Wolves in the Throne Room – Primordial Arcana (Review)

Wolves in the Throne Room - Primordial ArcanaThis is the seventh album from US black metallers Wolves in the Throne Room.

A new Wolves in the Throne Room album is a huge event, especially for me, as they’re essentially one of my favourite bands.

With a rawer, sharper sound than Continue reading “Wolves in the Throne Room – Primordial Arcana (Review)”

Devoid of Thought – Outer World Graves (Review)

Devoid of Thought - Outer World GravesThis is the debut album from Italian death metal band Devoid of Thought.

Billed as cosmic death metal for fans of Blood Incantation, Timeghoul, Voivod, Demilich, and Incantation, Devoid of Thought’s music is cavernous and grim. The band’s raw approach is infused with a doom foundation and gifted with a knack for unusual melodic touches and creative Continue reading “Devoid of Thought – Outer World Graves (Review)”

Sons of Alpha Centauri – Push (Review)

Sons of Alpha Centauri - PushThis is the third album from UK metal band Sons of Alpha Centauri.

Sons of Alpha Centauri have an ever-evolving and changing sound. The artists behind the band are continually striving to do new things and experiment. 2018’s Continuum was a high quality instrumental stoner rock album, as was their split with Karma to Burn. Then, just when you thought you had them figured out, along came 2019’s Buried Memories, a collaborative effort between the band and Justin K. Broadrick, (Godflesh, Jesu, etc.), and James Plotkin, (Khanate, Jodis, etc.). It was unexpected, but most welcome. So what does Push offer? Well, once again, it’s the unexpected. Continue reading “Sons of Alpha Centauri – Push (Review)”

All Seeing Eyes – Reinventing Time (Review)

All Seeing Eyes - Reinventing TimeThis is the second album from UK progressive metal band All Seeing Eyes.

It was only very recently that I was once again listening to the very good, and very enjoyable Trinity Road, (the fact that I’m still doing so after seven years should speak well of its quality). As I was doing so, I wondered what became of All Seeing Eyes. However, before Continue reading “All Seeing Eyes – Reinventing Time (Review)”

Francis Root/Sconsacrata – Split (Review)

Francis Root Sconsacrata - SplitFrancis Root, (based in Norway), and Sconsacrata, (based in the UK), are both solo black metal acts who have teamed up for this split release, (both artists are also in sludge metal band Beggar).

Francis Root start us off, with 19 minutes of material. The style of the four songs we’re presented with is one that’s modern and progressive, with elements of electronica and industrial sewn into the music. Continue reading “Francis Root/Sconsacrata – Split (Review)”

Ænigmatum – Deconsecrate (Review)

Ænigmatum - DeconsecrateÆnigmatum are a US death metal band and this is their second album.

Featuring a member of Azath and Torture Rack, Deconsecrate contains 45 minutes of technical and melodic death metal. The promo blurb states that Deconsecrate is for fans of Eucharist, The Chasm, At the Gates, Dark Tranquillity, Necrophobic, Atrocity, and Opeth, and this provides a decent starting image. Continue reading “Ænigmatum – Deconsecrate (Review)”

Withered Land – The Endless Journey (Review)

Withered Land - The Endless JourneyWithered Land are a black metal band from Belarus, and this is their debut album.

Withered Land play atmospheric black metal with influences from the folk and dungeon synth styles. Across 38 minutes The Endless Journey delivers epic atmospheric music that’s quite absorbing. Fans of acts such as Falkenbach, Summoning, and Windir should take note. Continue reading “Withered Land – The Endless Journey (Review)”

Fragment Soul – Axiom of Choice (Review)

Fragment Soul - Axiom of ChoiceFragment Soul are a Greek progressive doom band, and this is their debut album.

Axiom of Choice is a richly expressive work, which focuses on building atmosphere and emotion across four highly engaging songs, lasting 42 minutes in total. There’s no real heaviness or metal here, so don’t be misled by any of the genre tags or band references; this is slow, ethereal, gentle, and filled with feeling. It’s an album of depth and expansive ambience that, if you’re a fan of the style, should firmly root itself into your music collection. Continue reading “Fragment Soul – Axiom of Choice (Review)”

Necronautical – Slain in the Spirit (Review)

Necronautical - Slain in the SpiritNecronautical are a UK black metal band and this is their fourth album.

Featuring members of Winterfylleth and Foetal Juice, Necronautical play black metal influenced by the second wave, in particular the keyboard-enhanced symphonic side of it. To this is added a muscular death metal influence, which is streamlined by the blackened core of the band and used to add a lethal edge to the music. There’s also a progressive metal influence that can felt on occasion, usually in a particular riff, solo, or melody, for example. Continue reading “Necronautical – Slain in the Spirit (Review)”