Fathomless Ritual – Hymns for the Lesser Gods (Review)

Fathomless Ritual - Hymns for the Lesser GodsThis is the debut album from Fathomless Ritual, a solo death metal band from Canada.

Brought to us by a member of Gutvoid, Hymns for the Lesser Gods is a 39-minute slab of foul death metal. Old-school and cavernous, it fuses technical skill with brute force, making for an unholy merging of sophistication and simplicity. Continue reading “Fathomless Ritual – Hymns for the Lesser Gods (Review)”

Lunar Spells – Sacraments of Necromantical Empires (Review)

Lunar Spells - Sacraments of Necromantical EmpiresThis is the third album from Greek black metal band Lunar Spells.

Ever since first encountering Lunar Spells last year on their split with Order of Nosferat I’ve been interested to see what they could do with a full length, and that time has now arrived. With 36 minutes of piercing black metal, Sacraments of Necromantical Empires has not disappointed. Continue reading “Lunar Spells – Sacraments of Necromantical Empires (Review)”

Darkest Hour – Perpetual | Terminal (Review)

Darkest Hour - Perpetual TerminalDarkest Hour are a US metal band and this is their tenth album.

It’s been a long time since 2017’s Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora, but now Darkest Hour have returned. They’ve brought with them 41 minutes of scorching material in the shape of Perpetual | Terminal, and make no mistake, this has been worth the wait. Continue reading “Darkest Hour – Perpetual | Terminal (Review)”

Firewind – Stand United (Review)

Firewind - Stand UnitedThis is the tenth album from Greek heavy/power metal band Firewind.

Brought to us be current and ex-members of bands such as Dream Evil, Kamelot, Nightrage, Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind bring a lot of talent and experience to the party. Across 43 minutes they deliver ten tracks of classic metallic songcraft, (one of which is a cover song). Continue reading “Firewind – Stand United (Review)”

Guiltless – Thorns (Review)

Guiltless - ThornsThis is the debut EP from US doom band Guiltless.

What do we have here then? A new band featuring members of Intronaut, Generation of Vipers, A Storm of Light, IIVII, and Battle of Mice? How supremely enticing. Thorns contains 24 minutes of music, and showcases Guiltless’ brand of nihilistic darkness well. Continue reading “Guiltless – Thorns (Review)”

Vircolac – Veneration (Review)

Vircolac - VenerationVircolac are an Irish death metal band and this is their second album.

Following on from 2016’s EP The Cursed Travails of the Demeter and 2019’s MasqueVeneration provides us with seven new tracks of the band’s idiosyncratic death metal. Over 37 minutes Vircolac once more demonstrate that they stand out from the death metal hordes. Continue reading “Vircolac – Veneration (Review)”

A Burial at Sea – Close to Home (Review)

A Burial at Sea - Close to HomeA Burial at Sea are a post-rock band from Ireland and this is their second album.

Close to Home contains 43 minutes of exquisitely rendered post-rock. Boasting contributions from shoegaze, jazz, and progressive rock, this is a non-standard album for lovers of broad soundscapes and brass-enriched musical vistas. It’s mostly instrumental, and paints wonderfully textured pictures with sound.

Continue reading “A Burial at Sea – Close to Home (Review)”

Job for a Cowboy – Moon Healer (Review)

Job for a Cowboy - Moon HealerThis is the fifth album from US death metallers Job for a Cowboy.

Ten years on from 2014’s Sun Eater and Job for a Cowboy have finally returned. It’s been worth the wait, let me tell you.

On Moon Healer Job for a Cowboy travel further along Continue reading “Job for a Cowboy – Moon Healer (Review)”

Lvme – Of Sinful Nature (Review)

Lvme - Of Sinful NatureThis is the second album from international black metal band Lvme.

Of Sinful Nature contains 45 minutes of esoteric and mysterious black metal. Taking influence from traditional black metal and then incorporating modern elements into it, Lvme’s music will be of interest to fans of bands such as Funeral Mist, Deathspell Omega, Mayhem, Dødsengel, Nightbringer, Verberis, and Blaze of Perdition. Continue reading “Lvme – Of Sinful Nature (Review)”