Wonderbox Metal

Monthly Overview – the Best of August 2018

Let’s cast our eyes over some of my favourite metal releases from August 2018… Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of August 2018”

Set Before Us – Vitae (Review)

Set Before Us are a Swedish metalcore band and this is their debut album.

Following on from 2016’s enjoyable EP Enigmas, Vitae contains 11 tracks and 42 minutes of new material. Continue reading “Set Before Us – Vitae (Review)”

Thou – Magus (Review)

Thou are a sludge/doom band from the US and this is their fifth album.

Thou are a very prolific band. They have released enough material on splits, EPs, etc. to probably equate to more material again than can be found on their actual albums. This in no way lessens the impact of when they do release a full length album, however. Continue reading “Thou – Magus (Review)”

Stillbirth – Annihilation of Mankind (Review)

This is the fifth album from German death metallers Stillbirth.

This is unrelentingly brutal death metal, the variety that uses plenty of slam and deathcore influences to batter and bruise across the 44 minutes of material here. Elements of ferocious grindcore and modern death metal can also be heard. Continue reading “Stillbirth – Annihilation of Mankind (Review)”

KEN Mode – Loved (Review)

KEN Mode are a noise rock/hardcore band from Canada and this is their seventh album.

Loved is 35 minutes of violent mood and vicious emotion. Primarily mixing together metal, hardcore, and noise rock, the album also contains elements of extremity that come from black and death metal backgrounds, as well as moments of industrial and experimental forays. Saxophone is used relatively frequently. Continue reading “KEN Mode – Loved (Review)”

I’m a latecomer to Mantar’s work, but I can tell you that if you’re looking for filthy, ugly blackened metallic punk that’s still catchy as fuck, then they stand head and shoulders above most of their peers. Continue reading “Mantar – The Modern Art of Setting Ablaze (Review)”

Carnation – Chapel of Abhorrence (Review)

Carnation are a death metal band from Belgium and this is their debut album.

Carnation play old-school death metal, and on their debut album they offer up 48 minutes of the stuff to the death metal gods. Continue reading “Carnation – Chapel of Abhorrence (Review)”

Manes – Slow Motion Death Sequence (Review)

Manes are a Norwegian avant-garde rock band, and this is their fifth album.

New Manes is always a pleasure to hear. This is the band’s first material since 2014’s Be All End All, and once again they show why they are so highly regarded. Continue reading “Manes – Slow Motion Death Sequence (Review)”