wonderboxmetal

Construct of Lethe – A Kindness Dealt in Venom (Review)

This is the third album from US death metal band Construct of Lethe.

Construct of Lethe’s last album Exiler came out in 2018, and was a brutal affair of merciless death metal. The band have moved on since then, and A Kindness Dealt in Venom offers up a mix of death and black metal, with touches of doom, and further enriched by electronics, synths, and industrial elements. Its foundation is a death metal one, but it’s not limited to purely this genre. Continue reading “Construct of Lethe – A Kindness Dealt in Venom (Review)”

Inherits the Void – Scars of Yesteryears (Review)

This is the third album from French one-man black metal band Inherits the Void.

Hot on the heels of last year’s The Impending Fall of the Stars, the artist behind Inherits the Void has returned with 44 minutes of new material with Scars of Yesteryears. Are you concerned about the lack of time between releases? Don’t be, as Scars of Yesteryears is a cracking album. Continue reading “Inherits the Void – Scars of Yesteryears (Review)”

Hyperdontia – Harvest of Malevolence (Review)

This is the third album from Hyperdontia, an international death metal band.

Harvest of Malevolence is the 40-minute follow up to 2021’s very enjoyable Hideous Entity, which made it onto my end of year list. Hyperdontia seem to just be getting better and better, and Harvest of Malevolence is another win for this skilled death metal act. Continue reading “Hyperdontia – Harvest of Malevolence (Review)”

Kvaen – The Formless Fires (Review)

This is the third album from Swedish black metal solo act Kvaen.

The name Kvaen hit the black metal underground hard with 2020’s The Funeral Pyre, and then followed this up in 2022 with The Great Below, which showed that the quality of the debut was no fluke. Another two years have passed, and now we have The Formless Fires. Do the 39 minutes of new music here still demonstrate a continuation of these quality levels? Continue reading “Kvaen – The Formless Fires (Review)”

Sumac – The Healer (Review)

This is the fifth album from Canadian post-metal/sludge band Sumac, (who boast current and ex-members of bands such as Baptists, Genghis Tron, Isis, Old Man Gloom, Russian Circles, and These Arms Are Snakes in their ranks).

It’s been a while since I caught up with Sumac – 2018’s collaboration with Keijo Haino in fact, as well as their full length from the same year, Love in Shadow. I even had the privilege of catching them live in 2019. Apparently they also had an album out in 2020 called May You Be Held, which I somehow completely missed, which is a shame. All of which brings us to the immense 76 minutes of material on The Healer. Continue reading “Sumac – The Healer (Review)”

Sunburst – Manifesto (Review)

This is the second album from Greek progressive power metallers Sunburst.

Across 49 minutes Sunburst impress with their cinematic take on progressive metal. Manifesto comes from the point of view of progressive power metal, (think Kamelot, Cloudscape, Threshold, and Pagan’s Mind), but also contains minor touches of a more contemporary perspective, one that primarily manifests in some of the riffs and drums. It’s not strong, but it’s there in places. Apart from this, Manifesto is pure 00s progressive power metal worship. Continue reading “Sunburst – Manifesto (Review)”

Crypt Sermon – The Stygian Rose (Review)

This is the third album from US doom metal band Crypt Sermon.

If you haven’t encountered Crypt Sermon before, the promo blurb recommends them for fans of Candlemass, Khemmis, Visigoth, Eternal Champion, King Diamond, and Solitude Aeternus, which should give you a decent idea of what to expect on Stygian Rose. Across 45 minutes Crypt Sermon deliver the goods in epic style. Continue reading “Crypt Sermon – The Stygian Rose (Review)”

Hippotraktor – Stasis (Review)

This is the second album from Belgian progressive metal band Hippotraktor.

Stasis contains 47 minutes of material that combines elements of the technical, groove, djent, and post-metal styles into a contemporary progressive metal framework that’s asborbing. Continue reading “Hippotraktor – Stasis (Review)”

Replacire – The Center That Cannot Hold (Review)

This is the third album by US technical death metal band Replacire.

It’s been a long seven years since 2017’s Do Not Deviate, but now Replacire are back, and they’re on fire. Delivering 44 minutes of death metal that’s distinctly not your standard fare, The Center That Cannot Hold is not a record for the uninitiated. Continue reading “Replacire – The Center That Cannot Hold (Review)”

Earthtone9 – In Resonance Nexus (Review)

This is the fifth album from UK metal band Earthtone9.

11 years after their last album, Earthtone9 have returned to deliver more of their individual and idiosyncratic take on heavy music. You could probably get away with calling this a few different things – alternative metal, post-metal, post-hardcore, modern metal, progressive metal – but ultimately Earthtone9 have always moved to their own beat, and had their own quite distinctive sounds very early on. Continue reading “Earthtone9 – In Resonance Nexus (Review)”