This is the fourth album from Canadian black metallers Spectral Wound.
Songs of Blood and Mire boasts 44 minutes of lethal black metal. Stylistically we’re talking a mixture of the Norwegian, Finnish, and Canadian scenes, so if you’re a fan of bands such as Behexen, Forteresse, Gorgoroth, Sargeist, Tsjuder, etc., then this is for you. Continue reading “Spectral Wound – Songs of Blood and Mire (Review)”
This is the debut album from Simone Simons, a symphonic metal artist from the Netherlands.
I’ve always had a healthy respect for Epica, and for the vocals of their talented singer Simone Simons, so when Vermillion appeared, it only made sense to check it out. I’m so glad I did. Continue reading “Simone Simons – Vermillion (Review)”
This is the debut EP from Ignobleth, an Italian black/death metal band.
Here’s we have a passionate slab of old-school darkness. Ignobleth play war metal brutality that’s grim and sinister. Voidspawn Sacrifice combines black and death metal – with a slight leaning towards the latter – into 15 enjoyable minutes. Continue reading “Ignobleth – Voidspawn Sacrifice (Review)”
Evilyn are an international death metal band and this is their debut album.
Evilyn play a form of death metal with strong avant-garde/dissonant leanings. Mondostrunken contains 36 minutes of material, showcasing a band that have honed their vision into an atypical beast. Continue reading “Evilyn – Mondestrunken (Review)”
This is the fifth album from US sludge metal band Generation of Vipers.
I last heard Generation of Vipers on 2011’s Howl and Filth, which was a long time ago, (their last album actually came out in 2014 though, which I missed). Guilt Shrine contains 35 minutes of sludgy menace. Continue reading “Generation of Vipers – Guilt Shrine (Review)”
Orme are a doom/drone band from the UK and this is their latest EP.
After last year’s gargantuan self-titled debut record, I’m pleased to see Orme back in action already with No Serpents, No Saviours. Consisting of a single 24-minute track, this new release finds Orme operating in slightly different waters. On No Serpents, No Saviours Orme focus less on the drone of their debut, and more on colossal death/doom metal. Continue reading “Orme – No Serpents, No Saviours (Review)”
This is the thirteenth album by Dark Tranquillity, a melodic death metal band from Sweden.
I last caught up with Dark Tranquillity on 2016’s very enjoyable Atoma, so really wanted to check out Endtime Signals. With 14 songs and 59 minutes of music, (including the two bonus tracks), there’s a lot of material here. Don’t be put off though, as Endtime Signals is Dark Tranquillity firing on all cylinders. Continue reading “Dark Tranquillity – Endtime Signals (Review)”
Vile Rites are a death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.
Vile Rites contain a member of Mortuous in their ranks, which is enough to get my attention. Senescence offers us 40 minutes of progressive death metal of a high quality. Some bands playing this sort of style get bogged down in the technicality, but for Vile Rites this is just an enabler, not the prime goal of the music. Continue reading “Vile Rites – Senescence (Review)”
This is the debut album from Wrach, a Welsh solo black metal band.
Quad Infra Volo Videre contains 48 minutes of sinister underground black metal. It’s inspired by the 90s second wave style, but other influences from across the last few decades have been drawn into its malevolent embrace, giving it more of a 00s feel overall. Continue reading “Wrach – Quae Infra Volo Videre (Review)”
This is a split between two US black metal bands, Lust Hag and Reaping Fields.
NEW LUST HAG! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! I dunno what it is with Lust Hag, but I just can’t get enough. Actually, I know exactly what it is – it’s just absolutely killer black metal. This is a split though, and Reaping Fields, as we’ll see, are a revelation. Continue reading “Lust Hag/Reaping Fields – Prayers Unanswered – Split (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 