Wonderbox Metal

Ethereal Shroud – Trisagion (Review)

This is the second album from UK solo atmospheric black metal band Ethereal Shroud.

Now this is my kind of album. The album boasts three colossal songs, with a total duration of 64 minutes; Trisagion is a dark odyssey that’s well-worth embarking on. Despite being essentially a solo work from a creative perspective, there are a number of other musicians on the album that help to flesh out the artist’s vision, providing bass, viola, drums, and female vocals, (the latter on the 28-minute opener Chasmal Fires). Continue reading “Ethereal Shroud – Trisagion (Review)”

Dessiderium – Aria (Review)

This is the fourth album from Dessiderium, a solo progressive death metal act from the US.

Brought to us by a member of Arkaik and Nullingroots, Aria contains 63 minutes of progressive death metal.

Aria consists of five long and Continue reading “Dessiderium – Aria (Review)”

Genocide Pact – Genocide Pact (Review)

Genocide Pact are a death metal band from the US and this is their third album.

I really liked Genocide Pact’s filthy 2018 release Order of Torment, which was a very satisfying album. This new self-titled is even filthier, even more crushingly heavy, and even uglier than its predecessor. Continue reading “Genocide Pact – Genocide Pact (Review)”

Monthly Overview – the Best of November 2021

Many fine records were released in November, too many to do justice to here. Instead I’ll just pick five of my favourites. The below albums are all quite different, but all striking in their own individual ways… Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of November 2021”

Doodswens – Lichtvrees (Review)

This is the debut album from Doodswens, a black metal band from the Netherlands.

Doodswens play black metal infused with the spirit of the Scandinavian second wave, and delivered with contemporary passion and mood-focused impact. Think a combination of the traditional old-school Darkthrone sound combined with the grim darkness of acts like Xasthur and Gnaw Their Tongues. Continue reading “Doodswens – Lichtvrees (Review)”

Demonstealer – The Holocene Termination (Review)

This is the latest EP from Demonstealer, a one-man extreme metal act from India.

This 19-minute EP finds the artist behind Demonstealer surrounding himself with many guests, from bands such as Fleshgod Apocalypse, Six Feet Under, Equipoise, Gorgasm, and Marduk. Continue reading “Demonstealer – The Holocene Termination (Review)”

Dormant Ordeal – The Grand Scheme of Things (Review)

This is the third album from Polish death metallers Dormant Ordeal.

Now here’s something pretty tasty. I haven’t encountered Dormant Ordeal before, but The Grand Scheme of Things is impressive enough to make me wish I had. Across 39 minutes the band absolutely punish the listener with their idiosyncratic and exemplary take on death metal mastery. Continue reading “Dormant Ordeal – The Grand Scheme of Things (Review)”

Aquilus – Bellum I (Review)

This is the second album from one-man Australian black metal act Aquilus.

Bellum I features 62 minutes of atmospheric black metal combined with folk and classical elements. The promo blurb states that Aquilus’ music is for fans of Midnight Odyssey, Skogen, and Falls of Rauros, which immediately caused me to be interested. I’d also add bands like Opeth, Ne Obliviscaris, Agalloch, and Wilderun to this list too. Continue reading “Aquilus – Bellum I (Review)”

So Hideous – None but a Pure Heart Can Sing (Review)

This is the third album from So Hideous, a post-metal band from the US.

None but a Pure Heart Can Sing is only 32 minutes in length, but this duration comes with more ideas than many releases double the length. The album is a loose mix of styles and genres, taking an experimental and avant-garde approach to music that finds them combining pretty much all of the post- styles, (metal, rock, hardcore, and black metal), with a diverse non-metal array of genres such as jazz and classical. Continue reading “So Hideous – None but a Pure Heart Can Sing (Review)”

Flowers of Flesh – Flowers of Flesh (Review)

This is the debut EP from one-man sludge metal band Flowers of Flesh.

The artist behind Flowers of Flesh knows a good malevolent riff when he rips one out of someone’s spine. The EP starts with exactly one such riff, but it isn’t the only example to be found within these 24 minutes. The music is filthy blackened sludge metal that’s ugly and foul, yet contains some unexpected elements of light and feeling hidden amidst the carnage. Continue reading “Flowers of Flesh – Flowers of Flesh (Review)”