Shokran – Exodus (Review)

ShokranThis is the second album from Russian groove metal band Shokran.

Shokran play modern groove metal with a hearty djent influence, as well as having neo-classical, progressive, technical and Egyptian-themed aspects to their sound. They have a lot going on across these 35 minutes, and it’s all Continue reading “Shokran – Exodus (Review)”

Waldgeflüster – Ruinen (Review)

WaldgeflusterThis is the fourth album by German black metal band Waldgeflüster.

Waldgeflüster play atmospheric post-black metal with lashings of the second wave thrown in for good blackened measure and some healthy old-school doom aspects to parts of their sound. It’s a beguiling mix and Ruinen is a highly emotive and comprehensive release.

Post-metal melodies flare up in their resplendence, warring with Continue reading “Waldgeflüster – Ruinen (Review)”

Meshuggah – The Violent Sleep of Reason (Review)

MeshuggahMeshuggah are a legendary Swedish progressive/extreme metal band and this is their eighth album.

The fathers of djent return, with 59 minutes of progressive metal that definitely blows the proverbial cobwebs away.

This is very heavy indeed. If you know Meshuggah at all then you know Continue reading “Meshuggah – The Violent Sleep of Reason (Review)”

Brain Tentacles – Brain Tentacles (Review)

Brain TentaclesBrain Tentacles are an experimental/avant-garde/jazz/grind/doom metal band from the US. This is their debut album.

Experimental/avant-garde/jazz/grind/doom metal is a bit of a mouthful, and in all honesty doesn’t even properly do justice to the sounds that this album contains at any rate.

In addition to the usual drums and bass you’ll also find synth, piano and horns on this release. But no guitars. Continue reading “Brain Tentacles – Brain Tentacles (Review)”

Razor Sharp Death Blizzard – You Will Burn (Review)

Razor Sharp Death BlizzardRazor Sharp Death Blizzard are from the UK and play hardcore.

The UK seems to have such a knack for producing some of the angriest, filthiest, nastiest extreme music out there, and Razor Sharp Death Blizzard are a great addition to the wealth of talent that’s available from the country.

This is 36 minutes of hardcore punk and ugly sludge metal that recalls a good mix of Continue reading “Razor Sharp Death Blizzard – You Will Burn (Review)”

Sea of Bones/Ramlord – Split (Review)

Sea of Bones RamlordSea of Bones and Ramlord are both from the US. Sea of Bones play doom, while Ramlord play hardcore.

Sea of Bones have produced some monolithic, crushing doom/sludge metal in their time, so it’s with great joy that I prepared to listen to their half of this split – a single track named Hopelessness and Decay, lasting just under 11 minutes.

Slow and full of apocalyptic inevitability, the track unfolds at minimal speed, Continue reading “Sea of Bones/Ramlord – Split (Review)”

Colosso – Obnoxious (Review)

ColossoColosso are a Portuguese death metal band and this is their second album.

I really enjoy Colosso’s earlier work, (Abrasive Peace, for example), so Obnoxious is a release I was looking forward too.

The band have a track record of experimentation with their sound and looking to better themselves however they Continue reading “Colosso – Obnoxious (Review)”

Throne of Botis – Hymns of Homicide (Review)

Throne of BotisThrone of Botis are a death metal band from the US and this is their debut EP.

This is brutal death metal in the American style, with plenty of weight and muscularity in their sound. For fans of Defeated Sanity, Suffocation, Dying Fetus, Cannibal Corpse, Deeds of Flesh, Pyrexia, Internal Bleeding, etc.

The band offer up 17 minutes of Continue reading “Throne of Botis – Hymns of Homicide (Review)”