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)”

Fluisteraars – Gegrepen door de Geest der Zielsontluiking (Review)

Fluisteraars - Gegrepen door de Geest der ZielsontluikingThis is the fourth album from black metal band Fluisteraars, who are from the Netherlands.

Hot on the heels of 2020’s Bloem, Fluisteraars have now returned with 36 minutes of new material. On their latest release Fluisteraars once again return to their longer offerings, (there are only three songs here, and the longest lasts 20 minutes), and they do so with skill and potency. Continue reading “Fluisteraars – Gegrepen door de Geest der Zielsontluiking (Review)”

Wolves in the Throne Room – Primordial Arcana (Review)

Wolves in the Throne Room - Primordial ArcanaThis is the seventh album from US black metallers Wolves in the Throne Room.

A new Wolves in the Throne Room album is a huge event, especially for me, as they’re essentially one of my favourite bands.

With a rawer, sharper sound than Continue reading “Wolves in the Throne Room – Primordial Arcana (Review)”

Withered Land – The Endless Journey (Review)

Withered Land - The Endless JourneyWithered Land are a black metal band from Belarus, and this is their debut album.

Withered Land play atmospheric black metal with influences from the folk and dungeon synth styles. Across 38 minutes The Endless Journey delivers epic atmospheric music that’s quite absorbing. Fans of acts such as Falkenbach, Summoning, and Windir should take note. Continue reading “Withered Land – The Endless Journey (Review)”

Ulvik – Cascades (Review)

Ulvik - CascadesUlvik are a Canadian black metal band and this is their second album.

Cascades contains 32 minutes of atmospheric black metal. What it might lack in quantity it makes up for in quality. Ulvik have produced an enjoyable, satisfying slice of darkness here. Theirs is a largely aggressive strain of atmoblack, but one that’s not without nuance or dynamic differentiation. Continue reading “Ulvik – Cascades (Review)”

Vouna – Atropos (Review)

Vouna - AtroposThis is the second album from US one-woman blackened doom band Vouna.

Atropos boasts 57 minutes of richly textured doom metal. It’s an old-school brand of doom that’s spliced through with elements of black and Gothic metal,  along with cinematic scope, epic grandeur, synth-laden atmosphere, and forlorn Continue reading “Vouna – Atropos (Review)”