Metal – Page 31 – Wonderbox Metal

So Hideous – None but a Pure Heart Can Sing (Review)

This is the third album from So Hideous, a post-metal band from the US.

None but a Pure Heart Can Sing is only 32 minutes in length, but this duration comes with more ideas than many releases double the length. The album is a loose mix of styles and genres, taking an experimental and avant-garde approach to music that finds them combining pretty much all of the post- styles, (metal, rock, hardcore, and black metal), with a diverse non-metal array of genres such as jazz and classical. Continue reading “So Hideous – None but a Pure Heart Can Sing (Review)”

Flowers of Flesh – Flowers of Flesh (Review)

This is the debut EP from one-man sludge metal band Flowers of Flesh.

The artist behind Flowers of Flesh knows a good malevolent riff when he rips one out of someone’s spine. The EP starts with exactly one such riff, but it isn’t the only example to be found within these 24 minutes. The music is filthy blackened sludge metal that’s ugly and foul, yet contains some unexpected elements of light and feeling hidden amidst the carnage. Continue reading “Flowers of Flesh – Flowers of Flesh (Review)”

Eldritch – Eos (Review)

This is the twelfth album from Eldritch, an Italian power/progressive metal band.

I’ve returned to 2014’s Tasting the Tears more times than I would have thought over the years; it’s just a really good album. Imagine my surprise to discover that they’ve had two entire albums out since that one, and that’s before we even get to their latest release, Eos. Continue reading “Eldritch – Eos (Review)”

Mother Iron Horse – Under the Blood Moon (Review)

This is the second album from US stoner metallers Mother Iron Horse.

Under the Blood Moon contains 37 minutes of riotous fun and escapist storytelling. Mixing stoner metal with sludge heaviness, Mother Iron Horse’s music is easy to like; the band just want to party hard and crush some skulls with their sludgy stoner metal, what’s not to like? Mother Continue reading “Mother Iron Horse – Under the Blood Moon (Review)”

Vildhjarta – Måsstaden Under Vatten (Review)

Vildhjarta are a Swedish progressive metal band and this is their second album.

Okay, buckle up and get comfortable, as this one’s a beast – there’s 80 minutes of material here, and it isn’t likely to appeal to those uninitiated in the ways of djent. Continue reading “Vildhjarta – Måsstaden Under Vatten (Review)”

Whitechapel – Kin (Review)

This is the eighth album from US metal band Whitechapel.

I do enjoy a bit of Whitechapel now and again, (Our Endless War, Mark of the Blade, The Valley), so Kin has come along at the right time. After the advances in style and songwriting of The Valley, Kin continues where that album left off, treading similar ground, while also broadening the band’s stylistic reach further. Continue reading “Whitechapel – Kin (Review)”

Sentinels – Collapse by Design (Review)

This is the debut album from US technical metal band Sentinels.

Collapse by Design features 47 minutes of contemporary heaviness. The band mix elements of metalcore, mathcore, progressive metal, djent, and technical metal, and do so really rather well. Alongside this they also play around with melodic and Continue reading “Sentinels – Collapse by Design (Review)”

Filth Wizard – Sleepeater (Review)

This is the second album from New Zealand instrumental progressive metal/rock band Filth Wizard.

How could you not want to check out a band named Filth Wizard? Even though I do enjoy instrumental albums, sometimes a great deal, I’m not always drawn to them like I am some other styles that tend to have vocals. In this instance, the band’s name, Continue reading “Filth Wizard – Sleepeater (Review)”

Black Sites – Untrue (Review)

Black Sites are a heavy/progressive metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Untrue combines progressive features with traditional heavy metal to produce a 44-minute album that’s all about the songs. There’s no gimmick or ostentatious nonsense here, no pointless bloat or filler, just eight songs of hard riffs, soaring vocals, and rich melodies. Continue reading “Black Sites – Untrue (Review)”

Dying Wish – Fragments of a Bitter Memory (Review)

This is the debut album from US metalcore band Dying Wish.

Now this is what I’m talking about. This is right down my alleyway. Here we have a 35-minute album that sounds like it has risen out of the ashes of 00s era NWOAHM. Yep, this is melodic death metal-infused hardcore mayhem the likes of which you don’t tend to hear very much of these days. Continue reading “Dying Wish – Fragments of a Bitter Memory (Review)”