wonderboxmetal

Breaths – Though Life Has Turned out Nothing Like I Imagined, It Is Far Better Than I Could Have Dreamt (Review)

This is the second album from US one-man post-metal band Breaths.

Here we have 35 minutes of music that’s described as a mix of post-metal, black metal, doom metal, shoegaze, post-rock, progressive metal, and post-hardcore, and recommended for bands such as Alcest, Deftones, Deafheaven, and Sleep Token. Believe it or not, this wide mix of genres actually makes sense within the context of the bands mentioned, so a picture can start to form of what the Breaths sound is like before you encounter the artist’s emotive metal. Continue reading “Breaths – Though Life Has Turned out Nothing Like I Imagined, It Is Far Better Than I Could Have Dreamt (Review)”

Darkest Mind – Oracle of Death (Review)

This is the debut album from Belgian black metal band Darkest Mind.

Oracle of Death saw the light of day at the end of last year, and I confess that I overlooked it largely due to its cover. Not that it’s bad artwork by any means, but the bright colours didn’t inspire me to check it out. My loss. Having now had the album brough to my attention once more, Continue reading “Darkest Mind – Oracle of Death (Review)”

Skinliv/Vermisst – Split (Review)

Skinliv are from Denmark and Vermisst are from Poland, both play black metal and they have teamed up for this 38-minute split.

Skinliv open up the split, with four tracks across 19 minutes.

Skinliv’s blackened assault is Continue reading “Skinliv/Vermisst – Split (Review)”

Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Celeste (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?

Hi! I’m Guillaume and I’ve played guitar in Celeste since the beginning of the band in 2005. Even if our creative process is very collaborative, I’ve always been the main songwriter until Infidèle(s) (2017), our previous album. Since then, I’ve shared this responsibility with Johan, the singer and bass player in the band. Continue reading “Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Celeste (Interview)”

Mur – Cut the Rivers Vein (Review)

This is the fourth album from one-man blackened doom act Mur.

Cut the Rivers Vein spends 51 minutes mixing together doom, post-metal, and black metal, with elements of folk, ambient, and drone, to great effect. Continue reading “Mur – Cut the Rivers Vein (Review)”

Sonic Assault – Neon-Lit Metropolis (Review)

This is the debut album from Swedish progressive thrash metal band Sonic Assault.

Sonic Assault’s music contains elements of hardcore, (primarily in the vocals), and black metal, but mostly the style is one of progressive/technical thrash, played with conviction and skill. Continue reading “Sonic Assault – Neon-Lit Metropolis (Review)”

Tine – Mergae Maris Profundi (Review)

This is the second album from US solo symphonic black/death metal act Tine.

Tine’s debut album – The Forest Dreams of Black – was one that I enjoyed a great deal, and I can’t quite believe that it came out seven years ago. I’m pleased to say that we now have a new album on the horizon – Mergae Maris Profundi – which provides us with 54 minutes of blackened death metal to hungrily consume. Continue reading “Tine – Mergae Maris Profundi (Review)”

The Mist from the Mountains – Monumental – The Temple of Twilight (Review)

The Mist from the Mountains are a Finnish black metal band and this is their debut album.

Monumental – The Temple of Twilight contains 38 minutes of 90s-influenced nature-inspired black metal. The promo blurb mentions bands from that era such as Old Man’s Child, Gehenna, Dimmu Borgir, and Borknagar, which, coupled with the enticing album art, meant I definitely had to give The Mist from the Mountains some of my attention. Continue reading “The Mist from the Mountains – Monumental – The Temple of Twilight (Review)”

Celeste – Assassine(s) (Review)

Celeste are a French blackened doom/sludge/hardcore band and this is their seventh album.

This is the follow up to 2017’s Infidèle(s), which I enjoyed a great deal. Clocking in at 41 minutes, this is on the shorter side for a Celeste album, and Assassine(s) finds the band focused and sharp. Continue reading “Celeste – Assassine(s) (Review)”

Dawn of Solace – Flames of Perdition (Review)

This is the third album from Finnish melodic metal band Dawn of Solace.

Blending elements of melodic, doom, and Gothic metal into a melancholic whole, Flames of Perdition is a mournful feast of emotive metallic delights. Bands such as Continue reading “Dawn of Solace – Flames of Perdition (Review)”