Urskog – Urskog (Review)

UrskogUrskog are a Swedish blackened sludge band and this is their debut demo release.

The music is dark and sinister, with eerie melodies used as part of the band’s blackened approach. These are usually deposited on top of darker, blackened riffs that are ably backed up by the percussive section. Continue reading “Urskog – Urskog (Review)”

Ordog – The Grand Wall (Review)

OrdogOrdog are from Finland and play death/doom metal. This is their fifth album.

Okay, so let’s start this review off in no uncertain terms – The Grand Wall is a great album. There. I said it.

The songs follow mournful, misery-drenched themes, as is the norm for this style of music, although Ordog seem quite happy to crank up the aggression when they need to. Due to the overall sorrowful atmospheres though, this is a negatively-charged aggression that keeps within the over-arching framework that the band have set for themselves. Continue reading “Ordog – The Grand Wall (Review)”

Self-Hatred – Theia (Review)

Self-HatredThis is the debut album from Self-Hatred, a doom/death metal band from the Czech Republic.

Self-Hatred are, refreshingly, a little different to your standard doom/death band; this is a slightly more contemporary take on the style than most attempt, although it still recognises and is influenced by the founders of this particular sub-genre. I also like the black metal influences that can be heard creeping into the music here and there, which also give Self-Hatred a different angle of attack than a lot of their peers. Continue reading “Self-Hatred – Theia (Review)”

Aseethe – Hopes of Failure (Review)

AseetheAseethe are a doom band from the US. This is their second album.

I like Aseethe. Over the years they’ve produced a very respectable body of work, one which is most enjoyable and should be checked out by anyone into doom with drone-like qualities and plenty of heaviness. Continue reading “Aseethe – Hopes of Failure (Review)”

Uncoffined – Ceremonies of Morbidity (Review)

UncoffinedThis is the second album by Uncoffined, a doom/death band from the UK.

Featuring members of Winds of Genocide, Ceremonies of Morbidity is chock full of long songs and morbid atmospheres, as the title would suggest. Continue reading “Uncoffined – Ceremonies of Morbidity (Review)”

Vanha – Within the Mist of Sorrow (Review)

VanhaVanha are a doom/death metal band from Sweden. This is their debut album.

This is atmospheric doom metal with some death metal elements added in for extra bite, primarily in the vocal department.

Rooted in the old school doom/death style of the 90s, Vanha combine heaviness, melody and sorrowful keyboards to produce an album that manages to crush both physically and emotionally. Continue reading “Vanha – Within the Mist of Sorrow (Review)”

Prisoner 639/Throw Me in the Crater – Split (Review)

Prisoner 639 throw Me in the CraterPrisoner 639 are from Belgium and play grinding powerviolence. They have teamed up for this split with Dutch sludge band Throw Me in the Crater.

Prisoner 639 get things going in a slow-burning fashion, opening up with lots of noise, distortion and feedback. Before long some drums and bass enter the fray, producing grim sludgy sounds. After a couple of minutes of this the Continue reading “Prisoner 639/Throw Me in the Crater – Split (Review)”

Never Presence Forever/Gridfailure – Split (Review)

Never Presence Forever GridfailureNever Presence Forever and Gridfailure are both experimental noise bands from the US. They have teamed up for this split release.

We start with Never Presence Forever, who offer us up two tracks lasting 15 minutes in total. Continue reading “Never Presence Forever/Gridfailure – Split (Review)”