This is the debut album from Finnish death metallers Devenial Verdict.
Containing an ex-member of Hooded Menace, Ash Blind provides the listener with 44 minutes of atypical death metal. The promo blurb recommends this for fans of acts such as Ulcerate, Aeviterne, Morbid Angel, Mithras, and Blut Aus Nord, which is a good place to start from when approaching Ash Blind. To this list I’ll also add older Rivers of Nihil and Gojira. Continue reading “Devenial Verdict – Ash Blind (Review)”
This is the second album from Swedish black metallers Jordfäst.
Av Stoft contains just two tracks, the first of which lasts 16 minutes, and the next 17 minutes. During these two lengthy songs we are taken on an epic, windswept journey into Jordfäst’s world.
If you think of bands such as Skagos, Ulver, Primordial, Wolves in the Throne Room, Bathory, and Skogen, (the singer of which guests here), you’ll have a rough idea of what Av Stoft contains. Continue reading “Jordfäst – Av Stoft (Review)”
This is the debut album from US rock band Hoaxed.
Two Shadows offers the discerning listener 28 minutes of characterful dark rock. Comprised of a few different influences from a range of styles, Hoaxed are charismatic and idiosyncratic. Elements of Gothic, melodic, alternative, and folk rock are Continue reading “Hoaxed – Two Shadows (Review)”
Therion are a Swedish symphonic/operatic metal band and this is their eighteenth album.
2021’s Leviathan was one of my favourite records from that year. How it didn’t end up on my end of year list I’ll never know, and it remains a massive oversight on my part. Suffice to say it’s an absolute killer record, and I love its ostentatious charms. In all honesty I don’t think I’ll have the same long-term reaction to Leviathan II, but that doesn’t stop it from being a damn fine record in its own right. Continue reading “Therion – Leviathan II (Review)”
This is the sixth album from Swedish death/thrash metal act Defleshed.
It’s been 17 long years since Defleshed’s last album, but now they’re back with the 34-minute monster that is Grind over Matter. Hang on tight, as you’re in for a wild, but fun ride. Continue reading “Defleshed – Grind over Matter (Review)”
This is the second album from US doom band Forlesen.
2020’s Hierophan Violent was a strikingly individual record, one which, for some reason, I never expected a successor to. Well, I’m happy to be wrong; Black Terrain is flush with 59 minutes of new material from this exceptional act. It’s almost double the length of its predecessor, so do Forlesen make good use of this additional running time? Continue reading “Forlesen – Black Terrain (Review)”
This is the debut album from international death metallers Obsidious.
Containing current and ex-members of bands such as Alkaloid and Obscura, Obsidious play a form of progressive/technical death metal that melts faces, but does so with an epic hook. Continue reading “Obsidious – Iconic (Review)”
Psychonaut are a Belgian post-metal band and this is their second album.
Having enjoyed Psychonaut’s 2021 Emerald – split with Sâver, I’ve been looking forward to seeing what the band could do with a longer release. So now we have it – Violate Consensus Reality contains 53 minutes of material for the listener to explore. Continue reading “Psychonaut – Violate Consensus Reality (Review)”
Voidthrone are a US black metal band and this is their third album.
I enjoyed both 2016’s Spiritual War Tactics and 2018’s Kur, so after four long years it’s about time we heard more from Voidthrone. Metaphysical Degradation is a 38-minute mix of black and death metal dissonance, delivered with spite and wrapped in venom. Continue reading “Voidthrone – Metaphysical Degradation (Review)”
This is the third album from Norwegian symphonic death/doom band Abyssic.
Oh my, here’s one I’ve definitely been looking forward to. 2015’s A Winter’s Tale and High the Memory were both stunning records that have only grown in my estimation over time. Towering monoliths of symphonic doom and misery, those records have definitely made me hungry for Brought Forth in Iniquity. Continue reading “Abyssic – Brought Forth in Iniquity (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 