Insomnium – Winter’s Gate (Review)

InsomniumInsomnium are a melodic death metal band from Finland and this is their Seventh album.

I do like it when a band gives free rein to their epic, exploratory side and decides to write a really, really long song. Welcome to Winter’s Gate. This album consists of one track that lasts a full 40 minutes in length.

With a concept that’s based around a short story, the band weave this tale into the fabric of the music, taking the listener on a textured journey into unexplored lands. Continue reading “Insomnium – Winter’s Gate (Review)”

Witchskull – The Vast Electric Dark (Review)

WitchskullWitchskull are from Australia and play heavy/stoner metal. This is their debut album.

With attitude and a confident swagger, Witchskull waste no time in firmly making their mark with their stoner-esque take on desert metal. Continue reading “Witchskull – The Vast Electric Dark (Review)”

Throneum – Morbid Death Tales (Review)

ThroneumThis is the seventh album from Throneum, a Polish death metal band.

This is ugly, raw death metal, produced by a band that have amassed a huge back catalog. Although quantity does not necessarily equate to quality, at this stage Throneum have been doing this long enough to know their way around the crypt they inhabit. Continue reading “Throneum – Morbid Death Tales (Review)”

Kontagion – [R-!-E]lentless (Review)

KontagionThis is the second album from Polish industrial metal band Kontagion.

Kontagion play industrial-tinged cybermetal, taking influence from the earlier of strains of the Fear Factory virus, and morphing itself into an altogether darker and more feral breed via some early Slipknot/Mushroomhead influences and a touch of Godflesh, (of which there’s a cover version here of Crush My Soul).

This really does have a late 90s/early 00s feel Continue reading “Kontagion – [R-!-E]lentless (Review)”

Cara Neir/Wildspeaker – Guilt and His Reflection (Review)

Cara Neir WildspeakerCara Neir are a black metal/crust/grind/whatever band from the US. They have teamed up with Wildspeaker, a blackened sludge/crust band, also from the US.

I’m a big fan of Cara Neir, so as far as I’m concerned any release of theirs is well worth giving a listen to. On this split they contribute seven songs spread over 21 minutes.

You never quite know what you’re going to be getting with Continue reading “Cara Neir/Wildspeaker – Guilt and His Reflection (Review)”

Predatory Light – Predatory Light (Review)

Predatory LightThis is the debut album from US black metallers Predatory Light.

Featuring members of Mania, Triumvir Foul and Ash Borer, this release comes with high expectations before it even starts. As you can probably guess, those expectations are fulfilled.

Predatory Light play black metal with a serving of doom and a keen Continue reading “Predatory Light – Predatory Light (Review)”

In Obscurity Revealed – Grim Fumes of Revelation (Review)

In Obscurity RevealedIn Obscurity Revealed are a blackened death metal band from Mexico and this is their debut EP.

Something about the cover of this release just made it impossible to pass over for review; as soon as I saw it I knew I had to listen to it and write words about it.

So here we are.

So what’s all this about then, I hear you ask? Continue reading “In Obscurity Revealed – Grim Fumes of Revelation (Review)”

Axxen Conners – Nowhere to Escape Sins (Review)

Axxen ConnersAxxen Conners are a progressive death metal band from Turkey. This is their debut EP.

This short, sub-13 minute EP is an interesting listen. Professionally recorded with a solid sound, the band effectively showcase their metal vision.

The band play a sort of death metal that has a progressive/melodic edge, with elements of black metal stirred into Continue reading “Axxen Conners – Nowhere to Escape Sins (Review)”

Asphyx – Incoming Death (Review)

AsphyxHailing from The Netherlands, this is the ninth album from legendary death metallers Asphyx.

Asphyx are a well-known band for a reason and new material from them is always welcome.

Incoming Death contains 48 minutes of colossal death metal, with huge riffs and drums that drop like bombs.

War-themed and crushingly heavy, this is an album that sweeps you away as soon as you start playing it. Sure, there are Continue reading “Asphyx – Incoming Death (Review)”