December 2024 – Page 2 – Wonderbox Metal

Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2024

Yes, it’s list season once more, so gather round and witness some of the best metal that 2024 had to offer!

2024 was a fantastic year for metal, and that’s an understatement. I thought 2023 was one of the weaker years for metal releases, overall. As such, putting last year’s list together, although challenging as it always is, was relatively effortless compared to this one. I don’t think I’ve agonised over placings more any other year. In the end, similar to last year, I just decided that enough was enough and I needed to just stop needlessly obsessing. Continue reading “Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2024”

Alcest/Svalbard/Doodseskader – Academy 2, Manchester – 12/12/24 (Live Review)

I’ve never seen Alcest before, so this was a great opportunity to remedy that, especially as the wonderful Svalbard were also playing. Doodseskader too, but I don’t really know them. Continue reading “Alcest/Svalbard/Doodseskader – Academy 2, Manchester – 12/12/24 (Live Review)”

Impurist – Punishment Without Mercy (Review)

This is the debut EP from UK death metallers Impurist.

Impurist made a good impression with me when I caught them at this year’s UK Slam Fest, so it’s high time for a dive into their 16-minute EP Punishment Without Mercy, which saw the light of day back in the depths of April. Continue reading “Impurist – Punishment Without Mercy (Review)”

Mesarthim – Anthropic Bias / Departure (Review)

This is the latest release from Australian black metal band Mesarthim.

With quite a prolific discography, I don’t get to catch up with Mesarthim as often as I’d like, (though do check out .- -… … . -. -.-. ., The Density Parameter, and CLG J02182–05102), so upon the arrival of Anthropic Bias / Departure I made sure I spent some time with it. Continue reading “Mesarthim – Anthropic Bias / Departure (Review)”

An Axis of Perdition – Apertures (Review)

This is the fifth album from UK industrial black metal band An Axis of Perdition.

Apertures contains 48 minutes of malignant dark terror. It’s an industrial black metal vehicle for extradimensional horror that uses the listener’s mind against them. Enter into the world of An Axis of Perdition at your peril. Continue reading “An Axis of Perdition – Apertures (Review)”

Sarcophagum – The Grand Arc of Madness (Review)

This is the debut album from Australian death metallers Sarcophagum.

Essentially a side band of the gloriously nasty Golgothan Remains, (three out of four members have links to the band), Sarcophagum also boast the talents of the drummer of the mighty Ashen Horde, (also current/ex-member of Blade of Horus, Decrepid, Evilyn, Norse, Somnium Nox, Virulent Depravity, and more). Suffice to say, I knew I had to check this out. Continue reading “Sarcophagum – The Grand Arc of Madness (Review)”

Pillar of Light – Caldera (Review)

This is the debut album from US post-metal band Pillar of Light.

Caldera contains 56 minutes of hulking heaviness and shaded darkness. Pillar of Light blend doom, sludge, and post-metal elements into a churning pot and use these choice ingredients to produce something weighty and thick, yet surprisingly tasty. Continue reading “Pillar of Light – Caldera (Review)”

Neckbreakker – Within the Viscera (Review)

This is the debut album from Danish death metal band Neckbreakker.

Within the Viscera contains 46 minutes of music for fans of pit-friendly heaviness. Neckbreakker’s style is a death metal one that has a healthy dollop of groove metal and hardcore thrown in for good measure, all with the aim of getting people moving. It works too. Continue reading “Neckbreakker – Within the Viscera (Review)”

Aara – Eiger (Review)

This is the sixth album from Swiss black metal band Aara.

A new Aara album is always a cause for celebration. I’ve been a big fan of everything they’ve put out so far, (check out Triade I: Eos, Triade II: Hemera, and Triade III: Nyx), so expectations are high for Eiger. Continue reading “Aara – Eiger (Review)”

Hulder/Verwoed/Aristarchos/Ante-Inferno/Deathless Void/Burial/Slimelord – Rebellion, Manchester – 30/11/24 (Live Review)

It’s time for another high quality (mostly) black metal all dayer courtesy of the fine folks at Reaper Agency. Today was originally meant to have been headlined by the mighty Worm, but despite that unfortunately no longer being the case, they were never the only reason to attend. So let’s get on with the show – the day promises to be a very enjoyable one indeed. Continue reading “Hulder/Verwoed/Aristarchos/Ante-Inferno/Deathless Void/Burial/Slimelord – Rebellion, Manchester – 30/11/24 (Live Review)”