January 2025 – Page 3 – Wonderbox Metal

Sarcator – Swarming Angels & Flies (Review)

Sarcator are a Swedish thrash metal band and this is their third album.

Sarcator play a black/death-influenced style of thrash metal, and Swarming Angels & Flies contains 44 minutes of material. Think of a blend of early-period old-school metal in the form of bands such as Kreator, Sarcófago, Sodom, and Morbid Angel, and then blend this with more contemporary acts like Hellripper, Devastator, and Midnight, and you’ll be on the right lines. You can throw in some other refences too at various points, but ultimately, despite the ancient style that underpins this album, it’s remarkably fun and fresh sounding. Continue reading “Sarcator – Swarming Angels & Flies (Review)”

Häxkapell – Om Jordens Blod och Urgravens Grepp (Review)

This is the second album from Swedish solo black metal act Häxkapell.

Om Jordens Blod och Urgravens Grepp is a 40-minute black metal album brought to us by a member of Sons of Crom. This is a detailed, multifaceted form of black metal, consisting of many component parts that work together to create something engaging and enjoyable. Continue reading “Häxkapell – Om Jordens Blod och Urgravens Grepp (Review)”

Onirophagus – Revelations from the Void (Review)

Onirophagus are a Spanish death/doom metal band and this is their third album.

It’s been some time since Onirophagus graced us with the crushing slab of death/doom that was 2019’s Endarkenment (Illumination Through Putrefaction), but now the band have returned. The 48-minute Revelations from the Void is a leaner beast than its predecessor, with shorter songs, (significantly so in many cases), and an increase in atmospheric malevolence that’s remarkable. Continue reading “Onirophagus – Revelations from the Void (Review)”

Necronos – Charred Tongue (Review)

Necronos are a Mexican death metal band and this is their debut album.

Charred Tongue is a 33-minute death metal album bursting with chaotic aggression that’s been tempered by a keen sense of worldbuilding. Mixing atmospheric, progressive, technical, and dissonant death metal together with skilled ability, Necronos have crafted an album that showcases their talents well. Continue reading “Necronos – Charred Tongue (Review)”

Katoaja – What We Witness (Review)

Katoaja are a Finnish progressive metal band and this is their debut album.

What We Witness contains 45 minutes of modern progressive metal. Katoaja operate on the heavier end of the progressive metal spectrum, delivering seven songs that showcase the talents of this relatively new band very nicely. As this is progressive metal, there’s more to Katoaja than just heaviness though. Continue reading “Katoaja – What We Witness (Review)”

The Halo Effect – March of the Unheard (Review)

This is the second album from Swedish melodic death metal band The Halo Effect.

2022’s Days of the Lost was an album I really enjoyed, so it’s great to have a new album once more from The Halo Effect. In case you’re unaware, The Halo Effect are a band that features ex-members of In Flames, (and many other bands), along with the singer of Dark Tranquillity, (also from Grand Cadaver and Cemetery Skyline, and who was also in In Flames very early on). Yep, there’s a lot of talent involved in the March of the Unheard. Continue reading “The Halo Effect – March of the Unheard (Review)”

Faithxtractor – Loathing & the Noose (Review)

Faithxtractor are a death metal band from the US and this is their fifth album.

Following on from 2023’s Contempt for a Failed Dimension, Faithxtractor return with the 37-minute Loathing & the Noose. This band haven’t disappointed me yet, so dig in if you’re a fan of death metal that smashes your skull and stomps your bones. Continue reading “Faithxtractor – Loathing & the Noose (Review)”

Barshasketh – Antinomian Asceticism (Review)

Barshasketh are a black metal band from New Zealand/Scotland and this is their fifth album.

I first encountered Barshasketh on their 2015 split with Void Ritual, and then again on their 2017 split with Outre. Both primed me for the emergence in 2019 of the formidable Barshasketh, which ably demonstrated what the band could do across a full length. Well, it may have taken the best part of six years, but Barshasketh have now returned with the 44-minute Antinomian Asceticism, and let me tell you, it’s lethal. Continue reading “Barshasketh – Antinomian Asceticism (Review)”

Bergthron – Neu Asen Land (Review)

Bergthron are a German black metal band and this is their seventh album.

After a 15-year absence, Bergthron have unexpectedly appeared out of nowhere with 32 minutes of new material in the form of Neu Asen Land. If you know any of Bergthron’s first few albums or so, this almost sounds like a completely different band, so don’t go expecting the sprawling atmospheric black metal epics of their early work. If you’re unfamiliar with them though, or aren’t bothered by a change in direction, then there’s much to enjoy here if you are of a certain taste. Continue reading “Bergthron – Neu Asen Land (Review)”