wonderboxmetal

Label Roundup: Grind to Death Records – Belarus Beaver, Eldprov, & Beyond the Catacombs (Reviews)

Wonderbox Metal gets sent a lot of new music, (which is great), but there’s no way that everything can get covered unfortunately, (which is not so great). This column hopes to redress this balance, if only slightly, by taking a look at a handful of releases that a record label has recently sent out that might have otherwise slipped through the cracks.

In this edition of this column we’ll take a look at Swedish label Grind to Death Records. It’s not a label I’m familiar with, so how better to get a good look at what they do than this? Besides, how could I resist a grindcore album about beavers… Continue reading “Label Roundup: Grind to Death Records – Belarus Beaver, Eldprov, & Beyond the Catacombs (Reviews)”

Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Reeking Aura (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?

Ryan Lipynsky and I am one of the three guitarists in Reeking Aura based out of New Jersey and New York. On the album my guitar is heard down the centre and I play the heavy metal leads. I am also the main riff chef. Continue reading “Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Reeking Aura (Interview)”

1/2 Southern North – Narrations of a Fallen Soul (Review)

This is the debut album from 1/2 Southern Soul, a one-woman blackened doom band from Greece.

Narrations of a Fallen Soul is a 67-minute journey into lesser travelled terrain. Powered by a single creative artist, but fleshed out by many guests on different tracks and instruments, (including drums, saxophone, violin, davul, kaval, and dahare), 1/2 Southern North provides an unusual album that is well-crafted and realised. Continue reading “1/2 Southern North – Narrations of a Fallen Soul (Review)”

Infinity Ritual – Infinity Ritual (Review)

This is the debut EP from New Zealand metal band Infinity Ritual.

Infinity Ritual play a groovy metallic brand of doom and stoner, and this EP features four tracks of material with a total duration of 23 minutes. Continue reading “Infinity Ritual – Infinity Ritual (Review)”

Reeking Aura – Blood and Bonemeal (Review)

Reeking Aura are a death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Blood and Bonemeal contains 34 minutes of gruesome death metal brought to us by current and ex-members of Afterbirth, Artificial Brain, Buckshot Facelift, Coma Cluster Void, Grey Skies Fallen, and Unearthly Trance. In other words, Reeking Aura bring a lot of experience to the table. Continue reading “Reeking Aura – Blood and Bonemeal (Review)”

Pythian – Understanding in Light (Review)

This is the latest EP from Pythian, a post-metal/sludge band from the US.

Understanding in Light is a 30-minute journey into shaded mood and crushing sludgescapes. Pythian play Neurosis-esque apocalyptic post-metal/sludge mixed with elements of expressive doom metal and formidable crust. Continue reading “Pythian – Understanding in Light (Review)”

Ithaca – They Fear Us (Review)

This is the second album from UK metallic hardcore band Ithaca.

Following on from 2019’s very enjoyable The Language of Injury, They Fear Us contains 35 minutes of new material from Ithaca.

There’s a greater diversity of material on this album than on Continue reading “Ithaca – They Fear Us (Review)”

Grima – Frostbitten (Review)

This is the fifth album from Russian black metal band Grima.

Containing members of Second to Sun, Frostbitten presents us with 49 minutes of atmospheric black metal, and it does so with singular skill, talent, and delivery. Continue reading “Grima – Frostbitten (Review)”

Belphegor – The Devils (Review)

Belphegor are an Austrian black/death metal band and this is their twelfth album.

Influenced by the 90s era of both black and death metal, The Devils contains 36 minutes of unholy new material, (or 42 if you include the bonus track, which is a rerecorded medley of two older songs). Continue reading “Belphegor – The Devils (Review)”

Krisiun – Mortem Solis (Review)

This is the twelfth album from Krisiun, a death metal band from Brazil.

Mortem Solis is a 40-minute earthquake of pure death metal carnage. If you’re into the style then there’s nothing to not enjoy here, so sit back, turn up the volume, and get ready to be crushed. Continue reading “Krisiun – Mortem Solis (Review)”