This is the debut album from solo US black metal band Ogasawara.
The Ages of Stars is a 35-minute concept album that ably showcases what the artist behind Ogasawara is capable of. If you’re looking for a well-crafted black metal album that covers a few different bases, then this is for you. Continue reading “Ogasawara – The Age of Stars (Review)”
Solar Temple and Dead Neanderthals are both from the Netherlands. The former plays black metal, (and contains members of Fluisteraars and Dool), and the latter is an experimental act.
Embers Beget the Divine documents the live show that the Continue reading “Solar Temple & Dead Neanderthals – Embers Beget the Divine (Review)”
Apes are a grindcore band from Canada and this is their debut album.
I thoroughly enjoyed 2017’s Lightless, with its hybrid blackened sludge/grind assault. It wasn’t until 2022 that we saw new material though, with the EP Lullabies for Eternal Sleep. Thankfully we haven’t had to wait quite as long for Apes’ second album, Penitence. Continue reading “Apes – Penitence (Review)”
This is the second album from Portuguese deathcore band Downfall of Mankind.
The promo blurb recommends Purgatory for fans of bands such as Distant, Gojira, and Lorna Shore, and calls it a mix of deathcore, progressive metal and atmosphere, which saves me the job of providing a rough overview before we get into the meat of it. Continue reading “Downfall of Mankind – Purgatory (Review)”
This is the seventh album from New Zealand death metal act Ulcerate.
Following on from 2016’s Shrines of Paralysis and 2020’s Stare into Death and Be Still, the mighty Ulcerate have now returned with the 58-minute Cutting the Throat of God. Continue reading “Ulcerate – Cutting the Throat of God (Review)”
This is the third album from US death metal band Aseitas.
2020’s False Peace was a mammoth album, brimming with ideas, boasting 11 tracks, and lasting 72 minutes. On Eden Trough Aseitas trim down to a more manageable 5 tracks and a much-shorter 30 minutes, leading me to wonder if their experimental death metal is still as multifaceted and layered as it was previously? Continue reading “Aseitas – Eden Trough (Review)”
What an incredible lineup this is. I mean, just look at it. It’s ridiculous. I’ve never been to Fortress Festival before, (this is its second year), or Scarborough, but this was an event not to be missed. My words below won’t really do justice to what a great festival this was, but hopefully you’ll get a flavour of it at the very least.
Before we get into it – if you’ve ever read one of my live reviews previously you’ll notice that the quality of the photos used here far, far, far outstrips my usual meagre efforts. This is because I didn’t take them. I’m enormously pleased to say that they very talented Aleksandra Hogg captured and supplied all of these photos, and I urge you to check out her work at Acidolka here, here, or here. Continue reading “Fortress Festival 2024 – Scarborough Spa, Scarborough, 01-02/06/24 (Live Review)”
This is the debut album from French black metallers Houle.
After thoroughly enjoying Houle’s 2022 debut self titled EP, I was pleased to see Ciel Cendre et Misère Noire appear. Houle deliver 45 minutes minutes of melodic black metal across this album, and the record is a scorcher. Continue reading “Houle – Ciel Cendre et Misère Noire (Review)”
This is the latest EP from UK stoner rock/metal band Ghozer.
Following on from 2022’s solid Black Lotus, Ghozer have now returned with Forest of Bones, a new 22-minute EP. Forest of Bones contains four tracks – three new originals and a cover of a song by The Beatles. Continue reading “Ghozer – Forest of Bones (Review)”
Mumuksu/Iravu are both solo acts from Malaysia. The latter plays black metal, and the former doom.
I thoroughly enjoyed Iravu’s debut album from last year – A Fate Worse Than Home – so knew I wanted to check out this split. It contains three tracks and has a total duration of 55 minutes. The first two songs are by the individual artists, and the final is a collaboration between them both. Continue reading “Mumuksu/Iravu – Sudra – Split (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 