This is the latest EP from Orbit Culture, a Swedish metal band.
Following on from 2020’s Nija, Shaman contains 25 minutes of new material. If you’re a fan of modern metal that mixes groove metal, thrash, metalcore , and deathcore together, then Shaman is a meaty and satisfying hit of heaviness. Continue reading “Orbit Culture – Shaman (Review)”
This is the fourth album from US progressive metallers Rivers of Nihil.
The Work is a 64-minute journey into the increasingly ambitious world of Rivers of Nihil. 2018’s very well-regarded Where Only Owls Know My Name introduced more progressive elements then the previous album did, and the end result of this same evolution is showcased on The Work. Continue reading “Rivers of Nihil – The Work (Review)”
This is the fourth album from UK metallers Employed to Serve.
Across 48 minutes Employed to Serve dish out eleven tracks of energetic damage. Combining metal and hardcore together like it’s something fresh and vital, the band manage to avoid the tired metalcore tropes and instead deliver an album of crushing tunes and anthemic heaviness. Continue reading “Employed to Serve – Conquering (Review)”
Ryghär are an epic heavy metal band from the US and this is their debut album.
Here we have Ryghär, an epic heavy metal band that have come marching out of the underground with confidence and strength. Armed and armoured, this brotherhood quests for the cause of True Metal, and on Thurmecia Eternal they have conjured into being 39 minutes of molten metallic material. Continue reading “Ryghär – Thurmecia Eternal (Review)”
This is the second album from Doctor Smoke, an occult metal/rock band from the US.
Doctor Smoke combine metal and rock influences into 43 minutes of infectious material. The songs boast a relatively good range of stylistic influences, while still retaining a holistic feel and good flow to the album; the tracks all share largely the same template, but one that’s made up a few different details and nuances. Continue reading “Doctor Smoke – Dreamers and the Dead (Review)”
Lady Beast are a heavy metal band from the US and this is their latest EP.
Lady Beast play classic heavy metal, with no frills, no filler, and no messing around with gimmicks or pointless intros, etc. There are four originals here and a Rainbow cover. Omens is a lean 20-minute ride into the old-school, and it’s a great way to escape the horrors of the modern world for a while. Continue reading “Lady Beast – Omens (Review)”
This is the second album from Venues, a modern metal band from Germany.
Following up their solid 2018 debut album Aspire, Venues are now back with a new lineup in tow and 42 minutes of new material.
The band’s dual vocal approach has never sounded better. Harsh Continue reading “Venues – Solace (Review)”
Veil of Conspiracy are a melodic metal band from Italy and this is their second album.
The promo blurb states that the 45 minutes of material on Echoes of Winter is for fans of Katatonia, Opeth, and The Morningside, which is a good starting point for Veil of Conspiracy’s sound. I’d also add that fans of bands such as Amorphis, Paradise Lost, Deathwhite, Moonspell, My Dying Bride, and Anathema will find much to like here. Continue reading “Veil of Conspiracy – Echoes of Winter (Review)”
This is the debut album from Act of Denial, an international melodic death metal band.
Featuring current and ex-members of bands such as Death, Decapitated, Ephel Duath, Septic Flesh, and Testament, as well as the superlative singer of Soilwork/The Night Flight Orchestra, I was eagerly awaiting this release to see what kind of punch it packed. Continue reading “Act of Denial – Negative (Review)”
This is the third album from UK metal band Sons of Alpha Centauri.
Sons of Alpha Centauri have an ever-evolving and changing sound. The artists behind the band are continually striving to do new things and experiment. 2018’s Continuum was a high quality instrumental stoner rock album, as was their split with Karma to Burn. Then, just when you thought you had them figured out, along came 2019’s Buried Memories, a collaborative effort between the band and Justin K. Broadrick, (Godflesh, Jesu, etc.), and James Plotkin, (Khanate, Jodis, etc.). It was unexpected, but most welcome. So what does Push offer? Well, once again, it’s the unexpected. Continue reading “Sons of Alpha Centauri – Push (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 