This is the eleventh album by Dark Tranquillity, a melodic death metal band from Sweden.
Now this is the stuff. Dark Tranquillity know what they’re doing. I’ve been a fan of this band for a long, long time, but somehow haven’t kept up with their last couple of outings, so it feels great to reconnect with them on this release. Continue reading “Dark Tranquillity – Atoma (Review)”
This is the debut album from US doom metal band Northern Crown.
I thoroughly enjoyed Northern Crown’s first EP In the Hands of the Betrayer, so when their debut album popped up, I was keen to give it a listen.
The band play traditional doom metal with a good smattering of heavy metal throughout, although it should also be noted that they have started to branch out from this, here and there, marking an increased confidence and comfortableness with how they approach their material. Continue reading “Northern Crown – The Others (Review)”
Unearthed Elf is a one man doom/heavy/power metal project from the US. This is his debut album.
Having a sightly unusual mix of doom, heavy and power metal, Into the Catacomb Abyss is an unexpected listen in a few different ways. Continue reading “Unearthed Elf – Into the Catacomb Abyss (Review)”
Tactus are a Canadian progressive metal band and this is their debut album.
Well it soon becomes obvious that this band know a thing or two about how to play their instruments. This is modern progressive heavy metal that has plenty of technicality and a djent influence.
As I always say; Continue reading “Tactus – Bending Light (Review)”
This is the second album from Russian groove metal band Shokran.
Shokran play modern groove metal with a hearty djent influence, as well as having neo-classical, progressive, technical and Egyptian-themed aspects to their sound. They have a lot going on across these 35 minutes, and it’s all Continue reading “Shokran – Exodus (Review)”
Meshuggah are a legendary Swedish progressive/extreme metal band and this is their eighth album.
The fathers of djent return, with 59 minutes of progressive metal that definitely blows the proverbial cobwebs away.
This is very heavy indeed. If you know Meshuggah at all then you know Continue reading “Meshuggah – The Violent Sleep of Reason (Review)”
Brain Tentacles are an experimental/avant-garde/jazz/grind/doom metal band from the US. This is their debut album.
Experimental/avant-garde/jazz/grind/doom metal is a bit of a mouthful, and in all honesty doesn’t even properly do justice to the sounds that this album contains at any rate.
In addition to the usual drums and bass you’ll also find synth, piano and horns on this release. But no guitars. Continue reading “Brain Tentacles – Brain Tentacles (Review)”
Epica are a symphonic metal band from the Netherlands and this is their eighth album.
Epica are famous for their epic, (ahem), symphonic sound, all larger-than-life melodies, ostentatious orchestration and luscious, enticing vocals. And it works. They’ve made a career out of it and currently sit as one of the biggest bands in the style. Continue reading “Epica – The Holographic Principle (Review)”
Dorylus are a metal band from the UK. This is their debut EP.
Dorylus play groove metal influenced by all of the usual suspects of the style, (Lamb of God, Pantera, etc.).
For a first release this is a well-realised 21 minutes of aural Continue reading “Dorylus – The Rapture (Review)”
This is the debut album of Italian symphonic metal band Oniricide.
Oniricide ostensibly play Nightwish-inspired symphonic metal, but there’s more than just this going on here. The music here has a nice, earthy feel to it that reminds me of some doom metal bands as much as symphonic/melodic ones.
The Nightwish influence is only a starting point, as Continue reading “Oniricide – Revenge of Souls (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 