Wraithfyre – Of Fell Peaks and Haunted Chasms (Review)

Wraithfyre - Of Fell Peaks and Haunted ChasmsThis is the debut album from Wraithfyre, a UK solo black metal band.

On Of Fell Peaks and Haunted Chasms the artist behind Wraithfyre delivers 37 minutes of old-school symphonic black metal. It’s good stuff, and has clearly been created by somebody that knows the style well. Continue reading “Wraithfyre – Of Fell Peaks and Haunted Chasms (Review)”

Ironflame – Kingdom Torn Asunder (Review)

Ironflame - Kingdom Torn AsunderThis is the fifth album from Ironflame, a heavy metal solo act from the US.

Despite not reviewing the style as much as, say, black or death metal, I’m a huge fan of heavy/power/etc. metal. The problem is though that is a very easy style to play poorly, as you need really really good songs and a really good singer to make an impression on me. This is where Ironflame come in, as they tick both boxes. Kingdom Torn Asunder is filled with metallic bangers and they have a singer that can belt them out with the best of them. Continue reading “Ironflame – Kingdom Torn Asunder (Review)”

Summoning the Lich – Under the Reviled Throne (Review)

Summoning the Lich - Under the Reviled ThroneSummoning the Lich are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Summoning the Lich throw a few different influences into a brutally tasty death metal blender, and shake it with great force. The end result is Under the Reviled Throne, which serves up 40 minutes of music that takes the melodic and technical death metal styles and soaks them in fantasy-soaked flavourings. Continue reading “Summoning the Lich – Under the Reviled Throne (Review)”

Category 7 – Category 7 (Review)

Category 7 - Category 7Category 7 are a metal band form the US and this is their debut album.

Brought to us by current/ex-members of Anthrax, Armored Saint, Exodus, Machine Head, Overkill, and Shadows Fall, Category 7 has a lot of experience wrapped up in its 52 minutes. Unleashing a storming collection of 90s-inspired thrash metal songs with a touch of classic heavy metal, this is a charismatic record that’s easy to like. Continue reading “Category 7 – Category 7 (Review)”

Orange Goblin – Science, Not Fiction (Review)

Orange Goblin - Science, Not FictionThis is the tenth album from UK stoner/heavy metal band Orange Goblin.

A new Orange Goblin album is a notable event. 2014’s Back from the Abyss was a top drawer record, followed by 2018’s enjoyable The Wolf Bites Back. Six years later, we get Science, Not Fiction, which brings us 53 minutes, (with bonus track), of new material. Continue reading “Orange Goblin – Science, Not Fiction (Review)”

Belore – Eastern Tales (Review)

Belore - Eastern TalesBelore are a French black metal band and this is their third album.

Belore play atmospheric/folk black metal, and on Eastern Tales they offer up 43 minutes of music. The material seems to swell out of nothingness to build massive soundscapes that lift the listener up and out of the real world, into the realms of fantasy and history. Continue reading “Belore – Eastern Tales (Review)”

Conifère – L’Imp​ô​t du Sang (Review)

Conifère - L'Imp​ô​t du SangThis is the debut album from Canadian black metallers Conifère.

L’Imp​ô​t du Sang offers up 31 minutes of old-school black metal. Conifère’s music takes the tried-and-tested classic formula and runs with it, producing a corker of an album that sounds far more vibrant and engaging than many that play the style. Continue reading “Conifère – L’Imp​ô​t du Sang (Review)”

Alburnum – The Withered Roots of Reality (Review)

Alburnum - The Withered Roots of RealityAlburnum are a black metal band from the Netherlands and this is their second album.

The Withered Roots of Reality is a 35-minute black metal album that combines elements of the atmospheric, folk, pagan, and melodic styles. Alburnum tie their influences together well, making for an easily enjoyable album with much to recommend it. Continue reading “Alburnum – The Withered Roots of Reality (Review)”

Ceremony of Silence – Hálios (Review)

Ceremony of Silence - HáliosThis is the second album from Slovakian black/death metal band Ceremony of Silence.

Five years after 2019’s malignant Oútis, Ceremony of Silence have returned with the 36-minute Hálios. An album of atmospheric brutality, Hálios expands on and further develops the strengths of Ceremony of Silence’s debut album. Continue reading “Ceremony of Silence – Hálios (Review)”