Paradise Lost – Obsidian (Review)

Paradise Lost. - ObsidianThis is the 16th album from UK metal band Paradise Lost.

This is the eagerly awaited follow up to 2017’s Medusa, which was a thoroughly enjoyable album through and through. Back with 45 minutes of new material on Obsidian, this is a great time to be a Paradise Lost fan. Continue reading “Paradise Lost – Obsidian (Review)”

Afsky – Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død (Review)

Afsky - Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig DødAfsky is a one-man Danish black metal band and this is his second album.

Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død is the follow up to the very enjoyable Sorg from 2018, and contains 46 minutes of new material. Mixing small parts of folk and doom into a traditional black metal approach, this is a melancholic and emotive take on the blackened style. Continue reading “Afsky – Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død (Review)”

Winterfylleth – The Reckoning Dawn (Review)

Winterfylleth - The Reckoning DawnWinterfylleth are a UK black metal band and this is their seventh album.

My first introduction to Winterfylleth was with last year’s The Siege of Mercia, which I really enjoyed. As such, I knew I had to check out The Reckoning Dawn when it appeared. Continue reading “Winterfylleth – The Reckoning Dawn (Review)”

Noctu – Gelidae Mortis Imago (Review)

Noctu - Gelidae Mortis ImagoThis is the second album from Italy’s one-man blackened doom band Noctu.

Gelidae Mortis Imago contains 74 minutes of atmospheric blackened funeral doom. Containing three brief atmospheric pieces as preludes to the three main monstrous songs, this album is an imposing proposition for people allergic to Continue reading “Noctu – Gelidae Mortis Imago (Review)”

Forming the Void – Reverie (Review)

Forming the Void - ReverieThis is the fourth album from progressive stoner/sludge doom metallers Forming the Void.

I enjoy Forming the Void’s work; 2018’s split with Pyreship and Rift were both quality releases, but on Reverie, the band have produced something quite wonderful. Continue reading “Forming the Void – Reverie (Review)”

Forgotten Tomb – Nihilistic Estrangement (Review)

Forgotten Tomb - Nihilistic EstrangementThis is the tenth album from Forgotten Tomb, an Italian black/doom/sludge metal band.

2015’s Hurt Yourself and the Ones You Love and 2017’s We Owe You Nothing are both favourites of mine, so it’s great to have some new work from Forgotten Tomb, especially something as well-wrought as Nihilistic Estrangement. Continue reading “Forgotten Tomb – Nihilistic Estrangement (Review)”

Bear – Propaganda (Review)

Bear - PropagandaBear are a progressive metal band from Belgium and this is their fourth album.

I really, really enjoyed 2017’s ///, and it grew on me over time more and more. Well, I haven’t had years to absorb the true nature of Propaganda yet, but damn does it seem just as good, if not better than ///. Continue reading “Bear – Propaganda (Review)”

Blacklab – Abyss (Review)

Blacklab - AbyssThis is the second album from Japanese doom band Blacklab.

Taking a jagged, almost experimental approach to doom, Blacklab’s music is a curious fusion of Black Sabbath, Boris, and The Stooges. This is dark, raw, and peppered with hardcore and noise rock influences. Continue reading “Blacklab – Abyss (Review)”

Civerous/Stygian Obsession – Heralds of Affliction – Split (Review)

Civerous Stygian Obsession - Heralds of Affliction - SplitCiverous and Stygian Obsession are both US death metal bands, and they’ve teamed up for this split release.

This is my first encounter with Civerous, but their 17-minute side of this split means that hopefully it won’t be my last, as it definitely makes me want to hear more from them. Continue reading “Civerous/Stygian Obsession – Heralds of Affliction – Split (Review)”

Cryptic Shift – Visitations from Enceladus (Review)

Cryptic Shift - Visitations from EnceladusCryptic Shift are a death metal band from the UK and this is their debut album.

Cryptic Shift play death metal that fuses elements of the technical, progressive, and thrash metal styles into its sci-fi-themed self. Continue reading “Cryptic Shift – Visitations from Enceladus (Review)”