Boarhammer are a German black metal band and this is their debut album.
II: Chemognosis – A Shortcut to Mushrooms contains 45 minutes, (with the bonus track), of old-school black metal. So old-school in fact, that it’s a blend of first and second wave influences, rather than the latter only. Boarhammer channel the spirits of Darkthrone, Venom, Celtic Frost, and Bathory, and they do so rather well. Continue reading “Boarhammer – II: Chemognosis – A Shortcut to Mushrooms (Review)”
This is the debut album from US post-metal band Guhts.
Guhts play post-metal that benefits from avant-garde, sludge, doom, and shoegaze elements that allow the band to build and sustain compelling musical vistas over time. It’s all about emotion and atmosphere with Guhts, and across 46 minutes Regeneration is soaked to the core with feeling. Continue reading “Guhts – Regeneration (Review)”
Olhava are a Russian ambient/post-black metal band and this is their sixth album.
It’s always a pleasure to hear a new Olhava album. I thoroughly enjoyed both 2021’s Frozen Bloom and 2020’s Reborn, so am more than happy to be able to experience the immersive immensity of Sacrifice. Sacrifice offers a rich feast of atmospheric, ambient, and post-black metal/blackgaze. Continue reading “Olhava – Sacrifice (Review)”
This is a split between Lotus Thief and Forlesen. Both are US bands and both share members.
Lotus Thief open the split with In Perdition, a 12-minute song. I’m not familiar with the band, and I soon regret that immensely. Continue reading “Lotus Thief/Forlesen – Split (Review)”
This is the sixth album from French death metallers Exocrine.
A new Exocrine album is always a thing to be celebrated. 2018’s Molten Giant and 2020’s Maelstrom were both notable records, but then 2022’s The Hybrid Suns saw the band shift up a level once more. Now, hot on the heels of that last release, comes Legend, featuring 45 minutes of music, (40 without the bonus track). So what does Legend have to offer the discerning extreme metal fan in 2024? Continue reading “Exocrine – Legend (Review)”
This is the second album from UK progressive/post-metal band Mountain Caller.
Chronicle II: Hypergenesis is (mostly) instrumental, which is normally a style I avoid, although I’m not really sure why. Mountain Caller know what they’re doing though, and their appealing sound pulled me right in. Continue reading “Mountain Caller – Chronicle II: Hypergenesis (Review)”
This is the eleventh album from Blood Red Throne, a death metal band from Norway.
Containing 43 minutes of burly, crushing material, Blood Red Throne’s latest delivers an exemplar of classic death metal mastery. Nonagon feels both old-school and fresh, giving it a timeless vibe that I find much of the best death metal has. Continue reading “Blood Red Throne – Nonagon (Review)”
This is the second album from US death metallers Vitriol.
After enjoying Vitriol’s vicious assault live a few years ago I was left with the favourable impression of Hate Eternal/Nile-esque death metal fury, so I’m glad to be finally hearing one of their albums; it’s time to find out if these musical comparisons are appropriate or not. Continue reading “Vitriol – Suffer & Become (Review)”
The Infernal Sea are a black metal band from the UK and this is their fourth album.
Following on from 2015’s The Great Mortality and 2020’s Negotium Crucis, Hellfenlic contains 43 minutes of new material for us to eagerly get our grubby hands on. To me, The Infernal Sea are a standout band in the UK scene, and Hellfenlic simply reinforces their exalted status. Continue reading “The Infernal Sea – Hellfenlic (Review)”
Cognizance are a death metal band from the UK and this is their third album.
2021’s Upheaval was a quality record, so I have been looking forward to Phantazein. I’ve enjoyed Cognizance since their debut EP Inquisition way back in 2013, and it’s been great to see them develop. Continue reading “Cognizance – Phantazein (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 