Slowtorch – The Machine Has Failed (Review)

Slowtorch - The Machine Has FailedThis is the second album from Italian stoner rock band Slowtorch.

The Machine Has Failed contains 37 minutes of hard rocking stoner rock fun. Tailor-made for fans of bands like Clutch, Corrosion of Conformity, and Orange Goblin, the album has riffs, hooks, and good tunes aplenty. Continue reading “Slowtorch – The Machine Has Failed (Review)”

Sentient Horror – Rites of Gore (Review)

Sentient Horror - Rites of GoreThis is the third album from US death metallers Sentient Horror.

My long-standing love affair with old-school Swedish death metal has begun to wane in the last couple of years. Where I was once easily pleased, I am now much less so, and I seek the style out far less than I used to. However, Sentient Ruin’s Rites of Gore has rubbed me up the right way, so it Continue reading “Sentient Horror – Rites of Gore (Review)”

Undeath – It’s Time​.​.​.​to Rise from the Grave (Review)

Undeath - It's Time​.​.​.​to Rise from the GraveUndeath are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.

I thoroughly enjoyed 2020’s Lesions of a Different Kind, so now that the band are back with 36 minutes of festering new material, I’m ready. At least, I though I was; It’s Time​.​.​.​to Rise from the Grave is better than I could have hoped for. Continue reading “Undeath – It’s Time​.​.​.​to Rise from the Grave (Review)”

Caliban – Dystopia (Review)

Caliban - DystopiaCaliban are a German metalcore band and this is their twelfth album.

Caliban play metalcore that combines the hardcore and modern metal ingredients in ways that taste quite idiosyncratic. There’s a darkness at the heart of Dystopia, and that manifests in a collection of songs that hit the spot very nicely. Continue reading “Caliban – Dystopia (Review)”

Feral Light – Psychic Contortions (Review)

Feral Light - Psychic ContortionsThis is the fourth album from US black metallers Feral Light.

Feral Light impressed me with both 2020’s Life Vapor and the short EP Ceremonial Tower the year after. Psychic Contortions continues the band’s impressive run, showcasing Feral Light doing what they do best across 36 captivating minutes. Continue reading “Feral Light – Psychic Contortions (Review)”

Vanum – Legend (Review)

Vanum - LegendThis is the third album from US black metallers Vanum.

The promo blurb states that Legend is for fans of Ultha, Wiegedood, Ash Borer, Fell Voices, Turia, Fluisteraars, Wode, Yellow Eyes, Bathory, Rotting Christ, and epic heavy metal. This is as good a place as any to start with for this record. Continue reading “Vanum – Legend (Review)”

Spill Your Guts – The Wrath It Takes (Review)

Spill Your Guts - The Wrath It TakesSpill Your Guts are a blackened hardcore band from China and this is their second album.

The promo blurb states the following bands as influences on Spill Your Guts – Turbonegro, Kvelertak, Trap Them,
Every Time I Die, The Bronx,
All Pigs Must Die, Refused, and Shai Hulud – and these serve as a decent starting point for approaching the 31 minutes of material that makes up The Wrath It Takes. Continue reading “Spill Your Guts – The Wrath It Takes (Review)”