – Ex Mortis Gloria (Review)

Imperium - Ex Mortis GloriaImperium are a technical Death Metal band from the UK. This is their third album.

It’s been six years since 2016’s monstrous Titanomachy, which was a very satisfyingly brutal record. Imperium are now back though, with 48 minutes of new material, and they are taking no prisoners. Continue reading “Imperium – Ex Mortis Gloria (Review)”

Sunflo’er – All These Darlings and Now Me (Review)

Sunflo'er - All These Darlings and Now MeSunflo’er are a hardcore band from the US and this is their third album.

On All These Darlings and Now Me Sunflo’er combine mathcore and post-hardcore into a harsh-yet-catchy 27 minutes. Continue reading “Sunflo’er – All These Darlings and Now Me (Review)”

Aphonic Threnody – The Loneliest Walk (Review)

Aphonic Threnody - The Loneliest WalkAphonic Threnody are an international funeral doom band and this is their fifth album.

I like Aphonic Threnody a great deal, and really enjoyed last year’s The All Consuming Void, (also check out Of Loss and Grief and The Great Hatred). So, imagine my surprise when I saw that the band had a new album coming out so soon after the last one. Then, imagine my even further surprise when I found out that it was a monstrously huge double album! Continue reading “Aphonic Threnody – The Loneliest Walk (Review)”