Earthen Altar – Earthen Altar (Review)

Earthen Altar - Earthen AltarThis is the debut album from US black metal band Earthen Altar.

Earthen Altar play nature-inspired atmospheric black metal informed by the Cascadian style., but not restricted to it. Earthen Altar contains three tracks with a total duration of 27 minutes. Before we start, prepare yourself, as this is a colossally strong release. Continue reading “Earthen Altar – Earthen Altar (Review)”

Unblessed Divine – Portal to Darkness (Review)

Unblessed Divine - Portal to DarknessThis is the debut album from international death metal band Unblessed Divine.

Featuring ex-members of Malevolent Creation, Sinister, and Decapitated, Portal to Darkness contains 45 minutes of expressive and atmospheric death metal. Continue reading “Unblessed Divine – Portal to Darkness (Review)”

Coffin Mulch – Spectral Intercession (Review)

Coffin Mulch - Spectral IntercessionCoffin Mulch are a Scottish death metal band and this is their debut album.

Spectral Intercession features 31 minutes of old-school death metal, delivered primarily in the Swedish style, (although not exclusively). Yep, grab your chainsaw, and get ready for carnage. If you’re a fan of bands such as Entombed, Dismember, Bloodbath, and Entrails, but also want something with buckets of Autopsy and Asphyx thrown in, as well as a smudge of hardcore and a whiff of doom, then Coffin Mulch have got you covered.

Continue reading “Coffin Mulch – Spectral Intercession (Review)”

Temple of Dread – Beyond Acheron (Review)

Temple of Dread - Beyond AcheronThis is the fourth album from German death metal band Temple of Dread.

Following on from 2021’s Hades Unleashed, Beyond Acheron contains 46 minutes of thrash-edged old-school death metal mayhem. Beyond Acheron marauders through its running time like a thing possessed, but one that hoards secret knowledge and forbidden truths that elevate it to more than a simple beast. Continue reading “Temple of Dread – Beyond Acheron (Review)”

Kataklysm – Goliath (Review)

Kataklysm - GoliathThis is the fifteenth album from Canadian death metal band Kataklysm.

Goliath contains 41 minutes of Kataklysm’s brutal approach to melodic death metal. Goliath is a powerhouse of contemporary aggression that benefits from Kataklysm’s old-school pedigree and experience. The band sound revitalised, and the songs energetic and hostile. Continue reading “Kataklysm – Goliath (Review)”

Rezn & Vinnum Sabbathi – Silent Future (Review)

Rezn & Vinnum Sabbathi - Silent FutureThis is a collaboration between two doom bands, Rezn from the US and Vinnum Sabbathi from Mexico.

Silent Future is a 32-minute collaborative effort that’s effortlessly satisfying. Rezn and Vinnum Sabbathi work together with seamless ease, and the album is an exemplar of creative effectiveness. Continue reading “Rezn & Vinnum Sabbathi – Silent Future (Review)”

Runespell – Shores of Nastrond (Review)

Runespell - Shores of NastrondThis is the fifth album from Australian black metal band Runespell.

I’ve enjoyed following Runespell’s progress over the years, (be sure to check out previous work Unhallowed Blood Oath, Order of Vengeance, Voice of Opprobrium, and Verses in Regicide), so listening to Shores of Nastrond was pretty mandatory. This new album contains 46 minutes of new material, and is also Runespell’s first as a full band, rather than just a solo act, (with current/ex-members of bands like Illimitable Dolor, The Slow Death, and Temple Nightside). Continue reading “Runespell – Shores of Nastrond (Review)”

Shadow Legion – Shadow Legion (Review)

Shadow Legion - Shadow LegionThis is the debut album from Shadow Legion, a progressive extreme metal band from the US.

Shadow Legion contains 68 minutes of music, and is brought to us by current/ex-members of bands such as Diabolic, Gigan, Hate Eternal, and Pyrrhon, among others. Continue reading “Shadow Legion – Shadow Legion (Review)”

Werewolves – My Enemies Look and Sound Like Me (Review)

Werewolves - My Enemies Look and Sound Like MeThis is the fourth album from Australian death metal band Werewolves.

Following quickly on the heels of last year’s From the Cave to the Grave, Werewolves have returned with My Enemies Look and Sound Like Me, which boasts 34 minutes of lean and muscular new material. Continue reading “Werewolves – My Enemies Look and Sound Like Me (Review)”

Stormkeep/Winterfylleth/Saor/Ninkharsag/Arð/Nemorous/Cairns – Rebellion, Manchester – 05/08/23 (Live Review)

Stormkeep - Live Manchester RebellionIt’s a sold out show today at Manchester’s Rebellion, a venue I always like coming to. There’s a good atmosphere, and loads of quality bands to be had. What more could you want? Spoiler alert: today was an excellent day. Continue reading “Stormkeep/Winterfylleth/Saor/Ninkharsag/Arð/Nemorous/Cairns – Rebellion, Manchester – 05/08/23 (Live Review)”