Wonderbox Metal

Aethyrick – Pilgrimage (Review)

This is the fourth album from Finnish black metallers Aethyrick.

Another year, another Aethyrick album. Which is no bad thing, in my opinion, as so far the band have managed to keep the quality levels high enough to warrant such an output. Following on from last year’s enjoyable Apotheosis, (which itself followed 2020’s Gnosis and 2018’s Praxis), Pilgrimage contains 42 minutes of new material and sees Aethyrick continue their positive trend, albeit with some course corrections this time. Continue reading “Aethyrick – Pilgrimage (Review)”

Kvaen – The Great Below (Review)

This is the second album from Swedish black metal solo act Kvaen.

I really enjoyed 2020’s The Funeral Pyre, but never had a chance to give it a proper review, so I jumped on The Great Below as soon as it appeared. As I suspected, this is not one to miss. Continue reading “Kvaen – The Great Below (Review)”

Falls of Rauros – Key to a Vanishing Future (Review)

Falls of Rauros are a black metal band from the US and this is their sixth album.

Here’s one I’ve been looking forward to, that’s for sure. Falls of Rauros’ last three albums, (2014’s Believe in No Coming Shore, 2017’s Vigilance Perennial, and 2019’s Patterns in Mythology), all showcased a band on a continual upward trajectory, with each album improving on what its predecessor offered. So, to say that Key to a Vanishing Future carried great expectations would be an understatement. Continue reading “Falls of Rauros – Key to a Vanishing Future (Review)”

Astral Tomb – Soulgazer (Review)

This is the debut album from Astral Tomb, a death metal band from the US.

I’ve enjoyed watching Astral Tomb develop their ghastly death metal sound, from 2020’s split with Cryptic Shift, Replicant, and Inoculation, to 2021’s EP Degradation of Human Consciousness, (which I honestly thought I had reviewed, but apparently not). Soulgazer is the band’s first album, and I have been looking forward to it. Continue reading “Astral Tomb – Soulgazer (Review)”

MWWB – The Harvest (Review)

Formerly known as Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard, MWWB are a Welsh doom metal band and this is their fourth album.

I do enjoy MWWB’s work, (Y Proffwyd Dwyll, the band’s split with Slomatics, and Yn Ol I Annwn are all highly recommended), so was pleased when The Harvest manifested itself to me. Continue reading “MWWB – The Harvest (Review)”

Dark Funeral – We Are the Apocalypse (Review)

This is the seventh album from Swedish black metal veterans Dark Funeral.

Following on from 2016’s very enjoyable Where Shadows Forever Reign, We Are the Apocalypse contains 44 minutes of Dark Funeral doing an updated version of what Dark Funeral do best. Continue reading “Dark Funeral – We Are the Apocalypse (Review)”

This new band is made up of current/ex-members of Pitchshifter, Stampin’ Ground, Romeo Must Die, Outside the Coma, and This Is Menace. The band play heavy music and do so with enthusiasm. Combining Continue reading “Hellblind – A Plague on All Your Houses (Review)”

In Aphelion – Moribund (Review)

This is the debut album from In Aphelion, an international black metal band.

Featuring members of Cryptosis and Necrophobic, Moribund contains 58 minutes of blazing, blistering high quality black metal. Continue reading “In Aphelion – Moribund (Review)”