Reviews – Page 100 – Wonderbox Metal

Rorcal – Silence (Review)

Rorcal are a Swiss post-black/doom metal band and this is their sixth album.

Rorcal have shown what they’re capable of very ably on previous releases such as their 2014 split with Process of Guilt, 2016’s κρέων (Creon), 2019’s Muladona, and 2021’s collaboration with Earthflesh, so I was eager to experience the punishment Silence inevitably held in store for me, whatever form it took. On this release we get 42 minutes of new material, and it is not to be approached by the unwary. Continue reading “Rorcal – Silence (Review)”

Woe – Legacies of Frailty (Review)

This is the fifth album from US black metal one-man band Woe.

Legacies of Frailty is the eagerly awaited follow up to 2017’s Hope Attrition. The Woe of 2023 is aggressive and dark, offering blistering speed and textured power. Across 48 minutes the now-solo act delivers a record that scars the cosmos with its scorching brand of emotive black metal. Continue reading “Woe – Legacies of Frailty (Review)”

Tides of Sulfur – Apathy Chasm (Review)

This is the second album from Tides of Sulfur, a blackened sludge metal band from the UK.

Apathy Chasm is the eagerly awaited, (by me at any rate), 39-minute follow up to 2016’s mighty Extinction Curse. Prepare yourself for punishment. The foul music on Apathy Chasm is a merciless blackened amalgamation of fetid death metal and unearthly sludge. Continue reading “Tides of Sulfur – Apathy Chasm (Review)”

Primordial – How It Ends (Review)

Primordial are an Irish metal band and this is their tenth album.

Primordial are a reliably enjoyable band that found a voice of their own early on in their career. They have some top quality albums, the most recent of which was 2018’s Exile Amongst the Ruins. Playing a blackened form of heavy metal and doom, new album How It Ends delivers 66 minutes of Primordial’s inimitable material. Continue reading “Primordial – How It Ends (Review)”

Bear – Vanta (Review)

Bear are a progressive hardcore/metal band from Belgium and this is their fifth album.

When the promo blurb states that an album is recommended for fans of bands such as Dillinger Escape Plan, Botch, and Norma Jean, how can you not check it out? Besides, I’m already a fan of Bear’s work, as both 2017’s /// and 2020’s Propaganda were very enjoyable slabs of angular heaviness. Continue reading “Bear – Vanta (Review)”

Feral/Crawl – Made as Those Who Are No Longer Alive – Split (Review)

This is a split between two Swedish death metal bands – Feral and Crawl.

Feral are up first; two songs, with a total duration of seven minutes. Continue reading “Feral/Crawl – Made as Those Who Are No Longer Alive – Split (Review)”

Rebaelliun – Under the Sign of Rebellion (Review)

This is the fourth album from Brazilian death metallers Rebaelliun.

2016’s The Hell’s Decrees was a really damn good slab of death metal. It’s been a long time coming, but its follow up is now here, and I have been eagerly awaiting it. Containing 39 minutes of new material, and sadly the final performance of late bassist/vocalist Lohy Fabiano, Under the Sign of Rebellion is the sound of a death metal band who have come to destroy. Continue reading “Rebaelliun – Under the Sign of Rebellion (Review)”

Wormhole – Almost Human (Review)

This is the third album from international death metal band Wormhole.

I enjoyed 2015’s Genesis and 2020’s The Weakest Among Us, so was keen to find out what Almost Human offered. Back with a new lineup once again, Wormhole deliver 26 minutes of death metal carnage. It’s immediately clear too that Wormhole have levelled up on this new album. Continue reading “Wormhole – Almost Human (Review)”

KEN Mode – Void (Review)

KEN Mode are a noise rock/hardcore band from Canada and this is their ninth album.

While I really liked 2018’s Loved, 2022’s Null hit harder, and really made KEN Mode an exciting proposition. Apparently I missed out on reviewing Null, (I honestly thought I did), but Void offers an opportunity of sorts to correct that oversight; Void is the companion piece to Null, recorded at the same time, and designed to go together. Continue reading “KEN Mode – Void (Review)”

Ushangvagush – Pestmo’qon (Review)

This is the second album from US solo black metal band Ushangvagush.

Ushangvagush is an indigenous black metal project that channels a range of influences into a single 46-minute song, (chopped into two tracks for physical media). It’s an album of depth and substance, one that’s richly rewarding for those initiated in the ways of underground black metal. Continue reading “Ushangvagush – Pestmo’qon (Review)”