Ilsa – Preyer (Review)

Ilsa - PreyerIlsa are a sludge metal band from the US and this is their sixth album.

Ever since I first heard – and loved – 2012’s Intoxicantations, I’ve been a big fan of Ilsa. Across another two full-lengths – 2015’s The Felon’s Claw and 2018’s Corpse Fortress they haven’t let me down, and they don’t seem to have done so Continue reading “Ilsa – Preyer (Review)”

Demoniac – So It Goes (Review)

Demoniac - So It GoesThis is the second album from thrash metal band Demoniac, from Chile.

The core of what Demoniac do on So It Goes is razor-sharp hyper-aggressive thrash metal. Bursting with jagged riffs, pierced with molten leads and solos, and crowned with barbed vocals, it’s clear that Demoniac know a thing or two about this sort of music. Continue reading “Demoniac – So It Goes (Review)”

Leviathan – Words Waging War (Review)

Leviathan - Words Waging WarThis is the seventh album form US progressive metallers Leviathan.

Having enjoyed 2014’s Beholden to Nothing, Braver Since Then and 2018’s Can’t Be Seen by Looking: Blurring the Lines, Clouding the Truth, I was looking forward to this. Now that it’s here, Words Waging War provides 68 minutes of progressive metal that’s well-written and well-performed. Continue reading “Leviathan – Words Waging War (Review)”

Intervals – Circadian (Review)

Intervals - CircadianIntervals are a Canadian progressive metal band and this is their fourth album.

Following on from 2017’s The Way Forward, Circadian delivers high quality modern progressive metal. This is essentially a solo album, only with guests and session musicians. It’s an instrumental release, which is a style I normally shy away from, but Intervals is Continue reading “Intervals – Circadian (Review)”

Countless Skies – Glow (Review)

Countless Skies - GlowThis is the second album from Countless Skies, a melodic/progressive metal band from the UK.

Glow contains 46 minutes of Scandinavian-influenced melodic death metal that has been merged with a progressive metal approach, which has resulted in a high-quality album being produced. Think of a charismatic mixture of Devin Townsend, Wilderun, Insomnium, Amorphis, Opeth, etc. Continue reading “Countless Skies – Glow (Review)”

Jaded Star – Realign (Review)

Jaded Star - RealignJaded Star are based in Greece and play melodic heavy metal. This is their second album.

Jaded Star play a mix of melodic heavy metal and power metal, and they do this very well. Realign is the follow up to 2015’s Memories from the Future, which I enjoyed as a particularly good example of the style. Continue reading “Jaded Star – Realign (Review)”

Raging Speedhorn – Hard to Kill (Review)

Raging Speedhorn - Hard to KillRaging Speedhorn are a sludge metal band from the UK. This is their sixth album.

Hard to Kill is the follow up to 2016’s Lost Ritual, and it’s a beast of an album. Revitalised with a new lineup, including a new vocalist, (the band have two if you’re unfamiliar with them), the album is 33 Continue reading “Raging Speedhorn – Hard to Kill (Review)”

Spirit Adrift – Enlightened in Eternity (Review)

Spirit Adrift - Enlightened in EternityThis is the fourth album from the US heavy metal band Spirit Adrift.

Up to this point, each Spirit Adrift album has been better and more developed than its predecessor. From 2016’s Chained to Oblivion, to 2017’s Curse of Conception, and then last year’s Divided by Darkness, this prolific Continue reading “Spirit Adrift – Enlightened in Eternity (Review)”

Alpha Wolf – A Quiet Place to Die (Review)

Alpha Wolf - A Quiet Place to DieAlpha Wolf are an Australian metalcore band and this is their second album.

Here we have a 36-minute chunk of modern heaviness. This is the heaviest of metalcore, so much so that it borders on deathcore in places. Mixed in with this are aspects of djent and nu-metal, as well as modern hardcore/metal elements in general. Continue reading “Alpha Wolf – A Quiet Place to Die (Review)”