Arcaeon – Cascadence (Review)

Arcaeon - CascadenceArcaeon are a technical/progressive metal band from the UK and this is their debut album.

Cascadence contains 49 minutes of modern metal that takes from the technical/progressive metal/metalcore and djent genres to craft an engaging, well-rounded album. The promo blurb recommends this for fans of bands such as Periphery, Monuments, Devin Townsend, Intervals, and Architects, and it’s hard to disagree. Continue reading “Arcaeon – Cascadence (Review)”

Anguis Dei – Angeist (Review)

Anguis Dei - AngeistThis is the debut album from Anguis Dei, a black metal band from Japan.

If you have a craving for old-school symphonic/orchestral black metal in the style of bands such as Dimmu Borgir, Emperor, and Cradle of Filth, then Angeist is one for you. Across 45 minutes Angus Dei transport Continue reading “Anguis Dei – Angeist (Review)”

Atra Vetosus – Even the Dawn No Longer Brings Hope (Review)

Atra Vetosus - Even the Dawn No Longer Brings HopeThis is the latest EP from Australian black metallers Atra Vetosus.

We haven’t heard from Atra Vetosus since 2018’s Apricity, so I’m happy to have a new release from them. On Even the Dawn No Longer Brings Hope the band mix elements of melodic, depressive, atmospheric, and post-black metal together into a very satisfying and well-crafted 23 minutes of material. Continue reading “Atra Vetosus – Even the Dawn No Longer Brings Hope (Review)”

Wolf Theory – WLFTHRY (Review)

Wolf Theory - WLFTHRYWolf Theory are an alternative rock band from Italy and this is their debut album.

I’m not sure what it was that made me give Wolf Theory a try, but I’m glad I did. After sampling their songs, there seemed to be enough to warrant a full listen. If you can move past the low-rent album cover, (which did its best Continue reading “Wolf Theory – WLFTHRY (Review)”

The Ruins of Beverast – The Thule Grimoires (Review)

The Ruins of Beverast - The Thule GrimoiresThis is the sixth album from one-man German black/doom metal metal band The Ruins of Beverast.

The Ruins of Beverast’s music is an intriguing and exotic combination of atmospheric black and doom metal. Okay, so what’s so exotic about it, you might ask? Well, it’s the artist’s sublime ability to combine lesser-heard influences, (an occasional touch of Continue reading “The Ruins of Beverast – The Thule Grimoires (Review)”

Oceana – The Pattern (Review)

Oceana - The PatternOceana are a progressive metal band from Italy and this is their debut album.

As an introductory description of The Pattern, I’m just going to be lazy and quite the promo blurb – “The intent was to mix progressive metal elements with European-style death doom. Influences, from a musical point of view, range from Edge of Sanity to Katatonia, from Paradise Lost to Duran Duran, from Metallica to Dream Theater, in a Continue reading “Oceana – The Pattern (Review)”

Portrayal of Guilt – We Are Always Alone (Review)

Portrayal of Guilt - We Are Always AlonePortrayal of Guilt are a blackened hardcore band from the US and this is their second album.

And now for 26 minutes of grim darkness and murderous brutality. Portrayal of Guilt play the sort of ultra-nasty hardcore that can lacerate flesh at 1000 paces. Mixing together blistering hardcore and angry punk with a blackened sheen, this is not for the faint of heart. Continue reading “Portrayal of Guilt – We Are Always Alone (Review)”