Label Roundup: Transcending Obscurity – Heads for the Dead, Replicant, Norse, & Noltem (Reviews)

Wonderbox Metal gets sent a lot of new music, (which is great), but there’s no way that everything can get covered unfortunately, (which is not so great). This new column hopes to redress this balance, if only slightly, by taking a look at a handful of releases that a record label has recently sent out that might have otherwise slipped through the cracks.

Transcending Obscurity is an excellent record label that has released some phenomenal music over the years. If you have the time I highly recommend going back through the label’s multifaceted back catalogue as there are some true gems there. Let’s have a look at a selection of their more recent output below… Continue reading “Label Roundup: Transcending Obscurity – Heads for the Dead, Replicant, Norse, & Noltem (Reviews)”

Fornhem – Stämman från Berget (Review)

Fornhem - Stämman från BergetFornhem are a Swedish black metal band and this is their second album.

On Stämman från Berget Fornhem offer a traditional black metal approach with tastefully integrated folk elements and the occasional more modern influence. Continue reading “Fornhem – Stämman från Berget (Review)”

Gaahls Wyrd – The Humming Mountain (Review)

Gaahls Wyrd - The Humming MountainThis is the latest EP from Gaahls Wyrd, a black/dark metal band from Norway.

Gaahls Wyrd are a very experienced band, (with current and ex-members of acts such as Aeternus, Grimfist, Gorgoroth, Harm, Horizon Ablaze, and others), and I very much enjoyed their debut album Gastir – Ghosts Invited. Continue reading “Gaahls Wyrd – The Humming Mountain (Review)”

Sol Sistere – Sol Sistere (Review)

Sol Sistere - Sol SistereSol Sistere are a black metal band from Chile and this is their third album.

I’ve had a bit of a soft spot for Sol Sistere ever since spending time with 2019’s Extinguished Cold Light. As such, as soon as the band’s new self-titled album surfaced, I knew I had to experience what it had to offer. Continue reading “Sol Sistere – Sol Sistere (Review)”

Alda – A Distant Fire (Review)

Alda - A Distant FireAlda are an atmospheric black metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.

Alda have a multifaceted sound born from combining black metal, post-rock, and folk into 51 minutes of atmospheric nature-themed blackened art. Boasting multiple vocalists and a range of different instrumentation, including the use of viola and cello, A Distant Fire is an album of nuance and rich texture. Continue reading “Alda – A Distant Fire (Review)”

Sepulchre by the Sea – Ratiocinations (Review)

Sepulchre by the Sea - RatiocinationsThis is the latest EP from one-man UK post-black metal band Sepulchre by the Sea.

This is the follow up to 2020’s striking Conqueror Worm, which I really liked.

This EP provides us with 26 minutes of new material. The style is a mix of old and new, Continue reading “Sepulchre by the Sea – Ratiocinations (Review)”

Label Roundup: Vendetta Records – Gespenst, Aristarchos & Lurid (Reviews)

Wonderbox Metal gets sent a lot of new music, (which is great), but there’s no way that everything can get covered unfortunately, (which is not so great). This new column hopes to redress this balance, if only slightly, by taking a look at a handful of releases that a record label has recently sent out that might have otherwise slipped through the cracks.

For the very first one of these columns I thought I’d pick the below three from Vendetta Records. I have a high opinion of this label’s output, and these releases reinforce that. I would ideally have covered each one of these individually, but sadly there’s just not enough time to give everything its proper due. In lieu of that, let’s see what you think of these three below… Continue reading “Label Roundup: Vendetta Records – Gespenst, Aristarchos & Lurid (Reviews)”

Waldgeflüster – Dahoam (Review)

Waldgeflüster - DahoamThis is the sixth album by German black metal band Waldgeflüster.

I very much enjoyed 2016’s Ruinen, and then 2019’s Mondscheinsonaten appeared and saw the band’s atmospheric brand of blackened music take another strong step forward. So, what of Dahoam then? Continue reading “Waldgeflüster – Dahoam (Review)”

Monthly Overview – the Best of August 2021

While August was a slower month than some others have been this year for first class metal albums, it was still home to more than enough top releases to warrant this list. Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of August 2021”

Remah – Une Main (Review)

Remah - Une MainRemah are an international black metal band and this is their debut album.

Une Main adopts a modern approach to its black metal, one which adapts elements of the depressive, second wave, and atmospheric styles for its own nefarious use. Alongside this sit darkwave and psychedelic influences, both of which add extra depth to the band’s blackened repertoire. Continue reading “Remah – Une Main (Review)”