Metal – Page 61 – Wonderbox Metal

Scardust – Sands of Time (Review)

Scardust are a symphonic metal band from Israel and this is their debut album.

Scardust play sumptuous symphonic metal with some progressive elements added in to enhance proceedings.

Usually I find a lot of this kind of thing very generic and I usually lose interest quickly, but bloody Hell Scardust are an exception to this. Sands of Time is a very professional, accomplished, and well-realised release, with both catchy appeal and memorable depth. Continue reading “Scardust – Sands of Time (Review)”

Counterfeit Culture – Deathwish (Review)

Counterfeit Culture are a US metalcore band and this is their latest EP.

Counterfeit Culture mix melodic hardcore with heavier metalcore, and have produced an EP that may be short, but is not without impact. Continue reading “Counterfeit Culture – Deathwish (Review)”

The Shape – The World Away (Review)

The Shape are a US metal band and this is their fourth album.

Mixing modern metal, metalcore, thrash metal, nu-metal, and groove metal into their sound, this is an enjoyable romp through a landscape that sees many different complementary influences touched upon. Continue reading “The Shape – The World Away (Review)”

Immortal Sÿnn – Machine Men (Review)

Immortal Sÿnn are a heavy/thrash metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

This is old-school metal played with obvious passion and a firm love of the early days of the style. Continue reading “Immortal Sÿnn – Machine Men (Review)”

Shattered Sun – The Evolution of Anger (Review)

Shattered Sun are a metalcore band from the US. This is their second album.

Metalcore is a much maligned sub-genre, usually for good reason; there’s a lot of generic dross out there, sadly. However, if you’re looking for a ripping example of how to do metalcore right in 2017, your sights should immediately land on Shattered Sun. Continue reading “Shattered Sun – The Evolution of Anger (Review)”

Vanora – Momentum (Review)

Vanora are a Norwegian modern metal band and this is their debut album.

With Momentum it’s tempting to think that you’ve heard it all before, but actually this is a slightly different take on modern heavy music in some ways. Ostensibly no different to a thousand other Continue reading “Vanora – Momentum (Review)”

The Hirsch Effekt – Eskapist (Review)

The Hirsch Effekt are a German progressive metal band and this is their fourth album.

Here we have 61 minutes of progressive metal/hardcore, the likes of which you rarely encounter among the faceless hordes of most nearly-interchangeable bands. Continue reading “The Hirsch Effekt – Eskapist (Review)”

Sons of Crom – The Black Tower (Review)

Sons of Crom are a Swedish blackened heavy metal band and this is their second album.

Sons of Crom’s debut album Riddle of Steel was extremely impressive and enjoyable, making its way into my end of year best of list for 2014. Rich and diverse, it really was a stunner that has easily stood the test of time thus far. Continue reading “Sons of Crom – The Black Tower (Review)”

Centuries of Decay – Centuries of Decay (Review)

Centuries of Decay are a Canadian extreme metal band and this is their debut album.

This is extreme metal that’s both atmospheric and progressive, borrowing liberally from many extreme metal styles and sub-genres, including modern progressive metal, post-metal, death metal, and black metal. Continue reading “Centuries of Decay – Centuries of Decay (Review)”

Burke and Hare – Burke and Hare (Review)

Burke and Hare are a UK sludge metal band and this is their debut EP.

Here we have just over 12 minutes of ugly heaviness, just the we like it for this kind of sludge-driven hideousness. Continue reading “Burke and Hare – Burke and Hare (Review)”