Abigorum – Exaltatus Mechanism (Review)

Abigorum - Exaltatus MechanismAbigorum are a black/doom metal band from Russia/Germany and this is their debut album.

Exaltatus Mechanism contains 46 minutes of blackened soundscapes filled with bleak, ritualistic occult atmosphere and daemonic presence. Continue reading “Abigorum – Exaltatus Mechanism (Review)”

Serpents Athirst/Genocide Shrines/Trepanation/Heresiarch – Scorn Coalescence – Split (Review)

Serpents Athirst Genocide Shrines Trepanation Heresiarch - Scorn Coalescence - SplitThis four way split is between Serpents Athirst and Genocide Shrines from Sri Lanka, and Trepanation and Heresiarch from New Zealand. Each offer up a single track. Continue reading “Serpents Athirst/Genocide Shrines/Trepanation/Heresiarch – Scorn Coalescence – Split (Review)”

Kludde – In de Kwelm (Review)

Kludde - In de KwelmKludde are a Belgian black metal band and this is their second album.

Inspired by second wave black metal, this is old-school, raw, and menacing. A death metal influence can be heard in the music, giving it more muscle and thickness than some black metal out there. Pinches of crust’s energetic urgency can be detected too here and there, propelling a particular passage along at a punishing rate. There’s even a doom/sludge influence; this mainly Continue reading “Kludde – In de Kwelm (Review)”

Monthly Overview – the Best of July 2019

It’s once more time to catch up with some of the best metal releases of the past month. Check out the albums below and let me know which one your favourite is. Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of July 2019”

Humanity’s Last Breath – Abyssal (Review)

Humanity's Last Breath - AbyssalThis is the third album from Swedish death metallers Humanity’s Last Breath.

Well, Abyssal is not what I expected. Although I’d heard of Humanity’s Last Breath prior to listening to this album, for some reason I had it in my head that they were a metalcore band. No idea why. I’m also very, very wrong. What we have here is some individually-played death metal; it seems that Humanity’s Last Breath have carved out their own niche in the crowded death metal landscape, and then filled it with mechanised horror. Continue reading “Humanity’s Last Breath – Abyssal (Review)”

Carnifex – World War X (Review)

Carnifex - World War XThis is the seventh album from Carnifex, a US death metal band.

2016’s Slow Death was a real treat for fans of modern death metal, blending catchy songwriting with blackened melody and orchestration to produce a really enjoyable collection of songs. Although it contained elements of deathcore, as does this new one, Carnifex aren’t really a deathcore band these days – they’re far too melodic and have too much else going on, much to their credit. Continue reading “Carnifex – World War X (Review)”

Geistaz’ika – Trolddomssejd i Skovens Dybe Kedel (Review)

Geistaz'ika - Trolddomsejd i Skovens Dybe KedelGeistaz’ika are a black metal band from Denmark and this is their debut album.

Originally released at the end of 2018, Trolddomssejd i Skovens Dybe Kedel is now getting a new lease of life via Signal Rex. I can see why, as Geistaz’ika’s music is both enjoyable and satisfying. Continue reading “Geistaz’ika – Trolddomssejd i Skovens Dybe Kedel (Review)”

Gravefields – Embrace the Void (Review)

Gravefields - Embrace the VoidGravefields are an international death metal band and this is their second album.

Previously known as Dirtyprotest, this band have now benefited from both a change of name and a change of sound. Whereas the band’s debut album – Hellstorm – was essentially a Swedish death metal affair, Embrace the Void is a wider-ranging beast. Continue reading “Gravefields – Embrace the Void (Review)”

Barús – Drowned (Review)

Barús - DrownedThis is the debut album from Barús, a progressive death metal band from France.

Although we’ve met the mysterious entity that is Barús before on 2015’s self-titled EP, I’ve only just recently been privileged enough to listen to Drowned, despite it being released in 2018. Well, I’ve missed out, and I can’t help but feel that Drowned would have graced my end of year list for 2018. Continue reading “Barús – Drowned (Review)”

Black Shroud – Death Culture (Review)

Black Shroud - Death CultureThis is the debut album from Black Shroud, a blackened death metal band from the US.

Black Shroud play a black/death metal hybrid that focuses on muscular death metal backed up by blackened aspects that provide an extra layer of grimness and macabre atmosphere. This blurring of the black/death lines in Black Shroud’s capable hands makes for an enjoyable and satisfying listening experience. Continue reading “Black Shroud – Death Culture (Review)”