Tigercub – The Perfume of Decay (Review)

Tigercub - The Perfume of DecayTigercub are a modern rock band from the UK and this is their third album.

I don’t often reach for rock, but when I do I typically want short songs, big hooks, and darker moods. Enter The Perfume of Decay. Across 41 minutes Tigercub tick all of these boxes and more, delivering exactly what I want from a contemporary rock band that has plenty of 90s influences thrown into their sound. Continue reading “Tigercub – The Perfume of Decay (Review)”

Turned to Stone Chapter 8: The Wake – High Desert Queen/Blue Heron – Split (Review)

Turned to Stone Chapter 8 The Wake - High Desert Queen Blue Heron - SplitThis is a split between High Desert Queen and Blue Heron, two stoner rock bands from the US.

High Desert Queen open the split. They contribute three songs, with a total duration of 13 minutes. Continue reading “Turned to Stone Chapter 8: The Wake – High Desert Queen/Blue Heron – Split (Review)”

Gozu – Remedy (Review)

Gozu - RemedyGozu are a stoner/grunge band from the US and this is their fifth album.

Remedy contains 49 minutes of stoner rock and metal mixed with a healthy dose of grunge. Imagine a mix of Clutch, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Black Sabbath, Corrosion of Conformity, and Mastodon, and you’ll have a decent idea of where Gozu are coming from. Continue reading “Gozu – Remedy (Review)”

Host – IX (Review)

Host - IXThis is the debut album from UK dark/Gothic rock band Host.

Brought to us by the singer and guitarist of Paradise Lost, IX contains 42 minutes of electronically enhanced dark/Gothic rock. Imagine, if you will, a cross between Paradise Lost’s Host album, (and parts of the other albums surrounding this one), and the 80s Goth and New Wave scenes, and Continue reading “Host – IX (Review)”

Shaam Larein – Sticka en Kniv I Världen (Review)

Shaam Larein - Sticka en Kniv I VärldenThis is the second album from Shaam Larein, a Swedish rock band.

Sticka en Kniv I Världen contains 39 minutes of idiosyncratic heavy rock. Mixing together elements of Gothic, doom, avant-garde, and post-punk, this offers a distinguished work for the listener to be mesmerised by. Continue reading “Shaam Larein – Sticka en Kniv I Världen (Review)”

Elder – Innate Passage (Review)

Elder - Innate PassageThis is the sixth album from US progressive rock band Elder.

Innate Passage contains 54 minutes of psychedelic progressive rock. Elder take the listener on a journey into sound, one which offers a vivid and intricate experience. Continue reading “Elder – Innate Passage (Review)”

Mord’A’Stigmata – Like Ants and Snakes (Review)

Mord'A'Stigmata - Like Ants and SnakesMord’A’Stigmata are an avant-garde rock band from Poland and this is their sixth album.

Dreams of Quiet Places was a highlight of 2019 for me, so it’s with great anticipation that I turned to Like Ants and Snakes. I also thoroughly enjoyed 2013’s Ansia and 2017’s Hope, so Mord’A’Stigmata are a band with a great track record of strong album. Has their new one lived up to my lofty expectations? Continue reading “Mord’A’Stigmata – Like Ants and Snakes (Review)”

Hoaxed – Two Shadows (Review)

Hoaxed - Two ShadowsThis is the debut album from US rock band Hoaxed.

Two Shadows offers the discerning listener 28 minutes of characterful dark rock. Comprised of a few different influences from a range of styles, Hoaxed are charismatic and idiosyncratic. Elements of Gothic, melodic, alternative, and folk rock are Continue reading “Hoaxed – Two Shadows (Review)”

Avatarium – Death, Where Is Your Sting (Review)

Avatarium - Death, Where Is Your StingThis is the fifth album from Swedish dark rock band Avatarium.

Both 2017’s Hurricanes and Halos and 2019’s The Fire I Long For were very enjoyable records, showing good progression from one to the next that simply saw the band improving and diversifying. So what next for Avatarium? Continue reading “Avatarium – Death, Where Is Your Sting (Review)”