I’ve never been to The Hairy Dog before, but it’s a great venue with a good vibe and good sound system. I don’t actually think I’ve ever been to Derby before at all, but if anything was going to entice me here, it was this year’s Reaper Festival, brought to us by the wonderful Reaper Agency UK. It was a great day overall, and I’d gladly attend such a well-organised show again. Sadly I could only make day one of the festival, which is a shame, as day two has many great bands too. Continue reading “Reaper Festival 2023 – Day One: Saturday – Ultha/Darkher/Coscradh/Dawn Ray’d/The Sun’s Journey Through the Night/Ruadh/Calligram/Cairns – Derby The Hairy Dog, 29/07/23 (Live Review)”
Author: wonderboxmetal
Lust Hag – Demo II / Promo 2023 (Review)
Lust Hag is a one-woman black metal band from the US, and this is her latest release.
I really liked Mistress in the Mirror, so was pleased to have some more raw nastiness from this artist to digest. Apparently she is becoming quite prolific, as there’s also a Lust Hag split that I somehow missed out on that was released after Mistress in the Mirror. But fear not, as those tracks seem to have made it onto this release. Continue reading “Lust Hag – Demo II / Promo 2023 (Review)”
Lokust – Infidel (Review)
This is the debut album from UK metal band Lokust.
Infidel is a 52-minute metal album that uses modern, groove, and thrash metal to produce a crushing assault that’s shockingly accomplished for a debut album. Despite the genre tags I’ve just thrown around though, Infidel might not be what you’re expecting. Continue reading “Lokust – Infidel (Review)”
Agriculture – Agriculture (Review)
Agriculture are a black metal band from the US and this is their debut album.
Agriculture is a 31-minute black metal album that combines post-black metal, blackgaze, noise rock, and post-rock ingredients into a charismatic whole. Agriculture, (who contain a member of Ehnahre), are a band that play with passion and energy, and this is a release that is hideously enjoyable if you’re a fan of the style. Continue reading “Agriculture – Agriculture (Review)”
Starer – Wind, Breeze, or Breath (Review)
This is the third album from Starer, a one-man black metal band from the US.
It’s time for some new Starer once more! After making a splash with 2021’s stellar 18° Below the Horizon, and then following up with last year’s The What It Is to Be, the artist has returned to us once more. Wind, Breeze, or Breath contains 38 minutes of symphonic black metal, divided over seven movements, and it’s quite exceptionally good. Continue reading “Starer – Wind, Breeze, or Breath (Review)”
Urbain – A Soul Purged (Review)
Urbain are a black metal band from the US and this is their debut album.
With a description of urban black metal, and a recommendation for fans of Emperor, White Ward, early Dimmu Borgir, and Cradle of Filth, I was intrigued to hear what Urbain had to offer. The fact that the band contain members of Ovnev and Wills Dissolve was further reason, if any were needed. Continue reading “Urbain – A Soul Purged (Review)”
Tongues – Formløse Stjerner (Review)
Tongues are a black metal band from Denmark and this is their second album.
Tongues create quality extreme metal – just check out 2014’s Thelésis Ignis or 2017’s Hreilia for ample evidence of this. It’s been a while, but Tongues have now returned with Formløse Stjerner, a 40-minute odyssey of abyssal exploration. Continue reading “Tongues – Formløse Stjerner (Review)”
Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Fen (Interview)
Although I’d ideally love to be able to conduct hard-hitting, in-depth interviews, who has the time these days? In lieu of this, I’ve thrown together the below question template, hopefully to gather some interesting and informative results, without taking up too much of anyone’s time.
Introduce yourself – who are you and what do you do?
I am The Watcher – I play guitar and perform vocals. Continue reading “Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Fen (Interview)”
Signs of the Swarm – Amongst the Low & Empty (Review)
This is the fifth album from US deathcore/death metal band Signs of the Swarm.
It’s always good to have some new Signs of the Swarm, as the band haven’t disappointed me yet. 2017’s The Disfigurement of Existence, 2019’s Vital Deprivation, and 2021’s Absolvere were all crushing slabs of heaviness, and the 42 minutes of new material on Amongst the Low & Empty is no exception. Having said that, it’s not completely business as usual either, and Signs of the Swarm have produced their best work so far. Continue reading “Signs of the Swarm – Amongst the Low & Empty (Review)”
Thra – Forged in Chaotic Spew (Review)
This is the debut album from US death/sludge metallers Thra.
Forged in Chaotic Spew is an ugly union of foul death metal and dirty sludge, which has resulted in a merciless 37 minutes of malevolent heaviness. If you’re into the dark underbelly of extreme music, then Thra have birthed a monster for you. Continue reading “Thra – Forged in Chaotic Spew (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 