Category: Reviews

King Woman – Celestial Blues (Review)

King Woman - Celestial BluesKing Woman are a doom metal band from the US. This is their second album.

Here we have 41 minutes of atmospheric doom metal, flavoured with aspects of post-metal and shoegaze, as well as some dreampop, and avant-garde tendencies. This means that overall King Woman’s sound is an atypical one, and they’ve successfully managed to carve their own niche in a crowded scene. Continue reading “King Woman – Celestial Blues (Review)”

Underdark – Our Bodies Burned Bright on Re-Entry (Review)

Underdark - Our Bodies Burned Bright on Re-EntryUnderdark are a post-black metal band from the UK and this is their debut album.

Underdark combine black metal, post-rock, post-hardcore/screamo, and blackgaze into their sound. That might sound like a slightly strange mix of subgenres, but on Our Bodies Burned Bright on Re-Entry these influences all coalesce into a very effective and enjoyable 36 minutes of post-blackened darkness. Although Continue reading “Underdark – Our Bodies Burned Bright on Re-Entry (Review)”

Sense Offender/Nil – Split (Review)

Sense Offender Nil - SplitThis is a split between UK hardcore bands Sense Offender and Nil.

Sense Offender start us off, with 8 minutes of material. The band play a form of jagged chaotic hardcore that is belligerent and lethal. Continue reading “Sense Offender/Nil – Split (Review)”

Tombstoner – Victims of Vile Torture (Review)

Tombstoner - Victims of Vile TortureTombstoner are a death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Now here’s one I’ve really been looking forward to. 2020’s Descent to Madness was seriously good, and I’ve only grown to love it even more over time. On Victims of Vile Torture, we once again get a feast of old-school death metal, played with a modern edge that incorporates elements of grind, hardcore, groove, and thrash metal. The music combines all of the above elements into a roaringly good collection of tracks. Continue reading “Tombstoner – Victims of Vile Torture (Review)”

Ondfødt – Norden (Review)

Ondfødt - NordenThis is the third album from Finnish black metallers Ondfødt, a duo whose members are also in Dispyt.

I always like catching up with what Ondfødt are offering. I enjoyed 2014’s Hexkonst and 2019’s Dödsrikets Kallelse, so now it’s time to turn to Norden with positive expectations. Continue reading “Ondfødt – Norden (Review)”

Ulvik – Cascades (Review)

Ulvik - CascadesUlvik are a Canadian black metal band and this is their second album.

Cascades contains 32 minutes of atmospheric black metal. What it might lack in quantity it makes up for in quality. Ulvik have produced an enjoyable, satisfying slice of darkness here. Theirs is a largely aggressive strain of atmoblack, but one that’s not without nuance or dynamic differentiation. Continue reading “Ulvik – Cascades (Review)”

Temple of Dread – Hades Unleashed (Review)

Temple of Dread - Hades UnleashedThis is the third album from German death metal band Temple of Dread.

Hades Unleashed contains 40 minutes of death metal, and features a member of Slaughterday on vocals. Continue reading “Temple of Dread – Hades Unleashed (Review)”

Craven Idol – Forked Tongues (Review)

Craven Idol - Forked TonguesThis is the third album from UK black metallers Craven Idol.

It’s great to have some new material from Craven Idol. 2013’s Towards Eschaton and 2017’s The Shackles of Mammon were both records that I hugely enjoyed, and the 41 minutes of new material on Forked Tongues continues this trend nicely. Continue reading “Craven Idol – Forked Tongues (Review)”