wonderboxmetal

Playgrounded – The Death of Death (Review)

This is the second album from Greek progressive metal band Playgrounded.

Playgrounded’s progressive metal is skilfully combined with electronic elements to produce music that’s affecting and engaging. As a starting point for what you’ll encounter here, the promo blurb’s statement that this is for fans of bands such as Karnivool, Katatonia, Nine Inch Nails, Deftones, Moderat, The Ocean, Vola, Leprous, and Skyharbor is a pretty decent one. Continue reading “Playgrounded – The Death of Death (Review)”

Black Fucking Cancer – Procreate Inverse (Review)

This is the second album from Black Fucking Cancer, a black metal band from the US.

What can you say about a band with a name like Black Fucking Cancer, other than to describe them as sounding completely and utterly evil? 2016’s Black Fucking Cancer and 2019’s Boundless Arcane Invokations – Split with Gloam, both impressed me with their malignant take on underground black metal, so when Procreate Inverse raised its ugly head, I knew I had to prepare myself for a beating. Continue reading “Black Fucking Cancer – Procreate Inverse (Review)”

Cryptivore – Celestial Extinction (Review)

This is the debut album from Cryptivore, a one-man Australian death metal band.

Across 27 minutes the artist behind Cryptivore hammers into us his vision for old-school death metal. Taking influence from early Amorphis, Carcass, and Grave, Celestial Extinction is a mix of brutal Swedish death metal, moody melodic death metal, and feral grindcore. Continue reading “Cryptivore – Celestial Extinction (Review)”

CHRMR – Low in the Glow (Review)

CHRMR are a metal band from the US and this is their second album.

CHRMR contain members of Contrarian and Sulaco, but are a different proposition to both of those more extreme bands. Low in the Glow offers a much more accessible proposition, focusing on short songs with catchy melodies and good choruses. Continue reading “CHRMR – Low in the Glow (Review)”

Sidious – Blackest Insurrection (Review)

This is the third album from UK black metal act Sidious.

I’ve enjoyed watching Sidious develop from their symphonic black/death beginnings, (Revealed in Profane Splendour), to their metamorphosis into the pure black metal form of their last album, (Temporal). Now we have Blackest Insurrection, where the band spend 48 minutes showcasing a refinement of their raw blackened assault. Out of the two, I’d say that this is the superior release when compared to Temporal, and it’s great to hear the band improving their sound. Continue reading “Sidious – Blackest Insurrection (Review)”

Sidus Atrum – Spiral of Life (Review)

This is the second album from Ukrainian one-woman blackened doom band Sidus Atrum.

Spiral of Life contains 40 minutes of modern black metal mixed with death/doom elements. It’s an album that uses its influences well, taking strengths from both styles to produce something very enjoyable and engaging. Continue reading “Sidus Atrum – Spiral of Life (Review)”

Messa – Close (Review)

Messa are an Italian doom rock band and this is their third album.

It’s with great expectations that I turned to Close, having enjoyed both 2016’s Belfry and 2018’s Feast for Water so much. I have not been disappointed, I can assure you. Continue reading “Messa – Close (Review)”

Cailleach Calling – Dreams of Fragmentation (Review)

This is the debut album from Cailleach Calling, a black metal band from the US.

Featuring current and ex-members of bands such as Dawn of Ouroboros, Botanist, and White Ward, Dreams of Fragmentation contains 40 minutes of music spread out over four tracks. Continue reading “Cailleach Calling – Dreams of Fragmentation (Review)”

Arkaik – Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts (Review)

This is the sixth album from US death metallers Arkaik.

Back now with a new lineup, (featuring current and ex-members of Singularity, Alterbeast, Dessiderium, and Nullingroots), Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts boasts 48 minutes of new material. Both 2015’s Lucid Dawn and 2017’s Nemethia were very likeable records, so Arkaik’s new one carries a certain level of expectation. Spoiler alert – it’s been exceeded. Continue reading “Arkaik – Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts (Review)”

Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Kuolemanlaakso (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. Continue reading “Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Kuolemanlaakso (Interview)”