Bear – Propaganda (Review)

Bear - PropagandaBear are a progressive metal band from Belgium and this is their fourth album.

I really, really enjoyed 2017’s ///, and it grew on me over time more and more. Well, I haven’t had years to absorb the true nature of Propaganda yet, but damn does it seem just as good, if not better than ///. Continue reading “Bear – Propaganda (Review)”

Blacklab – Abyss (Review)

Blacklab - AbyssThis is the second album from Japanese doom band Blacklab.

Taking a jagged, almost experimental approach to doom, Blacklab’s music is a curious fusion of Black Sabbath, Boris, and The Stooges. This is dark, raw, and peppered with hardcore and noise rock influences. Continue reading “Blacklab – Abyss (Review)”

Civerous/Stygian Obsession – Heralds of Affliction – Split (Review)

Civerous Stygian Obsession - Heralds of Affliction - SplitCiverous and Stygian Obsession are both US death metal bands, and they’ve teamed up for this split release.

This is my first encounter with Civerous, but their 17-minute side of this split means that hopefully it won’t be my last, as it definitely makes me want to hear more from them. Continue reading “Civerous/Stygian Obsession – Heralds of Affliction – Split (Review)”

Cryptic Shift – Visitations from Enceladus (Review)

Cryptic Shift - Visitations from EnceladusCryptic Shift are a death metal band from the UK and this is their debut album.

Cryptic Shift play death metal that fuses elements of the technical, progressive, and thrash metal styles into its sci-fi-themed self. Continue reading “Cryptic Shift – Visitations from Enceladus (Review)”

Monthly Overview – the Best of April 2020

As it is every month, April’s releases were a hard bunch to whittle down to just a worthy few. I’ve settled on just the five below to highlight, but be aware that I’ve left out many other damn good records. Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of April 2020”

Vader – Solitude in Madness (Review)

Vader - Solitude in MadnessVader are a Polish death metal band and this is their sixteenth album.

I always enjoy a bit of Vader. This veteran band have been banging out reliable death metal for decades now, and show no signs of letting up. Solitude in Madness is another 30 minutes of such, and it’s easy to enjoy if you like your death metal fast, brief, and laced with thrash. Continue reading “Vader – Solitude in Madness (Review)”

Shatter Brain – Pitchfork Justice (Review)

Shatter Brain - Pitchfork JusticeThis is the debut album from Shatter Brain, an Australian thrash metal band.

Featuring members of Voros and Alkira, Pitchfork Justice contains 40 minutes of bellicose metal. Blending thrash, hardcore, and sludge metal into a strong-tasting and satisfying concoction, this is a very impressive debut album. If you imagine Continue reading “Shatter Brain – Pitchfork Justice (Review)”

Pyre – Chained to Ossuaries (Review)

Pyre - Chained to OssuariesThis is the second album from Russian death metallers Pyre.

It’s been six years since Human Hecatomb, but now the well-regarded Pyre have returned. This is old-school death metal, unapologetic and unrefined, just as it should be. Taking influence from the Swedish style, (but not exclusively), Chained to Ossuaries gives us 41 minutes of strong material. Fans of Dismember, Asphyx, and Autopsy pay attention. Continue reading “Pyre – Chained to Ossuaries (Review)”

Hadopelagial – Hadopelagial (Review)

Hadopelagial - HadopelagialHadopelagial are a German black metal band and this is their debut album.

Here we have 40 minutes of highly-aggressive modern black metal. Strap yourself in tight, because this is powerful, searing stuff. Continue reading “Hadopelagial – Hadopelagial (Review)”