Foretoken – Ruin (Review)

Foretoken - RuinThis is the debut album from US black/death metal band Foretoken.

So, you fancy a good-sized chunk of Scandinavian death metal? That’s no problem, take your pick. What’s that? You also want a decent black metal influence to be felt? That’s easily done. Now you want a take on the style that’s highly melodic too? Sure, Continue reading “Foretoken – Ruin (Review)”

Aenemica – Secret Lines (Review)

Aenemica - Secret LinesThis is the second album from Aenemica, a German progressive rock band.

This is the follow up to 2014’s Empty Inside,

These songs feature a mix of progressive, melodic, and alternative rock, nicely-written and neatly-presented. Aenemica understand the style that they play, meaning that these songs have plenty of hooks and memorable moments, while Continue reading “Aenemica – Secret Lines (Review)”

Oceans of Slumber – Oceans of Slumber (Review)

Oceans of Slumber - Oceans of SlumberThis is the fourth album from US progressive metallers Oceans of Slumber.

Oceans of Slumber is the much-anticipated follow up to 2018’s well-received The Banished Heart.

Oceans of Slumber’s progressive metal takes in elements of doom and Gothic metal to produce music that hits a lot of emotional highs, while still having kick where it counts. The band combine heaviness with ethereal beauty. Some of Continue reading “Oceans of Slumber – Oceans of Slumber (Review)”

Cult of Lilith – Mara (Review)

Cult of Lilith - MaraCult of Lilith are a death metal band from Iceland and this is their debut album.

After a decent wait, we finally have the follow up to the early promise of 2016’s Arkanum. Between the two releases the band have picked up a new singer and filled out to an entire band, so that only one member remains from that first EP. Mara is largely the sound of a new entity. Continue reading “Cult of Lilith – Mara (Review)”

Vacant Eyes – A Somber Preclusion of Being (Review)

Vacant Eyes - A Somber Preclusion of BeingThis is the debut album from US doom band Vacant Eyes.

Combining funeral doom, death/doom, melodic doom, and progressive doom, A Somber Preclusion of Being contains 75 minutes of sorrowful soundscapes. Continue reading “Vacant Eyes – A Somber Preclusion of Being (Review)”

Entry – Detriment (Review)

Entry - DetrimentThis is the debut album from US hardcore band Entry.

Despite being billed as an album, there’s only 15 minutes of material here, so you may guess that this is filled with high energy punk aggression and hardcore ferocity. If so, you’d be right, and it’s a damn good ride too. Continue reading “Entry – Detriment (Review)”

Pain of Salvation – Panther (Review)

Pain of Salvation - PantherThis is the tenth album from Swedish progressive rock band Pain of Salvation.

Here we have 54 minutes of progressive rock that’s laced prominently with electronica. For such a well-known and long-serving band, I’m not really that familiar with Pain of Salvation, and I have to say that Panther makes me regret this, as it’s a very strong record indeed. Continue reading “Pain of Salvation – Panther (Review)”

Necrot – Mortal (Review)

Necrot - MortalThis is the second album from US death metallers Necrot.

Necrot play highly engaging classic death metal, and Mortal presents us with 38 minutes of the stuff. There are a range of different influences at play on Mortal, and it doesn’t adhere to the style of any one particular geographic area or era, much to its credit. Instead Continue reading “Necrot – Mortal (Review)”