Wonderbox Metal

Dawnwalker – The Between (Review)

This is the seventh album from UK progressive metal/rock band Dawnwalker.

Dawnwalker are one of those rare bands that genuinely do attempt something different with each release. 2022’s murky, hallucinogenic House of Sand was a massive hit for me, and I loved it. 2024’s follow up The Unknowing was ultimately less to my taste, with its classic prog rock stylings, but still enjoyable nonetheless. So, with that in mind, what does The Between have to offer? Continue reading “Dawnwalker – The Between (Review)”

Scorching Tomb – Ossuary (Review)

This is the debut album from Canadian death metal band Scorching Tomb.

Ossuary contains 30 minutes of crushing death metal, and it offers a real treat for fans of the modern old-school, (if you know what I mean). Scorching Tomb have created a cracking record. Let’s get to it. Continue reading “Scorching Tomb – Ossuary (Review)”

Drofnosura – Ritual of Split Tongues (Review)

Drofnosura are a Canadian doom/sludge metal band and this is their second album.

Drofnosura’s Ritual of Split Tongues is a colossal beast of an album. It’s a 63-minute monster, primarily comprised of four epic-length songs, and presents as a mutated entity of mountainous shapeshifting intensity. Continue reading “Drofnosura – Ritual of Split Tongues (Review)”

Mastiff – For All the Dead Dreams (Review)

This is the latest EP from UK hardcore/sludge metallers Mastiff.

A new Mastiff release is always something to pay attention to. Since 2019’s Plague I’ve thoroughly enjoyed betting beaten around the head by their brutal heaviness. On 2021’s Leave Me the Ashes of the Earth and last year’s Deprecipice they only seemed to get heavier and nastier. Which brings us to For All the Dead Dreams, which delivers seventeen minutes of punishment for us to soak up. Continue reading “Mastiff – For All the Dead Dreams (Review)”

Conjurer – Unself (Review)

This is the third album from UK sludge/post-metallers Conjurer.

Each Conjurer album so far has been a notable one. From their 2018 debut Mire, to 2022’s Páthos, the band have show an ability to craft quality heavy music, while also progressing their sound between releases. Unself contains 45 minutes of new music from this talented act, I have been very keen to hear it. So, what does it bring us? Continue reading “Conjurer – Unself (Review)”

Psychonaut – World Maker (Review)

Psychonaut are a Belgian post-metal band and this is their third album.

I first encountered Psychonaut on their 2021 split with Sâver, and I really liked what I heard. So, when Violate Consensus Reality came around a year later, I was hooked. With this firmly in mind, it’s with great anticipation that the 54 minutes of new material on World Maker is received. Continue reading “Psychonaut – World Maker (Review)”

Dysylumn – Abstraction (Review)

This is the fourth album form French black metallers Dysylumn.

Following on from 2020’s Cosmogonie comes the 37-minute Abstraction. Compared to its gargantuan predecessor, it’s far shorter, but lacks for nothing in dominating presence. Continue reading “Dysylumn – Abstraction (Review)”

Void of Sleep – The Abyss into Which We All Have to Stare (Review)

This is the fourth album from Italian progressive doom/sludge metallers Void of Sleep.

It feels like an age has passed since 2020’s sterling record Metaphora, so it’s great that Void of Sleep grace us with their progressive doom/sludge metal once more. Containing 52 minutes of new material, The Abyss into Which We All Have to Stare is an album to spend some quality time with, unlocking its multitude of secrets. Continue reading “Void of Sleep – The Abyss into Which We All Have to Stare (Review)”

Tribal Gaze – Inveighing Brilliance (Review)

Tribal Gaze are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Inveighing Brilliance is the 32-minute follow up to 2022’s well-received The Nine Choirs. Tribal Gaze are back, and they have brought with them enough riffs and breakdowns to fuel mosh pits for years to come. Continue reading “Tribal Gaze – Inveighing Brilliance (Review)”

Defigurement – Endbryo (Review)

This is the debut album from US grindcore band Defigurement.

Defigurement are described as playing a technical/avant-garde/experimental form of grindcore. Couple this with the fact that the band contain current/ex-members of bands such as Bad Acid Trip, Changeling, Fear Factory, Invidiosus, Malignancy, Success Will Write Apocalypse Across the Sky, and Zillah, and this was one I wanted to check out. Continue reading “Defigurement – Endbryo (Review)”