Seedna – Forlorn (Review)

SeednaSeedna are an atmospheric black metal band from Sweden. This is their third album.

I like music like this; some of my favourite albums are those where it sounds as if the band are taking the listener on a journey, and Forlorn is very much a release like this.

Seedna play atmospheric black metal that’s big on emotional content and Continue reading “Seedna – Forlorn (Review)”

Aborted – Retrogore (Review)

AbortedAborted are a veteran death metal band from Belgium and this is their 9th album.

The return of Aborted! Huzzah! After recently catching them live, I was eagerly awaiting their latest foray into the killing pits. Their brand of blasting mayhem and huge groovy riffs has been refined over the years so that they’re definitely one of the best in the genre at this point.

The singer has always been Continue reading “Aborted – Retrogore (Review)”

Arallu – Geniewar (Review)

AralluThis is the fifth album from this Israeli black metal band.

Ever since I first heard Satanic War in Jerusalem back in 2002, it was immediately apparent that there was something different, something special, about Arallu’s music. Sure, it was black metal and contained recognisably black metal components, but there was also something extra that the band had. They’ve nurtured and developed it over the years, and every time I hear them I’m reminded of just how individual they are.

So basically, we get black metal in the recognisable format, but twisted with Continue reading “Arallu – Geniewar (Review)”

Gruesome – Dimensions of Horror (Review)

GruesomeGruesome are a Death Metal band from the US. This is their latest EP.

Gruesome are a supergroup of sorts, made up of members who have a large amount of extreme metal experience and count many different bands as their current and ex-projects, including Exhumed, Possessed and Malevolent Creation.

After the massively enjoyable slab of Death-worship that was Savage Land, Gruesome return with Continue reading “Gruesome – Dimensions of Horror (Review)”

Invocation – Seance – Part: 1 (Review)

InvocationComing from Chile, this is the début demo release from Invocation, who are a blackened death metal band.

Seance – Part: 1 has a nicely raw sound and underground recording. It suits the music well and lends it a grim power that the band exploit mercilessly. If they inject a bit more thickness and substance to the production in the future, I think they’ll have a strong platform for their music.

Invocation’s style is finely bal Continue reading “Invocation – Seance – Part: 1 (Review)”

Epidemia – Leprocomio (Review)

EpidemiaThis is the second album from these Death Metallers, who hail from Ecuador.

With an album cover that screams 80s death metal, possibly with a bit of thrash mixed in, Epidemia actually reveal themselves to be much more of a brutal 90s proposition. Leprocomio is raw, ugly and mercilessly aggressive.

The songs on this 35 minute excursion into the torturelands are savage and give the listener a right old battering. When they’re not ploughing ahead at full speed, they have a rhythmic brutality that recall Continue reading “Epidemia – Leprocomio (Review)”

Grand Magus – Sword Songs (Review)

Grand MagusThis is the eighth album from this Swedish heavy metal institution.

How’s that for an album cover, eh? It certainly paints a pretty picture of what the album sounds like.

For twenty years Grand Magus have been blaring out their brand of heavy metal in one form or another, and they  Continue reading “Grand Magus – Sword Songs (Review)”

Polar – No Cure No Saviour (Review)

PolarThis is the third album by Polar, a UK Hardcore band.

Polar offer us 40 minutes of passionate music, tinged with elements of punk and post-hardcore delivery. It’s heavy and abrasive in parts, but not without subtlety or melody in others; it strikes the right balance between both.

As soon as the record starts it’s immediately apparent that Continue reading “Polar – No Cure No Saviour (Review)”

Behexen – The Poisonous Path (Review)

BehexenThis is the fifth album from this Finnish black metal horde.

There’s something remarkably pure about Behexen that manages to encapsulate everything I like about orthodox black metal, without ever becoming stale or tired.

There’s a lot of music on The Poisonous Path; 58 minutes of utter Continue reading “Behexen – The Poisonous Path (Review)”

Dark Funeral – Where Shadows Forever Reign (Review)

Dark FuneralThis is the sixth album from this Swedish black metal institution.

With a new lineup, (including a new vocalist), this is the first Dark Funeral album in seven years, and it lands with the impact of a swinging broadsword.

Make no mistake; this is Continue reading “Dark Funeral – Where Shadows Forever Reign (Review)”