Category: Reviews

Vexes – Ancient Geometry (Review)

VexesVexes are a US modern/post-metal band and this is their debut album.

Although Deftones are the obvious starting point for comparative purposes, elements of The Unguided, Poison the Well, Glassjaw, and Cave In can also be heard in the band’s sound, as well as some more atypical moments in the style of, perhaps, Norma Jean, Between the Buried and Me, and Isis. Feelings of the late 90s/early 00s are strong with this band, and from my point of view that’s no bad thing at all. Continue reading “Vexes – Ancient Geometry (Review)”

Horizon Ablaze – The Weight of a Thousand Suns (Review)

Horizon AblazeHorizon Ablaze are a Norwegian progressive black/extreme metal band and this is their third album.

Horizon Ablaze play a brand of extreme metal that largely consists of atmospheric/progressive/avant-garde black metal, (among other things). It’s an impressive and well-delivered proposition, that’s for sure. Continue reading “Horizon Ablaze – The Weight of a Thousand Suns (Review)”

Usurpress – Interregnum (Review)

UsurpressUsurpress are a Swedish death metal band and this is their fourth album.

Usurpress play an interesting and atypical brand of death metal. They essentially take a death metal base and build on it not only with sludge influences, but with progressive ones too. I already Continue reading “Usurpress – Interregnum (Review)”

Biter – The Eyes of the Biter (Review)

BiterBiter are a Brazilian heavy metal band and this is their debut album.

At only 22 minutes this is a rather brief listen for an album; why this is classed as a full length rather than an EP is beyond me, but I don’t suppose it matters in the grand scheme of things Continue reading “Biter – The Eyes of the Biter (Review)”

Apostle of Solitude – From Gold to Ash (Review)

Apostle of SolitudeApostle of Solitude are a US doom metal band and this is their fourth album.

So, the mighty Apostle of Solitude return! It’s been a long time since 2014’s Of Woe and Wounds, which I rated on my 2014 end of year best of list. Continue reading “Apostle of Solitude – From Gold to Ash (Review)”

Kontagion – KO[R-!-E] (Review)

KontagionKontagion are an industrial metal band from Poland and this is their latest EP.

Was it really 2015 that [R-!-E]lentless was released? Crikey. How time flies. Well, here we have a new 20 minutes of material from this industrial metal troupe that features a member of Unborn Suffer. Continue reading “Kontagion – KO[R-!-E] (Review)”

Mournful Congregation – The Incubus of Karma (Review)

Mournful CongregationMournful Congregation are an Australian funeral doom band and this is their sixth album.

I like music that’s bleakly heavy, crushingly slow, and agonisingly despondent. Therefore, I like Mournful Congregation.

It seems like an age since the band’s last foray into despair that was Concrescence of the Sophia, but now they’ve finally appeared from the shadows once again to bless us with more of their monolithic funeral dirges. Continue reading “Mournful Congregation – The Incubus of Karma (Review)”

Cut the Architect’s Hand – Thus Always to Tyrants (Review)

Cut the Architect's HandCut the Architect’s Hand are a Metal/Hardcore band from the US, this is their latest album.

Having enjoyed 2016’s We Dig No Graves, it’s now time for another furious blast of gritty aggression and angular riffage. Continue reading “Cut the Architect’s Hand – Thus Always to Tyrants (Review)”