Vígljós are a Swiss black metal band and this is their second album.
Tome II: Ignis Sacer contains 43 minutes of material from this enigmatic act. Vígljós’ style is rooted in the second wave, but brought to life with expressive synths, mellotron, and an occasional hard rock feel to some of the riffs. Continue reading “Vígljós – Tome II: Ignis Sacer (Review)”
This is the debut EP from Swedish solo black metal act Shatterer.
The Shatterer style is atavistic, violent, and moody. It’s firmly rooted in the 90s second wave, with suitably raw and unpolished production values. Mainstream black metal this is not. It’s a journey back in time, to the dawn of the genre, and burns with passionate zeal because of this. Continue reading “Shatterer – Fire (Review)”
Doom Cult Commando are a German black metal band and this is their debut release.
Originally seeing the light back in January, Das Erwachen der Schlange is a 19-minute assault of raw black metal. Across four tracks, Doom Cult Commando reveal their iron grip on what it takes to make old-school Satanic black metal. The production is grim and raw, but not overly so, and the band weaponise this in their war against the light. Continue reading “Doom Cult Commando – Das Erwachen der Schlange (Review)”
This is the eleventh album from Between the Buried and Me, a progressive metal band.
Every Between the Buried and Me release is An Important Event in my world. I’ve reviewed a handful, (Coma Ecliptic, Coma Ecliptic: Live, Automata I, Automata II), but nowhere their full discography. I’m very pleased to add one more to the pile now though, with The Blue Nowhere, which brings us 71 minutes of new material to obsess over. Continue reading “Between the Buried and Me – The Blue Nowhere (Review)”
Slomatics are a doom metal band from the UK and this is their eighth album.
Ever since hearing 2016’s amazing Future Echo Returns, I’ve been a huge fan of Slomatics, (also, if you haven’t already, check out Canyons and Strontium Fields, as well as these splits – here and here). Slomatics are one of the best doom bands around in my humble opinion, which means I’ve been really looking forward to Atomicult. Continue reading “Slomatics – Atomicult (Review)”
This is the fourth album from French heavy rockers Appalooza.
The successor to 2023’s The Shining Son, The Emperor of Loss contains 50 minutes, (with bonus track), of Appalooza’s characterful hard rock. Blending the classic rock, stoner, alternative, and grunge styles together into a collection of compelling songs, Appalooza have once again hit that sweet spot that most modern rock bands easily miss. Continue reading “Appalooza – The Emperor of Loss (Review)”
This is the sixth album from German black metal band Der Weg Einer Freiheit.
Innern is the greatly anticipated follow up to 2017’s Finisterre and 2021’s Noktvrn, the latter placing prominently on my 2021 end of year list, (which in retrospect Finisterre should also have done in 2017). It’s safe to say that I’ve been excitedly looking forward to this new record, especially after seeing the band at last year’s Fortress Festival. Continue reading “Der Weg Einer Freiheit – Innern (Review)”
This is the fifth album by UK progressive metal band Esoterica.
Ether Metal contains 48 minutes of contemporary, electronically enriched progressive metal/rock. The first time I came across Esoterica was at this year’s Mangata Festival – although I didn’t catch them live, they seemed like a band I wouldn’t mind checking out. My tolerance for this sort of music is quite low though compared to other styles, as most bands playing it I find are just bland and bad. So, do Esoterica have what it takes to be worth listening to? Continue reading “Esoterica – Ether Metal (Review)”
This is the fifth album from Nailed to Obscurity, a melodic metal metal band from Germany.
Following on from 2019’s Black Frost, Generation of the Void brings us 58 minutes of new material from Nailed to Obscurity. The band have been busy since their last record, refining their sound, delivering a comprehensive musical package that sees them stepping up their game to the next level. Continue reading “Nailed to Obscurity – Generation of the Void (Review)”
LVTHN are a Belgian black metal band and this is their second album.
LVTHN play occult black metal that’s dark and obscure. The Devil’s Bridge contains 43 minutes of their esoteric brand of sonic violence, delivering both an aggressive blackened assault and grim ritualistic atmosphere. Continue reading “LVTHN – The Devil’s Bridge (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 