This is the thirteenth album by Dark Tranquillity, a melodic death metal band from Sweden.
I last caught up with Dark Tranquillity on 2016’s very enjoyable Atoma, so really wanted to check out Endtime Signals. With 14 songs and 59 minutes of music, (including the two bonus tracks), there’s a lot of material here. Don’t be put off though, as Endtime Signals is Dark Tranquillity firing on all cylinders. Continue reading “Dark Tranquillity – Endtime Signals (Review)”
Vile Rites are a death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.
Vile Rites contain a member of Mortuous in their ranks, which is enough to get my attention. Senescence offers us 40 minutes of progressive death metal of a high quality. Some bands playing this sort of style get bogged down in the technicality, but for Vile Rites this is just an enabler, not the prime goal of the music. Continue reading “Vile Rites – Senescence (Review)”
This is the debut album from Wrach, a Welsh solo black metal band.
Quad Infra Volo Videre contains 48 minutes of sinister underground black metal. It’s inspired by the 90s second wave style, but other influences from across the last few decades have been drawn into its malevolent embrace, giving it more of a 00s feel overall. Continue reading “Wrach – Quae Infra Volo Videre (Review)”
This is a split between two US black metal bands, Lust Hag and Reaping Fields.
NEW LUST HAG! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! I dunno what it is with Lust Hag, but I just can’t get enough. Actually, I know exactly what it is – it’s just absolutely killer black metal. This is a split though, and Reaping Fields, as we’ll see, are a revelation. Continue reading “Lust Hag/Reaping Fields – Prayers Unanswered – Split (Review)”
This is the third album from one-man Australian black metal act Aquilus.
Bellum II is the 59-minute follow up to 2021’s well-received Bellum I. In much the same vein as its predecessor, Bellum II is an atmospheric black metal album that makes heavy use of classical influences as well as some folk elements, although this simplistic description does not do the material here ample justice. Continue reading “Aquilus – Bellum II (Review)”
Oxygen Destroyer are a death/thrash metal band from the US and this is their third album.
Guardian of the Universe is the 33-minute follow up to 2021’s enjoyable Sinister Monstrosities Spawned by the Unfathomable Ignorance of Humankind, and once again features an explosive cocktail of nasty extremity. Continue reading “Oxygen Destroyer – Guardian of the Universe (Review)”
Fulci are an Italian death metal band and this is their fourth album.
Fulci have made a name for themselves by combing classic old-school death metal with equally classic old-school horror soundtrack sounds, and in this specialist area they excel. Duck Face Killings continues with Fulci’s chosen artform, and delivers a bloodthirsty 33-minute death metal masterclass. Continue reading “Fulci – Duck Face Killings (Review)”
Hammerfall are a Swedish heavy/power metal band and this is their thirteenth album.
I do enjoy visiting the world of Hammerfall when I can, (check out Built to Last, Glory to the Brave, and Renegade 2.0 too), so Avenge the Fallen is well-received. Hammerfall’s latest contains 47 minutes of new music, and is a strong record from this veteran band. Continue reading “Hammerfall – Avenge the Fallen (Review)”
This is the fourth album from UK black metallers Gråt Strigoi.
Despite being four albums deep into their career, I’ve never heard of Gråt Strigoi before the wonderful Fiadh Productions put them on my radar. It’s seriously been my loss, as this stuff is so far up my alley it hurts. The Prophetic Silence contains 56 minutes of black metal that’s so good you should just stop reading this now and go and listen to it. Continue reading “Gråt Strigoi – The Prophetic Silence (Review)”
This is the second album from US black metal band Mnajdra.
Following hot on the heels of last year’s self titled debut comes In the Name of the Goddess; 50 minutes of apocalyptic modern black metal. Mnajdra’s malefic music has ascended to a higher level of spectral might with this new album. Continue reading “Mnajdra – In the Name of the Goddess (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 