Reviews – Page 182 – Wonderbox Metal

Besvärjelsen – Atlas (Review)

Besvärjelsen are a Swedish doom band and this is their second album.

This hefty release has a doom metal base that’s then mixed with grunge, and has heavy, stoner, blues, and psychedelic rock elements liberally sprinkled over everything. Some songs lean into certain influences more than others, which leads to a decent amount of variety across the album. The promo blurb mentions Alice in Chains and Windhand, and that’s a decent picture of Besvärjelsen’s sound, albeit an incomplete one. Continue reading “Besvärjelsen – Atlas (Review)”

Decapitated – Cancer Culture (Review)

Decapitated are a Polish death metal band and this is their eighth album.

This is the follow up to 2017’s Anticult, and offers 37 minutes of heaviness that is ridiculously enjoyable. I expected a new Decapitated release to be good, but I was not ready for just how good Cancer Culture turned out to be. Continue reading “Decapitated – Cancer Culture (Review)”

Cadaveria – Emptiness (Review)

Cadaveria are an Italian metal band and this is their sixth album.

Cadaveria play a form of metal that combines elements of melodic death metal and black metal with heavy and Gothic metal, resulting in songs that mix heaviness and atmosphere. Continue reading “Cadaveria – Emptiness (Review)”

Sensory Amusia – Breed Death (Review)

Sensory Amusia are an Australian death metal band and this is their second album.

I was impressed by Sensory Amusia’s 2020 EP Bereavement, so I definitely wanted to check out whatever they did next. This turned out to be Breed Death, which scratches my modern death metal itch very nicely indeed. Continue reading “Sensory Amusia – Breed Death (Review)”

Blue Heron – Ephemeral (Review)

Blue Heron are a heavy rock band from the US and this is their debut album.

I quite enjoyed Blue Heron’s brief two-track debut EP that they released last year, so when Ephemeral appeared I thought I’d take the time to see how they were coming along. In fact, Black Blood of the Earth from that release makes a reappearance on Ephemeral. Continue reading “Blue Heron – Ephemeral (Review)”

Obscene – ...From Dead Horizon to Dead Horizon (Review)

This is the second album from US death metal band Obscene.

This is the follow up to 2020’s well-received The Inhabitable Dark and contains 32 minutes of new material. As a reference point for Obscene’s style, think along the lines of bands such as like Obituary, Death, Cancer, Bolt Thrower, Asphyx, and Master. Continue reading “Obscene – ...From Dead Horizon to Dead Horizon (Review)”

Hyrgal – – (Review)

Hyrgal are a French black metal band and this is their third album.

I enjoyed both 2017’s Serpentine and 2020’s Fin de Règne, so – is well-received, if unusually titled. We once again get seven tracks of dark black metal art, this time with a duration of 38 minutes. Continue reading “Hyrgal – – (Review)”

Predatory Light – Death and the Twilight Hours (Review)

This is the second album from US black metallers Predatory Light.

Featuring current and ex-members of Vanum and Ash Borer, Death and the Twilight Hours contains 38 minutes of charismatic black metal, and is the follow up to 2016’s Predatory Light. Continue reading “Predatory Light – Death and the Twilight Hours (Review)”

Déhà – Decadanse (Review)

Déhà is a Belgian solo artist who plays in a vast multitude of bands, across a variety of styles. In his solo work alone he spans a wide range of genres. This album is his 26th, (I think).

Decadanse was unleashed into the world back in March, so I’m a bit late to this particular party, but what an insanely madcap and enjoyable party it is! Continue reading “Déhà – Decadanse (Review)”

Septicflesh – Modern Primitive (Review)

Septicflesh, (Septic Flesh?), are a symphonic death metal band from Greece and this is their eleventh album.

Following on from 2017’s Codex Omega, Modern Primitives is another devastatingly effective slab of dark grandeur from the band. Across 39 minutes Septicflesh once again demonstrate that very few bands can compete with them when it comes to Continue reading “Septicflesh – Modern Primitive (Review)”