Somnuri – Nefarious Wave (Review)

Somnuri - Nefarious RealmSomnuri are a sludge metal band from the US. and this is their second album.

Featuring an ex-member of Cleanteeth, Somnuri’s sound can best be described as something like progressive sludge metal. The promo blurb mentions bands such as High on Fire, Mastodon, Converge, Torche, and Baroness, and this sets the scene nicely. However, while all of the Continue reading “Somnuri – Nefarious Wave (Review)”

Burning Witches – The Witch of the North (Review)

Burning Witches - The Witch of the NorthThis is the fourth album from Swiss heavy metallers Burning Witches.

I always enjoy hearing some new material from this band. Can they follow up 2018’s Hexenhammer and 2020’s Dance with the Devil with another slab of prime heavy metal goodness?

The answer is Continue reading “Burning Witches – The Witch of the North (Review)”

Yautja – The Lurch (Review)

<iframe width="400" height="439" style="position: relative; display: block; width: 400px; height: 439px;" src="//bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=3554547532/size=large/bgcol=262a2b/linkcol=006ac3/artwork=small/" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0"></iframe>This is the second album from US sludge metal band Yautja.

The Lurch is a 46-minute hybrid of ugly sludge metal, vicious grind, and filthy punk. With less grindcore on display than on their previous 2014 album Songs of Descent, The Lurch is still a gnashing, biting thing. This Continue reading “Yautja – The Lurch (Review)”

The Ember, the Ash – Fixation (Review)

The Ember, the Ash - FixationThis is the second album from solo blackened metalcore act The Ember, the Ash.

Fixation is an interesting blend of symphonic black metal and breakdown-heavy metalcore. Only a few bands are playing around with blackened elements in metalcore, to varying degrees of success, so it’s always good to hear another such act throw their interpretation of this unusual subgenre into the ring. Continue reading “The Ember, the Ash – Fixation (Review)”

Vokonis – Odyssey (Review)

Vokonis - OdysseyThis is the fourth album from Vokonis, a progressive doom metal band from Sweden.

Vokonis’ style mixes together progressive metal with stoner and doom metal, resulting in a colourful and enjoyable collection of tracks. While Mastodon is the obvious reference point, it’s also an inadequate one for Odyssey, as there’s a lot more at play here than simply Mastodon worship. I can also hear elements of bands as diverse as Sleep, Slomatics, Elder, Perihelion Ship, Rush, Khemmis, Alice in Chains, Witchkiss, Monolord, and Black Crown Initiate, to name but a few. Continue reading “Vokonis – Odyssey (Review)”

Miasma Theory – Miasma Theory (Review)

Miasma Theory - Miasma TheoryThis is the debut album from Miasma Theory, an international heavy metal band.

Miasma Theory contains four original compositions and a Candlemass cover, with a total duration of 34 minutes. Of the original songs, Miasma Theory, (a project headed up by a member of Northern Crown), focuses on delivering heavy metal that’s enriched by elements of doom metal. Continue reading “Miasma Theory – Miasma Theory (Review)”

Void Vator – Great Fear Rising (Review)

Void Vator - Great Fear RisingThis is the debut album from Void Vator, a heavy metal band from the US.

Great Fear Rising is a modern take on a very old style. Void Vator play old-school heavy metal; it’s presented with a modern recording and delivery, but this is  mainly a product of the 80s, make no mistake. Continue reading “Void Vator – Great Fear Rising (Review)”