Venom Prison – Erebos (Review)

Venom Prison - ErebosThis is the third album from UK death metallers Venom Prison.

Venom Prison have made a sterling reputation for themselves with their 2016 debut album Animus, their 2019 follow up Samsara, as well as some scorching live appearances.

Erebos is the band’s longest Continue reading “Venom Prison – Erebos (Review)”

The Final Sleep – Vessels of Grief (Review)

The Final Sleep - Vessels of GriefThis is the debut album from The Final Sleep, a progressive metal band from the US.

Vessels of Grief has an interesting and engaging sound that works well for the band. Mixing a range of influences together into six songs that have a strong old-school feel to them, The Final Sleep still manage to avoid sounding dated or tired, despite this. Continue reading “The Final Sleep – Vessels of Grief (Review)”

Mass Worship – Portal Tombs (Review)

Mass Worship - Portal TombsThis is the second album from Mass Worship, an extreme metal band from Sweden.

The Mass Worship formula for delivering a crushing metal album is one of finding the best ratio of metal, death metal and hardcore. At the Gates, Meshuggah, and Mastodon are all mentioned as influences, and these help appreciate where Mass Worship are coming from. Continue reading “Mass Worship – Portal Tombs (Review)”

Abysmal Dawn – Nightmare Frontier (Review)

Abysmal Dawn - Nightmare FrontierAbysmal Dawn are a death metal band from the US and this is their latest EP.

Abysmal Dawn are always worth checking out, in my humble opinion. Their brand of modern death metal is heavyweight and satisfying, and their latest EP offers 19 minutes of meaty aggression to satisfy fans of the style. Continue reading “Abysmal Dawn – Nightmare Frontier (Review)”

Darkest Mind – Oracle of Death (Review)

Darkest Mind - Oracle of DeathThis is the debut album from Belgian black metal band Darkest Mind.

Oracle of Death saw the light of day at the end of last year, and I confess that I overlooked it largely due to its cover. Not that it’s bad artwork by any means, but the bright colours didn’t inspire me to check it out. My loss. Having now had the album brough to my attention once more, Continue reading “Darkest Mind – Oracle of Death (Review)”

Skinliv/Vermisst – Split (Review)

Skinliv Vermisst - SplitSkinliv are from Denmark and Vermisst are from Poland, both play black metal and they have teamed up for this 38-minute split.

Skinliv open up the split, with four tracks across 19 minutes.

Skinliv’s blackened assault is Continue reading “Skinliv/Vermisst – Split (Review)”

Mur – Cut the Rivers Vein (Review)

Mur - Cut the Rivers VeinThis is the fourth album from one-man blackened doom act Mur.

Cut the Rivers Vein spends 51 minutes mixing together doom, post-metal, and black metal, with elements of folk, ambient, and drone, to great effect. Continue reading “Mur – Cut the Rivers Vein (Review)”

Sonic Assault – Neon-Lit Metropolis (Review)

Sonic Assault - Neon-Lit MetropolisThis is the debut album from Swedish progressive thrash metal band Sonic Assault.

Sonic Assault’s music contains elements of hardcore, (primarily in the vocals), and black metal, but mostly the style is one of progressive/technical thrash, played with conviction and skill. Continue reading “Sonic Assault – Neon-Lit Metropolis (Review)”

Tine – Mergae Maris Profundi (Review)

Tine - Mergae Maris ProfundiThis is the second album from US solo symphonic black/death metal act Tine.

Tine’s debut album – The Forest Dreams of Black – was one that I enjoyed a great deal, and I can’t quite believe that it came out seven years ago. I’m pleased to say that we now have a new album on the horizon – Mergae Maris Profundi – which provides us with 54 minutes of blackened death metal to hungrily consume. Continue reading “Tine – Mergae Maris Profundi (Review)”