Paradise Lost – Ascension (Review)

Paradise Lost - AscensionThis is the seventeenth album from UK metal band Paradise Lost.

I’ve been listening to Paradise Lost since 1992, so any new Paradise Lost release is A Big Deal. Ascension is the 51-minute, (61 minutes with the bonus tracks), follow up to 2020’s Obsidian, and promises Big Things by virtue of simply being a new Paradise Lost album. Continue reading “Paradise Lost – Ascension (Review)”

Between the Buried and Me – The Blue Nowhere (Review)

Between the Buried and Me - The Blue NowhereThis is the eleventh album from Between the Buried and Me, a progressive metal band.

Every Between the Buried and Me release is An Important Event in my world. I’ve reviewed a handful, (Coma EclipticComa Ecliptic: LiveAutomata IAutomata II), but nowhere their full discography. I’m very pleased to add one more to the pile now though, with The Blue Nowhere, which brings us 71 minutes of new material to obsess over. Continue reading “Between the Buried and Me – The Blue Nowhere (Review)”

Esoterica – Ether Metal (Review)

Esoterica - Ether MetalThis is the fifth album by UK progressive metal band Esoterica.

Ether Metal contains 48 minutes of contemporary, electronically enriched progressive metal/rock. The first time I came across Esoterica was at this year’s Mangata Festival – although I didn’t catch them live, they seemed like a band I wouldn’t mind checking out. My tolerance for this sort of music is quite low though compared to other styles, as most bands playing it I find are just bland and bad. So, do Esoterica have what it takes to be worth listening to? Continue reading “Esoterica – Ether Metal (Review)”

Nailed to Obscurity – Generation of the Void (Review)

Nailed to Obscurity - Generation of the VoidThis is the fifth album from Nailed to Obscurity, a melodic metal metal band from Germany.

Following on from 2019’s Black Frost, Generation of the Void brings us 58 minutes of new material from Nailed to Obscurity. The band have been busy since their last record, refining their sound, delivering a comprehensive musical package that sees them stepping up their game to the next level. Continue reading “Nailed to Obscurity – Generation of the Void (Review)”

Turian – Blood Quantum Blues (Review)

Turian - Blood Quantum BluesThis is the fourth album from US metallic hardcore band Turian.

Blood Quantum Blues contains 38 minutes of music that mixes together punk, metal, and hardcore, with electronics and progressive elements thrown in for extra flavour and texture. Turian have produced an album that rages and snarls, but does so with skill and ability. Continue reading “Turian – Blood Quantum Blues (Review)”

Bloodletter – Leave the Light Behind (Review)

Bloodletter - Leave the Light BehindBloodletter are a thrash metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.

Leave the Light Behind contains 35 minutes of well-written melodic thrash metal. Bloodletter bring something to thrash that I haven’t heard in ages – pure, unadulterated quality craftsmanship. I normally pass on thrash metal these days, but this one wouldn’t let me go. Continue reading “Bloodletter – Leave the Light Behind (Review)”

Sheev – Ate’s Alchemist (Review)

Sheev - Ate's AlchemistThis is the second album from German progressive metal band Sheev.

Ate’s Alchemist contains 50 minutes of music, and showcases Sheev’s personable brand of progressive metal. Taking in influences from grunge and stoner metal, Sheev fuse these into progressive metal creations that impress. Continue reading “Sheev – Ate’s Alchemist (Review)”

The Lucidia Project – The Twilight Affliction (Review)

The Lucidia Project - The Twilight AfflictionThis is the latest EP from The Lucidia Project, a metal band from the US.

The Lucidia Project play a mix of symphonic metal, progressive rock, and melodic death metal. At 32 minutes in duration, is The Twilight Affliction an EP or an album? Reader, you decide. It’s labelled as an EP though, so we’ll go with that. Continue reading “The Lucidia Project – The Twilight Affliction (Review)”

Malevolence – Where Only the Truth Is Spoken (Review)

Malevolence - Where Only the Truth Is SpokenMalevolence are a metalcore band from the UK and this is their fourth album.

2022’s Malicious Intent was a solid mix of groove metal and metalcore, so I was interested where Malevolence would take their sound and increased popularity for the 43-minute Where Only the Truth Is Spoken. Continue reading “Malevolence – Where Only the Truth Is Spoken (Review)”