January 2026 – Page 2 – Wonderbox Metal

Ligation – After Gods (Review)

This is the debut album from Finnish death metal band Ligation.

After Gods is billed as a full album, although it actually only contains 24 minutes of new music, spread over five tracks. However, there’s also a version with three additional bonus tracks that have been taken from Ligation’s previous two split releases, which brings the total up to 41 minutes. Either way, it’s an unconventional approach, but then Ligation’s music is unconventional too. Continue reading “Ligation – After Gods (Review)”

Archvile King – Aux Heures Désespérées (Review)

This is the second album from French solo black metal band Archvile King.

I enjoyed my time with 2022’s À la Ruine, so a new record from Archvile King is not unwelcome at all. Aux Heures Désespérées boasts 47 minutes of new material, and it’s pretty damn good. Continue reading “Archvile King – Aux Heures Désespérées (Review)”

Gros Enfant Mort – Le Sang des Pierres (Review)

This is the second album from Gros Enfant Mort, a post-hardcore solo band from France.

Gros Enfant Mort are full band live, but in the studio the singer handles all instruments and vocals. Le Sang des Pierres is a 36 -minute album that scratches an itch that’s rarely reached these days. Continue reading “Gros Enfant Mort – Le Sang des Pierres (Review)”

Deathraiser – Forged in Hatred (Review)

Deathraiser are a Brazilian thrash metal band and this is their second album.

Deathraiser have opened a portal into the past, out of which steps confidently Forged in Hatred, a 34-minute thrash metal warrior. Get ready to thrash, as this thing has The Riffs. So many riffs! Continue reading “Deathraiser – Forged in Hatred (Review)”

In a House of Heartbeats – Divination of Dreams (Review)

This is the debut album from UK post-metal band In a House of Heartbeats.

Divination of Dreams is a 54-minute cinematic blend of post-rock, post-metal, shoegaze, and doom. In a House of Heartbeats have produced a cracking first record that’s more than worth spending time getting to know intimately. Continue reading “In a House of Heartbeats – Divination of Dreams (Review)”

Carrion Vael – Slay Utterly (Review)

This is the fifth album from US death metallers Carrion Vael.

I enjoyed 2022’s Abhorrent Obsessions much more than I expected to, so I was pleased to see Slay Utterly appear, (it turns out I’d completely missed 2024’s Cannibals Anonymous too, which is annoying). This new record offers up 42 minutes of premium Carrion Vael, and it’s pretty damn good. Continue reading “Carrion Vael – Slay Utterly (Review)”

Kreator – Krushers of the World (Review)

This is the sixteenth album from legendary German thrash metal band Kreator.

Krushers of the World is the follow up to 2022’s Hate Über Alles, and I’m here to receive it with open arms. I’m a huge Kreator fan, so you’ll find no apologies for the glowing review below, as Krushers of the World is cracking record. Continue reading “Kreator – Krushers of the World (Review)”

Ov Sulfur – Endless (Review)

Ov Sulfur are a blackened deathcore band from the US and this is their second album.

Following on from 2023’s The Burden ov Faith comes the 46-minute Endless. On this new record Ov Sulfur continue their upwards trajectory. Continue reading “Ov Sulfur – Endless (Review)”

Miasme – Keep Them at a Distance (Review)

This is the second album from Polish solo post-black metal band Miasme.

Keep Them at a Distance contains 43 minutes of engaging music. The artist behind Miasme convinces easily with a striking display of hybrid blackened post-metal that feels very contemporary, yet also timeless in its flavour. Continue reading “Miasme – Keep Them at a Distance (Review)”

The Ruins of Beverast – Tempelschlaf (Review)

This is the seventh album from one-man German black/doom metal metal band The Ruins of Beverast.

For some reason it feels like an age since The Thule Grimoires came out, but it was only actually 2021. As such, the arrival of Tempelschlaf feels like an occasion of note. The artist behind The Ruins of Beverast has amassed a great deal of experience and renown across his career – can Tempelschlaf keep the momentum going? Continue reading “The Ruins of Beverast – Tempelschlaf (Review)”