Ion Dissonance – Cast the First Stone (Review)

Ion DissonanceIon Dissonance are a Canadian hardcore/mathcore band. This is their fifth album.

As one of the leading lights in the hardcore/mathcore/whatever scene, Ion Dissonance’s new album certainly has a lot of expectations attached to it. Of course, as you would expect, the band Continue reading “Ion Dissonance – Cast the First Stone (Review)”

Interview with Waldgeflüster

Waldgeflüster Header

Waldgeflüster’s fourth full-length release Ruinen is an atmospheric post-black metal album that just keeps on delivering the goods. As with a lot of the best albums, the more you listen to it the more you get drawn into it. It’s a lengthy release, but one that earns its playing time by having so much engaging content. Ruinen invites the listener into its dark depths and only fully reveals its many treasures with repeated spins.

Band founder Winterherz walked me through how the band started and where they’re at today…

Introduce us to Waldgeflüster!

Continue reading “Interview with Waldgeflüster”

Ovnev – Cycle of Survival (Review)

OvnevThis is the debut album of Ovnev, a one-man atmospheric black metal band from the US.

Featuring atmospheric black metal with a nature theme and plenty of use of acoustic guitars, Ovnev’s debut album is confident and assured from the start.

Cycle of Survival is filled with Continue reading “Ovnev – Cycle of Survival (Review)”

Infecting the Swarm – Abyss (Review)

Infecting the SwarmThis is the second album from Infecting the Swarm, a one man brutal death metal project from Germany.

2014’s Pathogenesis was somewhat of a highlight for me in the brutal death metal genre, despite it somehow escaping me at the time that it was by a one-man band, (not that this really matters, it just makes it that little bit more impressive). Continue reading “Infecting the Swarm – Abyss (Review)”

Ophidian Spell – Nux/Hêmera (Review)

Ophidian SpellOphidian Spell are a symphonic/melodic death metal band from France and this is their debut album.

Combining aspects of melodic, progressive and symphonic death metal into their delivery, Ophidian Spell offer up the listener a modern blend of these various influences. I can hear aspects of The Faceless, Devin Townsend, In Flames, Emperor/Ihsahn, Ne Obliviscaris, Delain and Septic Flesh in the mix, along with some others. Continue reading “Ophidian Spell – Nux/Hêmera (Review)”

Downfall of Gaia – Atrophy (Review)

Downfall of GaiaThis is the fourth album from German band Downfall of Gaia. They play post-black metal.

This is a release that creates and fosters atmosphere like a second skin. It’s dark and mystical, and keeps its secrets close to its chest despite also being quite warm and welcoming in some respects. Ice-cold black metal full of hatred and blasphemy this is not. That’s not to say that Continue reading “Downfall of Gaia – Atrophy (Review)”

Tarnkappe – Winterwaker (Review)

TarnkappeTarnkappe are from the Netherlands and this is their second album.

The band’s first release Tussen Hun En De Zon introduced us to the band’s take on classic black metal, with lashings of Burzum and Darkthrone influences lacing the old-school venom of the music. Continue reading “Tarnkappe – Winterwaker (Review)”

Fornicus – Hymns of Dominion (Review)

FornicusFornicus are a black metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Since 2014’s Storming Heaven it seems that Fornicus have only become harsher and more extreme with their black metal. Hymns of Dominion is 43 minutes of fast and scathing icy hatred. Continue reading “Fornicus – Hymns of Dominion (Review)”