Pyrkagion – The Katechon and the Unending Fire (Review)

Pyrkagion - The Katechon and the Unending FireThis is the debut EP from US black metal band Pyrkagion.

The Katechon and the Unending Fire is a 26-minute EP consisting of two tracks. Brought to us by members of Bell Witch, Human Effluence, and Hissing, Pyrkagion deliver a strong lesson in modern black metal. Continue reading “Pyrkagion – The Katechon and the Unending Fire (Review)”

Spirit Adrift – Ghost at the Gallows (Review)

Spirit Adrift - Ghost at the GallowsThis is the fifth album from the US heavy metal band Spirit Adrift.

I’ve always enjoyed what Spirit Adrift offer, (check out Chained to Oblivion, Curse of Conception, Divided by Darkness, and Enlightened in Eternity), so new album Ghost at the Gallows is most welcome. Continue reading “Spirit Adrift – Ghost at the Gallows (Review)”

The Circle – Of Awakening (Review)

The Circle - Of AwakeningThe Circle are a German black metal band and this is their second album.

Of Awakening is a 33-minute black metal album of sorts that incorporates elements of doom, ambient, symphonic, and post-black metal. While black metal is the obvious tag for this, and it’s superficially the correct one, it doesn’t tell the whole story of Continue reading “The Circle – Of Awakening (Review)”

Horrendous – Ontological Mysterium (Review)

Horrendous - Ontological MysteriumThis is the fifth album from US death metallers Horrendous.

Horrendous’ trajectory through their last three albums – 2014’s Ecdysis, 2015’s Anareta, and 2018’s Idol – has been an enjoyable one to experience, but it’s been a while since we’ve heard from them. As such, it’s great to finally have Ontological Mysterium, which contains 38 minutes of new material. Continue reading “Horrendous – Ontological Mysterium (Review)”

Orbit Culture – Descent (Review)

Orbit Culture - DescentThis is the fourth album from Swedish metallers Orbit Culture.

Both 2020’s Nija and 2021’s Shaman made very good impressions, and now Orbit Culture are back with another 49 minutes of new material in the form of Descent. Continue reading “Orbit Culture – Descent (Review)”

Godthrymm – Distortions (Review)

Godthrymm - DistortionsThis is the second album from Godthrymm, a doom metal band from the UK.

2020’s Reflections was a high quality slab of old-school doom, so it’s with great pleasure that I welcome Distortions into my life. Across 60 minutes Godthrymm once again demonstrate why they’re head and shoulders above most contemporary doom metal acts. Continue reading “Godthrymm – Distortions (Review)”

Oblivion Protocol – The Fall of the Shires (Review)

Oblivion Protocol - The Fall of the ShiresThis is the debut album from international progressive rock band Oblivion Protocol.

The Fall of the Shires is an interesting record in that it’s a sequel to Threshold’s 2017’s album Legends of the Shires, born from a desire by Oblivion Protocol founder/vocalist/keyboardist Richard West, (also keyboardist in Threshold), to continue that album’s themes and worldbuilding. Continue reading “Oblivion Protocol – The Fall of the Shires (Review)”

Nordicwinter – This Mournful Dawn (Review)

Nordicwinter - This Mournful DawnThis is the seventh album from Canadian one-man black metal act Nordicwinter.

After enjoying 2020’s Desolation and 2021’s Sorrow, I was pleased to see This Mournful Dawn appear. I was then surprised when I subsequently found out that the artist has released two other Nordicwinter albums between Sorrow and this new one! Has being this prolific impacted upon quality levels since I last encountered this act? Continue reading “Nordicwinter – This Mournful Dawn (Review)”

Invultation – Feral Legion (Review)

Invultation - Feral LegionThis is the third album from Invultation, a solo death metal band from the US.

This is some nasty stuff. Feral Legion is a 37-minute bestial war metal album that assaults the listener with its death metal bite and sharp blackened claws. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill album though, and Invultation might surprise you. Continue reading “Invultation – Feral Legion (Review)”

Urne – A Feast on Sorrow (Review)

Urne - A Feast on SorrowUrne are a metal band from the UK and this is their second album.

Having loved Urne’s 2021 debut album Serpent & Spirit, it’s safe to assume that A Feast on Sorrow has been one of my most anticipated albums of 2023. I’m very pleased to say that it has not disappointed. Continue reading “Urne – A Feast on Sorrow (Review)”