CHRMR – Low in the Glow (Review)

CHRMR - Low in the GlowCHRMR are a metal band from the US and this is their second album.

CHRMR contain members of Contrarian and Sulaco, but are a different proposition to both of those more extreme bands. Low in the Glow offers a much more accessible proposition, focusing on short songs with catchy melodies and good choruses. Continue reading “CHRMR – Low in the Glow (Review)”

Vein.fm – This World Is Going to Ruin You (Review)

Vein.fm - This World Is Going to Ruin YouThis is the second album from Vein.fm, a metal band from the US.

Vein.fm are clearly a band with a lot of influences, and across the 32 minutes of material on This World Is Going to Ruin You, they wield these influences like weapons. Flourishing elements of hardcore, mathcore, metalcore, industrial, and nu-metal into a Continue reading “Vein.fm – This World Is Going to Ruin You (Review)”

Crowbar – Zero and Below (Review)

Crowbar - Zero and BelowThis is the twelfth album from US sludge metal legends Crowbar.

In an ideal world Crowbar whould need little introduction. The band have been toiling away producing some of the absolute best song-based sludge metal since the early nineties, and have managed to not only amass a huge discography of great songs and albums, but have done so while basically carving their own path through the metal landscape. Continue reading “Crowbar – Zero and Below (Review)”

Cobra the Impaler – Colossal Gods (Review)

Cobra the Impaler - Colossal GodsCobra the Impaler are a Belgian metal band and this is their debut album.

Colossal Gods boasts 42 minutes of charismatic metal. Taking elements from thrash, progressive, stoner, and heavy metal, Cobra the Impaler write songs that stick in the mind with their big hooks and big personality. Continue reading “Cobra the Impaler – Colossal Gods (Review)”

Nightrage – Abyss Rising (Review)

Nightrage - Abyss RisingNightrage are a melodic death metal band from Greece/Sweden and this is their ninth album.

I missed 2019’s Wolf to Man, but caught and enjoyed 2017’s The Venomous. Back now with 39 minutes of new material, Nightrage are firing on all cylinders and sound ready to take on the world. Continue reading “Nightrage – Abyss Rising (Review)”

Once Human – Scar Weaver (Review)

Once Human - Scar WeaverOnce Human are a metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Brought to us my an ex-member of Machine Head, Once Human play a heavy brand of modern metal that is designed to get pits moving everywhere, but also offers a bit more depth than you’d expect. Think of a mix of bands such as Machine Head, Fear Factory, Gojira, Jinjer, Strapping Young Lad, and Lamb of God, and then add some increased progressive and technical metal influences, and a touch of classic heavy metal, and you’ll have a decent starting point for Scar Weaver. Continue reading “Once Human – Scar Weaver (Review)”

Amorphis – Halo (Review)

Amorphis - HaloThis is the fourteenth album from veteran Finnish metal band Amorphis.

Following on from 2018’s immense Queen of Time, Amorphis have returned to once again treat us with 56 minutes of splendid music.

Boasting big songs and bigger choruses, Amophis’ new album is Continue reading “Amorphis – Halo (Review)”

The Final Sleep – Vessels of Grief (Review)

The Final Sleep - Vessels of GriefThis is the debut album from The Final Sleep, a progressive metal band from the US.

Vessels of Grief has an interesting and engaging sound that works well for the band. Mixing a range of influences together into six songs that have a strong old-school feel to them, The Final Sleep still manage to avoid sounding dated or tired, despite this. Continue reading “The Final Sleep – Vessels of Grief (Review)”

Mass Worship – Portal Tombs (Review)

Mass Worship - Portal TombsThis is the second album from Mass Worship, an extreme metal band from Sweden.

The Mass Worship formula for delivering a crushing metal album is one of finding the best ratio of metal, death metal and hardcore. At the Gates, Meshuggah, and Mastodon are all mentioned as influences, and these help appreciate where Mass Worship are coming from. Continue reading “Mass Worship – Portal Tombs (Review)”