Immolation – Acts of God (Review)

Immolation - Acts of GodThis is the eleventh album from veteran US death metallers Immolation.

Immolation are one of those timeless, classic death metal acts with a sound all of their own; nobody else sounds quite like them, although many have taken influence from their otherworldly brutality. Continue reading “Immolation – Acts of God (Review)”

Archvile King – À la Ruine (Review)

Archvile King- À la RuineArchvile King is a solo black metal band from France and this is his debut album.

The music of Archvile King is that of classic black metal mixed with elements of thrash, punk, and folk. The latter style is lesser-heard in general, but can be detected in some of the melodies and the occasional acoustic guitar, (and is especially apparent in tracks like Chroniques du Royaume Avili and À la Ruine). The punk and thrash elements are embedded in parts of the blackened guitars that rage and tear out of the speakers like envenomed claws. Continue reading “Archvile King – À la Ruine (Review)”

Nightrage – Abyss Rising (Review)

Nightrage - Abyss RisingNightrage are a melodic death metal band from Greece/Sweden and this is their ninth album.

I missed 2019’s Wolf to Man, but caught and enjoyed 2017’s The Venomous. Back now with 39 minutes of new material, Nightrage are firing on all cylinders and sound ready to take on the world. Continue reading “Nightrage – Abyss Rising (Review)”

Pure Wrath – Hymn to the Woeful Hearts (Review)

Pure Wrath - Hymn to the Woeful HeartsThis is the third album from Indonesian one-man black metal band Pure Wrath.

While the name Pure Wrath might conjure images of ultraviolent brutality of some sort, what we actually get on this album is 44 minutes of atmospheric black metal with an emphasis on melancholic emotion. Joined by a handful of other musicians, Continue reading “Pure Wrath – Hymn to the Woeful Hearts (Review)”

Once Human – Scar Weaver (Review)

Once Human - Scar WeaverOnce Human are a metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Brought to us my an ex-member of Machine Head, Once Human play a heavy brand of modern metal that is designed to get pits moving everywhere, but also offers a bit more depth than you’d expect. Think of a mix of bands such as Machine Head, Fear Factory, Gojira, Jinjer, Strapping Young Lad, and Lamb of God, and then add some increased progressive and technical metal influences, and a touch of classic heavy metal, and you’ll have a decent starting point for Scar Weaver. Continue reading “Once Human – Scar Weaver (Review)”

Amorphis – Halo (Review)

Amorphis - HaloThis is the fourteenth album from veteran Finnish metal band Amorphis.

Following on from 2018’s immense Queen of Time, Amorphis have returned to once again treat us with 56 minutes of splendid music.

Boasting big songs and bigger choruses, Amophis’ new album is Continue reading “Amorphis – Halo (Review)”

Napalm Death – Resentment Is Always Seismic – a Final Throw of Throes (Review)

Napalm Death - Resentment Is Always Seismic - a Final Throw of ThroesThis is the latest EP from veteran UK grindcore band Napalm Death.

This mini-album consists of 29 minutes of material. The tracks are made up of recordings made during the sessions for the band’s last album – Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism – and is made up of six new songs and two covers. Continue reading “Napalm Death – Resentment Is Always Seismic – a Final Throw of Throes (Review)”

Creeping Flesh – …And Then the Bombs Came (Review)

Creeping Flesh - ...And Then the Bombs CameThis is the second album from Swedish death metallers Creeping Flesh.

Creeping Flesh play old-school death metal that feels like it’s underpinned and powered by the classic Swedish style, but has an obvious love of Bolt Thrower that they then build on top of these sturdy foundations. The end result throws bands such as Hail Continue reading “Creeping Flesh – …And Then the Bombs Came (Review)”