This is the fifth album from US metallic hardcore band 156/Silence.
People Watching contains 47 minutes of 156/Silence’s brand of crushing metalcore. It’s a contemporary blend of hardcore and metal that’s not completely what I expected it to be. Continue reading “156/Silence – People Watching (Review)”
This is the third album from Greek black metallers Isolert.
Isolert gained my attention with 2015’s Isolated Soul, held it with 2016’s No Hope, No Light…Only Death and 2017’s split with Insanity Cult – Towards the Great Dissolution, and then exceeded all expectations with 2020’s fantastic World in Ruins. The latter ended up in my top three in my end of year list for that year, so to say expectations are high for Wounds of Desolation is an understatement. Continue reading “Isolert – Wounds of Desolation (Review)”
Kingcrow are an Italian progressive rock band and this is their eighth album.
I really liked 2015’s Eidos, (and somehow missed its 2018 follow up), so wanted to make sure I caught up with the band for the 53-minute, (with bonus track), Hopium. I was not disappointed. Continue reading “Kingcrow – Hopium (Review)”
This is the debut album from Marrow of Man, a one-man black metal band from the Netherlands.
Ancient Hymns of Apocalypse contains 46 minutes of black metal, with some thrash metal elements added in for extra brutality. The promo blurb says that the primary influences of this act are Dissection, Bathory, Evilfeast, Darkthrone, Odium, and Lunar Spells, so that will give you a starting point for the Marrow of Man sound. Continue reading “Marrow of Man – Ancient Hymns of Apocalypse (Review)”
This is the debut EP from Spanish grindcore band Immune to Them.
Five tracks, 10 minutes – it’s time for a hit of grinding ferocity from Immune to Them. Vomit the Chains marks a new entrant into the grindcore killing arena, and we may have a future champion on our hands. Continue reading “Immune to Them – Vomit the Chains (Review)”
This is the latest EP from US death metallers Father Befouled.
I last caught up with Father Befouled on 2017’s Desolate Gods. Since then the band have released an EP, a live album, a split, and another album in 2022 called Crowned in Veneficium, none of which I heard at the time, unfortunately. This streak of missed opportunities to let the band crush me with their blasphemous brand of death metal ends now, with the 26-minute Immaculate Pain. Continue reading “Father Befouled – Immaculate Pain (Review)”
This is the fourth album from UK doom/post-rock band 40 Watt Sun.
Following on from 2022’s highly emotive Perfect Light comes the 45-minute Little Weight, and let me tell you it’s quite the record. It’s a journey into richly crafted emotion, one that aches with affecting depth. Continue reading “40 Watt Sun – Little Weight (Review)”
Black Sites are a heavy/progressive metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.
The Promised Land? is the 44-minute follow up to 2021’s enjoyable Untrue. That record was a strong one, narrowly missing on on my end of year list. I’m interested to see how The Promised Land? fares by the end of the year, as it’s arguably even stronger than its predecessor. Continue reading “Black Sites – The Promised Land? (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Swedish post-metal band A Swarm of the Sun.
An Empire offers up a daunting 71 minutes of music to explore. It’s a lot to absorb, but is worth the time investment, as the dark soundscapes that A Swarm of the Sun create are utterly captivating. Continue reading “A Swarm of the Sun – An Empire (Review)”
This is the second album from Spanish death metal band Sanctuarium.
Sanctuarium play rotten old death metal with a crushing dose of fetid doom. Melted and Decomposed contains 48 minutes of foul death/doom nastiness spread over five tracks. Continue reading “Sanctuarium – Melted and Decomposed (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 