Defacement are an international death metal band and this is their fourth album.
I enjoyed 2021’s Defacement, but then totally managed to overlook its follow up from last year – Duality. This oversight ends now, as a year on from that release we have the 41-minute Doomed. Continue reading “Defacement – Doomed (Review)”
This is the sixth album from US deathcore band Signs of the Swarm.
From 2017’s The Disfigurement of Existence to 2019’s Vital Deprivation, to 2021’s Absolvere to 2023’s Amongst the Low & Empty, Signs of the Swarm have been reliably pumping out solid deathcore material for fans of the style to lap up. Which brings us nicely to this year’s To Rid Myself of Truth; 40 minutes of new material, and another dependably good slab of heaviness. Continue reading “Signs of the Swarm – To Rid Myself of Truth (Review)”
Malevich are a screamo/sludge metal band from the US and this is their third album.
Under a Gilded Sun is the 39-minute follow up to 2019’s Our Hollow, and reveals a band that have spend their time wisely between albums. Malevich have impressed with this latest collection of songs. Continue reading “Malevich – Under a Gilded Sun (Review)”
Both Pelican and Ni are in the UK for ArcTanGent, (I’ll get there one day), so it’s a great opportunity to catch them doing their thing. I don’t know Ni at all, but I’ve been waiting to get the chance to see Pelican for over two decades (!), so am very excited.
Yes isn’t a venue I’ve been to before, but I like it. Melvins are also playing Manchester tonight, which is a bit of bad luck for both bands really, as I’m pretty sure there are more than a few shared fans between them. Regardless, those in attendance tonight are in the right place as it turns out. Continue reading “Pelican/Ni – Yes (Pink Room), Manchester – 13/08/25 (Live Review)”
This is the second album from Australian death metallers Ashen.
Following on from 2023’s Ritual of Ash comes the 39-minute Leave the Flesh Behind. The Ashen death metal juggernaut continues to roll, crushing all in its path. This time though, there are more layers to Ashen’s assault. Continue reading “Ashen – Leave the Flesh Behind (Review)”
This is the fourth album from US metallic hardcore band Turian.
Blood Quantum Blues contains 38 minutes of music that mixes together punk, metal, and hardcore, with electronics and progressive elements thrown in for extra flavour and texture. Turian have produced an album that rages and snarls, but does so with skill and ability. Continue reading “Turian – Blood Quantum Blues (Review)”
Castrator are an international/US death metal band and this is their second album.
Containing a member of Gruesome, Castrator play ferocious death metal, and they mean business. Coronation of the Grotesque is a 33-minute whirlwind of devastation, (37 minutes with the bonus track – an Exodus cover). Continue reading “Castrator – Coronation of the Grotesque (Review)”
This is the latest EP by Swedish death metallers Grand Cadaver.
Both 2021’s Into the Maw of Death and 2023’s Deities of Deathlike Sleep were quality excursions into Swedish death metal waters, so it’s great to see Grand Cadaver back with this 16-minute EP. Continue reading “Grand Cadaver – The Rot Beneath (Review)”
This is the third album from US black metal solo act Blackbraid.
Following on from 2022’s Blackbraid I and 2023’s Blackbraid II, Blackbraid III contains 52 minutes of music, (including a Lord Belial cover), and continues to meet the benchmark of high quality black metal that its predecessors set. Continue reading “Blackbraid – Blackbraid III (Review)”
Psycroptic, Ghost Bath, and Underdark were originally part of a larger event, (with a pretty damn sexy lineup), that got cancelled for reasons unknown. In its place is this very enticing show, with only these three bands surviving the cut. It was a relatively late change, with the tickets not transferring, so I was hoping that this new event would have sold enough tickets in its own right to have a decent-sized crowd for the bands. Regardless of the turnout, I’ve been looking forward to this, Psycroptic especially, as I’ve never seen them and they’re one of the best tech death bands in existence. Continue reading “Psycroptic/Ghost Bath/Underdark – Rebellion, Manchester – 02/08/25 (Live Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 