Metal – Page 10 – Wonderbox Metal

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)”

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)”

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)”

Huntsmen – The Dry Land (Review)

Huntsmen are a US progressive metal band and this is their third album.

Leaving a lasting mark with 2018’s striking American Scrap, Huntsmen made a strong first impression with their debut record. They followed this up with 2020’s Mandala of Fear, which saw the band go big in many different ways, living up to their early promise. It’s now four years later and here we have The Dry Land, which gives us 42 minutes of new material. What does the Huntsmen of 2024 provide us with? Continue reading “Huntsmen – The Dry Land (Review)”

Four Stroke Baron – Data Diamond (Review)

Four Stroke Baron are a progressive metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.

This is my first encounter with Four Stroke Baron, but it’s a very favourable one. Containing 41 minutes of material, Data Diamond is packed to the hilt with multifaceted content. Strap in, it’s going to be a wild one. Continue reading “Four Stroke Baron – Data Diamond (Review)”

Cobra the Impaler – Karma Collision (Review)

Cobra the Impaler are a Belgian metal band and this is their second album.

I enjoyed 2022’s Colossal Gods, so it’s great to have some new music from Cobra the Impaler. Across 52 minutes Karma Collision demonstrates that Colossal Gods was merely an appetiser, as now we have the main course. Continue reading “Cobra the Impaler – Karma Collision (Review)”

Urzah – The Scorching Gaze (Review)

This is the debut album from UK sludge/post-metal band Urzah.

The Scorching Gaze contains 42 minutes of material delivered in a charismatic hybrid metallic style. Urzah combine elements of sludge, post-metal, progressive metal, doom, and hardcore/metalcore into an exemplar of heaviness that feels timeless. Continue reading “Urzah – The Scorching Gaze (Review)”

Inter Arma – New Heaven (Review)

Inter Arma are a post-metal band from the US and this is their fifth album.

Inter Arma are not your average band. They contort and shapeshift from one track to the next – from one part of a song to the next – delivering a multifaceted metallic journey through all kinds of different styles and genres, including doom, death metal, black metal, sludge, and more, all wrapped up in a progressive/post-metal bow that’s just wonderfully realised. Continue reading “Inter Arma – New Heaven (Review)”

The Watchers – Nyctophilia (Review)

This is the second album from US metal band The Watchers.

Nyctophilia contains 41 minutes of song-based metallic fun. Taking elements from the classic metal, thrash, stoner, grunge, and doom styles, The Watchers ably demonstrate what they are capable of. Continue reading “The Watchers – Nyctophilia (Review)”

Morgul Blade – Heavy Metal Wraiths (Review)

This is the second album from US blackened heavy metal band Morgul Blade.

Now there’s an album cover for you. When combined with the title, it that speaks loudly of what you’ll encounter on Heavy Metal Wraiths. Across 36 minutes Morgul Blade deliver a rip-roaring trip through ten boisterous tracks that are designed to get those heads banging and fists pumping. Continue reading “Morgul Blade – Heavy Metal Wraiths (Review)”