Kreator – Gods of Violence (Review)

KreatorKreator are a legendary thrash metal band from Germany that I very much doubt will need any real introduction. This is their fourteenth album.

Full disclosure – Kreator are one of my favourite bands. They have been, (and remain), one of the most consistently enjoyable thrash metal bands out there. Even at their weakest, (probably Cause for Conflict I’d say), their material is still stronger than that of most similar bands. And of course, when they’re at the Continue reading “Kreator – Gods of Violence (Review)”

Sepultura – Machine Messiah (Review)

SepulturaLegendary Brazilian metal band Sepultura return with their fourteenth album.

On Machine Messiah Sepultura continue their blend of thrash, modern metal, experimental metal and tribal percussion, and they do this in such a way on this release that they sound revitalised, energised and fresh.

The band’s albums are frequently exploratory and tentative in nature, with a mix of straightforward metal tracks and more experimental ones that see them pushing the envelope and trying new things. Continue reading “Sepultura – Machine Messiah (Review)”

Urskog – Urskog (Review)

UrskogUrskog are a Swedish blackened sludge band and this is their debut demo release.

The music is dark and sinister, with eerie melodies used as part of the band’s blackened approach. These are usually deposited on top of darker, blackened riffs that are ably backed up by the percussive section. Continue reading “Urskog – Urskog (Review)”

Ordog – The Grand Wall (Review)

OrdogOrdog are from Finland and play death/doom metal. This is their fifth album.

Okay, so let’s start this review off in no uncertain terms – The Grand Wall is a great album. There. I said it.

The songs follow mournful, misery-drenched themes, as is the norm for this style of music, although Ordog seem quite happy to crank up the aggression when they need to. Due to the overall sorrowful atmospheres though, this is a negatively-charged aggression that keeps within the over-arching framework that the band have set for themselves. Continue reading “Ordog – The Grand Wall (Review)”

Au Champ des Morts – Dans la Joie (Review)

Au Champ des MortsAu Champ des Morts are a French black metal band and this is their debut album.

This is contemporary black metal that has a firm foundation in the traditional style, but updated for the modern day with post-black metal, atmospheric and blackgaze influences.

Dans la Joie is full of emotive and Continue reading “Au Champ des Morts – Dans la Joie (Review)”

The Furor – Cavalries of the Occult (Review)

The FurorThis is the fifth album from The Furor, a black/thrash/death metal band from Australia.

Mixing black metal with death metal and thrash, this is furious war metal that’s aggressive as Hell and is on an all-out attack. Continue reading “The Furor – Cavalries of the Occult (Review)”

Maze of Sothoth – Soul Demise (Review)

Maze of SothothMaze of Sothoth are an Italian death metal band and this is their debut album.

Maze of Sothoth play dark death metal that’s influenced by the likes of Morbid Angel and HP Lovecraft.

Starting off the album with a short ambient track that’s actually quite unnerving and unsettling, when Continue reading “Maze of Sothoth – Soul Demise (Review)”

Burn Damage – Age of Vultures (Review)

Burn DamageBurn Damage are a Portuguese metal band and this is their debut album.

Age of Vultures is 32 minutes of stomping groove/thrash metal with some death metal influences thrown in for extra brutality. Continue reading “Burn Damage – Age of Vultures (Review)”

Self-Hatred – Theia (Review)

Self-HatredThis is the debut album from Self-Hatred, a doom/death metal band from the Czech Republic.

Self-Hatred are, refreshingly, a little different to your standard doom/death band; this is a slightly more contemporary take on the style than most attempt, although it still recognises and is influenced by the founders of this particular sub-genre. I also like the black metal influences that can be heard creeping into the music here and there, which also give Self-Hatred a different angle of attack than a lot of their peers. Continue reading “Self-Hatred – Theia (Review)”