Reviews – Page 456 – Wonderbox Metal

Forty Winters – Rotting Empire (Review)

This is the second album from US metalcore band Forty Winters.

This is metalcore in its original, hard-as-nails metallic hardcore incarnation, before the advent of sing-along choruses and radio-friendly unit shifters. Forty Winters mean business, and they’re here to stomp all over your breakfast.

This is angry music for angry people doing angry things. If you get off on bands like Hatebreed, Himsa, Thy Art Is Murder, Suicide Silence, Walls of Jericho, Darkest Hour and the like, then this should be Continue reading “Forty Winters – Rotting Empire (Review)”

Usurpress – The Regal Tribe (Review)

Hailing form Sweden, this is the third album from Usurpress.

I like Usurpress. Both their split with Bent Sea and their last full-length, Ordained, were very enjoyable, and now they’re back with a new album that features a very good cover.

But what of the music? Usurpress are not a normal death metal band, including elements of crust, sludge and progressive/psychedelic music in their delivery, as they do. Continue reading “Usurpress – The Regal Tribe (Review)”

Ade – Carthago Delenda Est (Review)

This is the third album from Italy’s death metallers Ade.

Much in the same way that Nile are heavily influenced by ancient Egypt and incorporate musical influences from this into their sound and style, Ade do the same thing only their focus rests on ancient Rome.

These ancient influences come across in the music in a variety of ways, whether that’s incorporated into melodies and lyrics, (some of which are in Latin); layered in added orchestration and instruments; or even in some Continue reading “Ade – Carthago Delenda Est (Review)”

Neurogenic – Ouroboric Stagnation (Review)

This is the debut album from international death metallers Neurogenic.

Featuring members of Indecent Excision, Derogation, Fleshbomb and Six Feet Under, as well as guests from members of Gutrot, Churchburn, Abnormality, Six Feet Under and Malignancy, you know that this is going to be a professional and capable release before you even listen to it.

When you do, you’re confronted with Continue reading “Neurogenic – Ouroboric Stagnation (Review)”

Seventh Station – Between Life and Dreams (Review)

This is the debut album from international progressive metal band Seventh Station.

The band clearly know what they’re doing with their instruments, and the high level of quality playing on this album is evident from the very start.

I love music that feels like it’s taking you on a journey, and this is very definitely one such album. Through a blistering display of virtuoso playing, the band navigate all manner of musical soundscapes in an attempt to get across their artistic vision. Continue reading “Seventh Station – Between Life and Dreams (Review)”

Iron Fire – Among the Dead (Review)

This is Iron Fire’s eighth album. They are a power/heavy metal band from Denmark.

If 90s heavy/power metal is your thing, then you need to check out Among the Dead right away. Also – zombie-themed metal? Sign me up!

Iron Fire deal in song-oriented tunes that revel in catchy melodies with substantial guitars. I like Continue reading “Iron Fire – Among the Dead (Review)”

Grond – Worship the Kraken (Review)

Grond are a Russian death metal band and this is their second album.

Grond play death metal that’s influenced by the old-school, with a more modern sheen then added to it all in the delivery.

The singer has a voice that sounds like colossal stones being dragged across the ocean floor. Despite this, he’s actually more legible than some similar singers too, but retains a monstrous presence regardless of this. Continue reading “Grond – Worship the Kraken (Review)”

Sadhus “The Smoking Community”/Agnes Vein – Split (Review)

Sadhus “The Smoking Community” are a sludge/doom band and Agnes Vein are a blackened sludge band. Both are from Greece.

Sadhus “The Smoking Community” start us of with their track, Abduction, which is almost six minutes of heaviosity.

This is slow, lazy and heavy, just as sludgy doom should be. It gives a strong impression of the band on stage, heads down, peeling off heavy riffs with stoned concentration and Continue reading “Sadhus “The Smoking Community”/Agnes Vein – Split (Review)”

Svlfvr – Shamanic Lvnar Cvlt (Review)

Svlfvr are an Italian blackened doom metal band. This is their latest album.

What we have here is essentially a doom metal band that have fallen to darkness and embraced black metal as a secondary influence. There are some other influences detectable in their sound too, (old Anathema), and they all converge together quite nicely over these 56 minutes.

The songs on Shamanic Lvnar Cvlt have muscular guitars and plenty of dark presence. The old-school black metal influences make for a darker sound than most doom metal bands, but the traditional doom metal aspect of their sound means that they don’t wander too Continue reading “Svlfvr – Shamanic Lvnar Cvlt (Review)”

Dead Ficus – Rise or Fall (Review)

Dead Ficus are a Metal band from France and this is their debut album.

Dead Ficus play a form of melodic metal/rock that features harsh vocals and some nice keyboard accompaniment.

The singer has quite a nasty bark to him, which juxtaposes nicely against the music which is melodic and atmospheric. I was actually expecting clean vocals from this band, for some reason, so I like his voice all the more for Continue reading “Dead Ficus – Rise or Fall (Review)”