As Everything Unfolds – Ultraviolet (Review)

As Everything Unfolds - UltravioletThis is the second album from UK alternative/melodic metal band As Everything Unfolds.

Ultraviolet contains 36 minutes of modern metal that blends together elements of alternative rock, post-hardcore, metalcore, and nu-metal, into an enjoyable and charismatic record. Continue reading “As Everything Unfolds – Ultraviolet (Review)”

Orme – Orme (Review)

Orme - OrmeOrme are a doom/drone band from the UK and this is their debut album.

Orme, (featuring a member of Everest Queen), play long-form droning doom, and on their debut album they haven’t held back. Orme only has two tracks, but there’s still 96 minutes of music here. Nazarene is 42 minutes long and Onward to Sarnath is 54 minutes long. Either one of these would have sufficed as the band’s debut album, but apparently Orme don’t do things by halves. Continue reading “Orme – Orme (Review)”

Dødheimsgard – Black Medium Current (Review)

Dødheimsgard - Black Medium CurrentThis is the sixth album from avant-garde black metal band Dødheimsgard.

Black Medium Current contains 70 minutes of material, which is, I confess, a rather bland way of introducing such a superlative record. It’s hard to know where to start with an album like this though, as there’s just so much to explore here, and it’s all so very high in quality. Continue reading “Dødheimsgard – Black Medium Current (Review)”

Cursebinder – Drifting (Review)

Cursebinder - DriftingThis is the debut album from Polish post-black metal band Cursebinder.

Featuring the vocalist of Dormant Ordeal, (and also ex-Moanaa), Cursebinder play black metal that contains elements of doom, blackgaze, post-rock, and progressive metal. Continue reading “Cursebinder – Drifting (Review)”

Ὁπλίτης (Hoplites) – Τρωθησομένη (Review)

Ὁπλίτης - ΤρωθησομένηThis is the second album from Ὁπλίτης (otherwise known as Hoplites), a one-man post-black metal band from China.

Well this is unexpected. Having only unleashed the stunning Ψευδομένη on an unsuspecting world in January, we now get the equally unexpected Τρωθησομένη – 38 minutes of tasty new material from the very talented, (and apparently very prolific), artist behind Ὁπλίτης, (as well as Vitriolic Sage). Continue reading “Ὁπλίτης (Hoplites) – Τρωθησομένη (Review)”

The Eating Cave – The Miscalculation (Review)

The Eating Cave - The MiscalculationThis is the second album from US death metallers The Eating Cave.

Hot on the heels of Ingurgitate from last year, The Eating Cave have already returned with 36 minutes of new material. Their previous album made a very good impression on me, so it is great to hear some new songs from The Eating Cave so soon. Their brand of modern technical death metal hit the spot for me on their debut, and the same is true with The Miscalculation.

Continue reading “The Eating Cave – The Miscalculation (Review)”

Raider – Trial by Chaos (Review)

Raider - Trial by ChaosThis is the second album from Canadian death/thrash metallers Raider.

Over 39 minutes Trial by Chaos combines the melodic strains of death and thrash metal into eight tracks of savage intensity. Raider know how to write a good tune, and Trial by Chaos is packed with them. Continue reading “Raider – Trial by Chaos (Review)”

Lust Hag – Mistress in the Mirror (Review)

Lust Hag - Mistress in the MirrorLust Hag is a one-woman black metal band from the US, and this is her latest EP.

Mistress in the Mirror contains 21 minutes of raw black metal spread out over seven tracks. You may not have heard of Lust Hag before – I hadn’t – but this is a release that should by all rights make people take notice of this very enjoyable band. Continue reading “Lust Hag – Mistress in the Mirror (Review)”

Witte Wieven – Dwaallicht (Review)

Witte Wieven - DwaallichtWitte Wieven are a black metal band from the Netherlands and this is their debut album.

Featuring a member of Freja, Dwaallicht contains 41 minutes of atmospheric black metal with post-rock, shoegaze, and doom elements. The new material lasts 32 minutes, and consists of the first five tracks. The remaining track is a live version of an older song, for some reason. Continue reading “Witte Wieven – Dwaallicht (Review)”

Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Black Orchid Empire (Interview)

Although I’d ideally love to be able to conduct hard-hitting, in-depth interviews, who has the time these days? In lieu of this, I’ve thrown together the below question template, hopefully to gather some interesting and informative results, without taking up too much of anyone’s time.

Introduce yourself – who are you and what do you do?

I’m Paul Visser – the guitarist and main vocalist of Black Orchid Empire. Continue reading “Standard Interrogation Techniques: Five Questions for Black Orchid Empire (Interview)”