The Spirit – Songs Against Humanity (Review)

The Spirit - Songs Against HumanityThe Spirit are a German black/death metal band and this is their fourth album.

Songs Against Humanity contains 42 minutes of material that combines the melodic strains of both black and death metal. It’s essentially Scandinavian melodic black metal with elements of death metal that provide a technical edge in places. Continue reading “The Spirit – Songs Against Humanity (Review)”

Serpent Column – Tassel of Ares (Review)

Serpent Column - Tassel of AresThis is the fourth album from US solo black metal band Serpent Column.

Tassel of Ares is a 39-minute avant-garde black metal album brought to us by the artist behind Theophonos. The style is dissonant, esoteric, and obscure, yet remarkably accessible for that. Serpent Column’s music is an impressive beast. Continue reading “Serpent Column – Tassel of Ares (Review)”

From the Vastland – Tenebrous Shadow (Review)

From the Vastland - Tenebrous ShadowFrom the Vastland are an Iranian/Norwegian black metal band and this is their eighth album.

I enjoy catching up with From the Vastland’s brand of black metal. I’ve liked all of their albums I’ve heard so far, (2016’s Chamrosh, 2018’s Daevayasna, and 2020’s The Haft Khan, (I managed to miss their 2022 record Taurvi, which I’ve only just found out even existed), so I didn’t expect Tenebrous Shadow to break this trend. Continue reading “From the Vastland – Tenebrous Shadow (Review)”

Saltwound – The Temptation of Pain (Review)

Saltwound - The Temptation of PainSaltwound are a death/metalcore band from the US and this is their debut album.

The Temptation of Pain provides us with a brutal and intense hybrid form of deathcore and metalcore. Saltwound spend 29 minutes abusing and punishing with their destructive brand of heaviness. Continue reading “Saltwound – The Temptation of Pain (Review)”

Anomalie – Riverchild (Review)

Anomalie - RiverchildAnomalie are an Austrian post-black metal band and this is their fifth album.

Although I enjoyed 2017’s Visions, 2021’s Tranceformation took Anomalie to another level, ending up as a firm favourite of mine that year. As such, anticipation is high for the 54-minute Riverchild. Can Anomalie deliver the goods once more? Continue reading “Anomalie – Riverchild (Review)”

Lifesick – Loved by None, Hated by All (Review)

Lifesick - Loved by None, Hated by AllThis is the fourth album by Danish metallic hardcore band LIfesick.

I enjoyed Lifesick when I saw them earlier this year supporting Cabal, so knew I wanted to check out the 34 minutes of Loved by None, Hated by All when it appeared. Continue reading “Lifesick – Loved by None, Hated by All (Review)”

Shaarimoth – Devildom (Review)

Shaarimoth - DevildomThis is the third album from Shaarimoth, a blackened death metal band from Norway.

Shaarimoth return with Devildom, a new 43 minutes of material. After a considerable gap since their last album, (2017’s Temple of the Adversarial Fire), I knew I wanted to make sure I immersed myself in the band’s dark blackened death metal once more. Shaarimoth haven’t been totally absent though during that time though, as in 2021 they also contributed to a split release with Thy Darkened Shade, Amestigon and Inconcessus Lux Lucis called SamaeLilith: A Conjunction of the Fireborn. Continue reading “Shaarimoth – Devildom (Review)”

Dead Icarus – Zealot (Review)

Dead Icarus - ZealotThis is the debut album from US metal band Dead Icarus.

I thoroughly enjoyed Dead Icarus’ debut EP Ad Infernum, which brought the ex-singer of Atreyu’s charismatic vocals back to the world of heavy music. Now we have the 38-minute Zealot, and Dead Icarus, (who also contain members of Enterprise Earth and Whitechapel), are on fire. Continue reading “Dead Icarus – Zealot (Review)”