Fallujah – Xenotaph (Review)

Fallujah - XenotaphThis is the fifth album from US death metal band Fallujah.

Fallujah have a storied list of releases at this point, (The Flesh PrevailsDreamlessUndying LightEmpyrean), all worth getting your teeth into. After the slight dip in quality that was Undying Light, Fallujah returned very strong with Empyrean. All of which means I have been interested to see what the 42-minute Xenotaph brings us this time around. Continue reading “Fallujah – Xenotaph (Review)”

Allegaeon – The Ossuary Lens (Review)

Allegaeon - The Ossuary LensThis is the seventh album from US death metallers Allegaeon.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all of the Allegaeon albums I’ve heard, (2016’s Proponent for Sentience, 2019’s Apoptosis, and 2022’s Damnum), and each has been better than the last. Now Allegaeon are back with the 46-minute The Ossuary Lens, (their shortest album so far), and have changed singer, with their their original vocalist returning to the fold. Let’s see what they have to offer us this time around. Continue reading “Allegaeon – The Ossuary Lens (Review)”

Devils Reef – The Droste Observer (Review)

Devils Reef - The Droste ObserverThis is the second album from Devils Reef, a death metal band from the US.

Following on from 2021’s Chosen by the Sea, The Droste Observer is an evolved form of this death metal predator. Offering up a lean, mean 36 minutes of new material, Devils Reef demonstrate that they are worth being mentioned in the same breath as bands like Revocation, The Black Dahlia Murder, Obscura, Allegaeon, Black Crown Initiate, and the like. Continue reading “Devils Reef – The Droste Observer (Review)”

Beyond Grace – Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 1 (Review)

Beyond Grace - Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 1This is the latest EP from Beyond Grace, a death metal band from the UK.

I always enjoy catching up with Beyond Grace, and have watched their development closely over the years. From the early promise of 2014’s Monstrous, to the debut roar of 2017’s Seekers, to 2021’s crowning achievement so far Our Kingdom Undone, Beyond Grace’s upward trajectory has been a satisfying and rewarding one. Continue reading “Beyond Grace – Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 1 (Review)”

Owdwyr – Receptor (Review)

Owdwyr - ReceptorThis is the debut album from US extreme metal band Owdwyr.

Receptor is an interesting beast. Blurring the boundaries between technical death metal, grindcore, and progressive metal, Owdwyr’s music is a riot of violence and exploratory brutality. It’s a 44-minute sophisticated wrecking ball. Continue reading “Owdwyr – Receptor (Review)”

Allegaeon – Damnum (Review)

Allegaeon - DamnumAllegaeon are a death metal band from the US and this is their sixth album.

There’s something about Allegaeon’s music that’s very satisfying and moreish. The band have discovered a blending of technicality, progressive flourish, and melodic might that simply works, and works well. Both 2016’s Proponent for Sentience and 2019’s Apoptosis were both great records, ably showcasing Allegaeon’s style of music. Now, in 2022, what does Damnum hold for us? Continue reading “Allegaeon – Damnum (Review)”

Dominicide – The Architecture of Oppression (Review)

Dominicide - The Architecture of OppressionThis is the latest EP from UK death/thrash metallers Dominicide.

This four track EP has a duration of 24 minutes and showcases Dominicide’s brand of modern metallic assault. The music mixes death and thrash metal, while also incorporating at various points across the EP elements of deathcore and even symphonic enhancements. Continue reading “Dominicide – The Architecture of Oppression (Review)”

Aversed – Impermanent (Review)

Aversed - ImpermanentThis is the debut album from US metal band Aversed.

Containing 57 minutes of material, the album’s style is one that takes melodic death metal as a base, and then builds on this with elements of progressive metal, melodic black metal, melodic thrash metal, and orchestral power metal. The end result is Continue reading “Aversed – Impermanent (Review)”

Interview with Allegaeon 2019

Allegaeon LogoAllegaeon’s fifth album Apoptosis is a progressive metal tour de force that uses technical and melodic elements to its benefit in a number of stimulating and highly enjoyable ways.

Guitarist and main man Greg Burgess tell us more about this latest opus… Continue reading “Interview with Allegaeon 2019”