This is a split between two sludge/doom bands – Mares of Diomedes from Ireland and Dreich from Denmark.
Mares of Diomedes start us off with two songs of bastard-heavy metal, lasting 13 minutes.
This is fuzzed-up and harsh, with colossal riffs drenched in distortion being unleashed like they are going out of fashion. With Continue reading “Mares of Diomedes/Dreich – Split (Review)”
This is the debut release from Kalloused, a UK blackened sludge/doom band.
Kalloused have a powerfully heavy sound that they still manage to insert nuance into when the need arises. This release features a plethora of textured riffs that manage to show a certain degree of subtlety and finesse even when they’re smashing your skull in.
The band have a black metal element Continue reading “Kalloused – Damn You Believer (Review)”
This is the fifth album from Bestial Deform, a Russian death metal band.
Bestial Deform were created in 1990, so it’s safe to say they have a lot of experience playing death metal. This is their first album since 2005 and features both new songs and older ones that have been re-recorded.
The band play a Continue reading “Bestial Deform – …Ad Leones (Review)”
Nox Formulae are a Greek black metal band and this is their debut album.
This is ritualistic/occult black metal that combines a raw delivery with elements of the avant-garde and atmospheric.
The band take the second-wave black metal template and mutate it into something a bit more atypical. Synths and dark Continue reading “Nox Formulae – The Hidden Paths to Black Ecstasy (Review)”
Vahrzaw are an Australian black metal band and this is their second album.
This is a blisteringly aggressive strain of virulent black metal, with some elements of death metal added in for extra ferocity.
Twin Suns & Wolves’ Tongues is raw and brutal, full of blackened darkness and raging hatred. More than a simple one-trick pony though, Vahrzaw are talented enough to create more than just pure aggression with Continue reading “Vahrzaw – Twin Suns & Wolves’ Tongues (Review)”
US black metallers Void Omnia have released quite a storming debut album. It’s called Dying Light and is definitely one that you should check out. With speed, melody and atmosphere, it’s a well-rounded release that latches onto the listener with its aggressive tempo, and stays there by virtue of dark moods and layered textures. The band’s vocalist Jamison Kester touched base with us to keep us informed about what they’re up to…
We are 5 piece atmospheric black metal band from Oakland, CA that began in 2011 but truly did not take shape until the latter half of 2013.
Our musical influences range from black, death, grind and classical. All of us are multi-instrumentalists who listen to a broad scope of music at varying degrees. Continue reading “Interview with Void Omnia”
Memoirs of a Secret Empire, (otherwise known as MOASE), are a post-metal band from Portugal, and this is their debut album.
This is expansive and progressive post-metal that creates mood and feeling through instrumental songs that belie the fact that there’s only three members of the band.
Well, I say instrumental – there are some Continue reading “Memoirs of a Secret Empire – Vertigo (Review)”
This is Polish death metal band Banisher’s third album.
I like Banisher, as although they have a core of brutality, they infuse their music with a good deal of technicality and are not afraid to experiment with their sound either, introducing interesting ideas and some progressive elements.
Their last album, Scarcity, was really, really good, and on Oniric Delusions the band take what they did with Continue reading “Banisher – Oniric Delusions (Review)”
This is the debut album from Falaise, an atmospheric/post-black metal band from Italy.
Melancholic and full of depressive moods and feelings, Falaise’s debut album is filled to the brim with sadness, loss and abandoned hope.
The band channel this misery into 61 minutes of atmospheric/post-black metal that uses fragility as a weapon and despondency as an end unto itself.
In many ways this is a product of the blackgaze scene, with all that entails. Continue reading “Falaise – As Time Goes By (Review)”
This is the debut album from Ukrainian black metal one-man project While They Sleep.
This is primarily raw, old-school black metal that sits firmly in the grimmest underground layers of hidden worlds. Add a touch of the depressive and atmospheric styles into the mix too and you have 63 minutes of ominous, dark music.
Taking the unpolished second-wave style and Continue reading “While They Sleep – La Nausee (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 