Wonderbox Metal

Fortress Festival 2024 – Scarborough Spa, Scarborough, 01-02/06/24 (Live Review)

What an incredible lineup this is. I mean, just look at it. It’s ridiculous. I’ve never been to Fortress Festival before, (this is its second year), or Scarborough, but this was an event not to be missed. My words below won’t really do justice to what a great festival this was, but hopefully you’ll get a flavour of it at the very least.

Before we get into it – if you’ve ever read one of my live reviews previously you’ll notice that the quality of the photos used here far, far, far outstrips my usual meagre efforts. This is because I didn’t take them. I’m enormously pleased to say that they very talented Aleksandra Hogg captured and supplied all of these photos, and I urge you to check out her work at Acidolka here, here, or here. Continue reading “Fortress Festival 2024 – Scarborough Spa, Scarborough, 01-02/06/24 (Live Review)”

Houle – Ciel Cendre et Misère Noire (Review)

This is the debut album from French black metallers Houle.

After thoroughly enjoying Houle’s 2022 debut self titled EP, I was pleased to see Ciel Cendre et Misère Noire appear. Houle deliver 45 minutes minutes of melodic black metal across this album, and the record is a scorcher. Continue reading “Houle – Ciel Cendre et Misère Noire (Review)”

Ghozer – Forest of Bones (Review)

This is the latest EP from UK stoner rock/metal band Ghozer.

Following on from 2022’s solid Black Lotus, Ghozer have now returned with Forest of Bones, a new 22-minute EP. Forest of Bones contains four tracks – three new originals and a cover of a song by The Beatles. Continue reading “Ghozer – Forest of Bones (Review)”

Mumuksu/Iravu – Sudra – Split (Review)

Mumuksu/Iravu are both solo acts from Malaysia. The latter plays black metal, and the former doom.

I thoroughly enjoyed Iravu’s debut album from last year – A Fate Worse Than Home – so knew I wanted to check out this split. It contains three tracks and has a total duration of 55 minutes. The first two songs are by the individual artists, and the final is a collaboration between them both. Continue reading “Mumuksu/Iravu – Sudra – Split (Review)”

Insect Ark – Raw Blood Singing (Review)

This is the fourth album from Insect Ark, an experimental doom band from Germany.

An album consisting of members of Swans and Khanate? Yep, colour me interested. Taking in doom, avant-garde, psychedelic, noise, drone, and Gothic influences, Raw Blood Singing is an expansive work of darkness and beauty. Continue reading “Insect Ark – Raw Blood Singing (Review)”

Candy – It’s Inside You (Review)

Candy are a hardcore band from the US and this is their third album.

It’s Inside You is the 31-minute follow up to 2022’s Heaven Is Here. On their new record Candy push a vision for hardcore that bursts beyond its typical genre trappings in key places. Continue reading “Candy – It’s Inside You (Review)”

Oubliette – Eternity Whispers (Review)

This is the third album from US black metal band Oubliette.

I really liked 2018’s The Passage, and I can’t quite believe it’s been six years since that record. Now the band are back, with a refreshed lineup, (which includes the drummer of Inferi), and 39 minutes of new material in the shape of Eternity Whispers. Continue reading “Oubliette – Eternity Whispers (Review)”

Severe Torture – Torn from the Jaws of Death (Review)

Severe Torture are a death metal band from the Netherlands and this is their sixth album.

Torn from the Jaws of Death is a 39-minute hammer smash to the face. I’ve been a huge fan of Severe Torture ever since 2000’s Feasting on Blood, so to say I’ve been excited for this has been an understatement. I’m pleased to say that Severe Torture have delivered the entrails-smeared goods, and have also brought some additional torture implements with them too. Continue reading “Severe Torture – Torn from the Jaws of Death (Review)”

Huntsmen – The Dry Land (Review)

Huntsmen are a US progressive metal band and this is their third album.

Leaving a lasting mark with 2018’s striking American Scrap, Huntsmen made a strong first impression with their debut record. They followed this up with 2020’s Mandala of Fear, which saw the band go big in many different ways, living up to their early promise. It’s now four years later and here we have The Dry Land, which gives us 42 minutes of new material. What does the Huntsmen of 2024 provide us with? Continue reading “Huntsmen – The Dry Land (Review)”

Sect – Plagues upon Plagues (Review)

This is the fourth album from international metallic hardcore band Sect.

Brought to us by experienced hands in the form of current/ex-members of bands such as Catharsis, Cursed, Earth Crisis, Enabler, Racetraitor, The Damned Things, Undying, and many others, Plagues upon Plagues showcases a leap in Sect’s musical journey when compared to their previous work, (such as 2017’s brutal No Cure for Death). Continue reading “Sect – Plagues upon Plagues (Review)”