Category: Reviews

The Mist from the Mountains – Monumental – The Temple of Twilight (Review)

The Mist from the Mountains - Monumental - The Temple of TwilightThe Mist from the Mountains are a Finnish black metal band and this is their debut album.

Monumental – The Temple of Twilight contains 38 minutes of 90s-influenced nature-inspired black metal. The promo blurb mentions bands from that era such as Old Man’s Child, Gehenna, Dimmu Borgir, and Borknagar, which, coupled with the enticing album art, meant I definitely had to give The Mist from the Mountains some of my attention. Continue reading “The Mist from the Mountains – Monumental – The Temple of Twilight (Review)”

Celeste – Assassine(s) (Review)

Celeste - Assassine(s)Celeste are a French blackened doom/sludge/hardcore band and this is their seventh album.

This is the follow up to 2017’s Infidèle(s), which I enjoyed a great deal. Clocking in at 41 minutes, this is on the shorter side for a Celeste album, and Assassine(s) finds the band focused and sharp. Continue reading “Celeste – Assassine(s) (Review)”

Dawn of Solace – Flames of Perdition (Review)

Dawn of Solace - Flames of PerditionThis is the third album from Finnish melodic metal band Dawn of Solace.

Blending elements of melodic, doom, and Gothic metal into a melancholic whole, Flames of Perdition is a mournful feast of emotive metallic delights. Bands such as Continue reading “Dawn of Solace – Flames of Perdition (Review)”

The Last Ten Seconds of Life – The Last Ten Seconds of Life (Review)

The Last Ten Seconds of LifeThe Last Ten Seconds of Life are a US deathcore band, this is their fifth album.

I last heard The Last Ten Seconds of Life on their 2016 album The Violent Sound, which was an enjoyable excursion into rowdy metal waters. On their latest album the band have taken a slight step back with their their hybrid sound; it’s still part-deathcore, part nu-metal, part hardcore, and Continue reading “The Last Ten Seconds of Life – The Last Ten Seconds of Life (Review)”

Druid Lord – Relics of the Dead (Review)

Druid Lord - Relics of the DeadDruid Lord are a death/doom metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Following on from 2018’s Grotesque Offerings, Relics of the Dead contains 41 minutes of new material. These new songs pick up where Grotesque Offerings left off. They’re heavy slabs of death/doom, dripping with macabre atmosphere and slow terror. Continue reading “Druid Lord – Relics of the Dead (Review)”

40 Watt Sun – Perfect Light (Review)

40 Watt Sun - Perfect LightThis is the third album from UK one-man post-rock/doom band 40 Watt Sun.

Brought to us by the guitarist/vocalist of Warning, (along with an array of guests, including a member of Worm Ouroboros), Perfect Light contains 68 minutes of skilfully-crafted music that is simply stunning. Continue reading “40 Watt Sun – Perfect Light (Review)”

Abyssus – Death Revival (Review)

Abyssus - Death RevivalThis is the second album from Abyssus, a Greek death metal band.

I’ve been an avid follower of Abyssus’ work for many years, (see here, here, here, here, and here), and their output never fails to put a smile on my face. Which is why it’s great to have a new album from the band. Seven tracks, 33 minutes; Abyssus bring their old-school death metal sound to the masses once more, and it’s damn good fun. Continue reading “Abyssus – Death Revival (Review)”

Battle Beast – Circus of Doom (Review)

Battle Beast - Circus of DoomThis is the sixth album from Finnish heavy/power metallers Battle Beast.

Battle Beast play a symphonic mix of heavy and power metal, and they do so with skill and character. I haven’t caught up with Battle Beast since 2017’s enjoyable Bringer of Pain, so Circus of Doom seemed a good time to check in with their brand of stadium metal once more. Continue reading “Battle Beast – Circus of Doom (Review)”

Aethereus – Leiden (Review)

Aethereus - LeidenAethereus are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Leiden is a 55-minute death metal monstrosity that blends technical, progressive, and dissonant elements together into a very impressive package. The band’s Facebook page describes them as for fans of Obscura, Beyond Creation, and Gorguts, and that’s a good starting place from which to approach Leiden. Continue reading “Aethereus – Leiden (Review)”