This is the third album from Portuguese black metal band Monte Penumbra.
It’s been eleven years (!) since I last caught up with Monte Penumbra on Heirloom of Sullen Fall, so a reunion is long overdue. Containing 41 minutes of new material, Austere Dawning offers us a journey into dissonant black metal darkness. Continue reading “Monte Penumbra – Austere Dawning (Review)”
Yes, it’s list season once more, so gather round and witness some of the best metal that 2024 had to offer!
2024 was a fantastic year for metal, and that’s an understatement. I thought 2023 was one of the weaker years for metal releases, overall. As such, putting last year’s list together, although challenging as it always is, was relatively effortless compared to this one. I don’t think I’ve agonised over placings more any other year. In the end, similar to last year, I just decided that enough was enough and I needed to just stop needlessly obsessing. Continue reading “Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2024”
This is the latest release from Australian black metal band Mesarthim.
With quite a prolific discography, I don’t get to catch up with Mesarthim as often as I’d like, (though do check out .- -… … . -. -.-. ., The Density Parameter, and CLG J02182–05102), so upon the arrival of Anthropic Bias / Departure I made sure I spent some time with it. Continue reading “Mesarthim – Anthropic Bias / Departure (Review)”
This is the fifth album from UK industrial black metal band An Axis of Perdition.
Apertures contains 48 minutes of malignant dark terror. It’s an industrial black metal vehicle for extradimensional horror that uses the listener’s mind against them. Enter into the world of An Axis of Perdition at your peril. Continue reading “An Axis of Perdition – Apertures (Review)”
This is the sixth album from Swiss black metal band Aara.
A new Aara album is always a cause for celebration. I’ve been a big fan of everything they’ve put out so far, (check out Triade I: Eos, Triade II: Hemera, and Triade III: Nyx), so expectations are high for Eiger. Continue reading “Aara – Eiger (Review)”
It’s time for another high quality (mostly) black metal all dayer courtesy of the fine folks at Reaper Agency. Today was originally meant to have been headlined by the mighty Worm, but despite that unfortunately no longer being the case, they were never the only reason to attend. So let’s get on with the show – the day promises to be a very enjoyable one indeed. Continue reading “Hulder/Verwoed/Aristarchos/Ante-Inferno/Deathless Void/Burial/Slimelord – Rebellion, Manchester – 30/11/24 (Live Review)”
This is the second album from UK black metallers Heathen Deity.
Brought to us by current and ex-members of Hecate Enthroned, Helvellyn, Nefarious Dusk, and Skiddaw, Satan’s Kingdom contains 59 minutes of old-school Satanic black metal, although of a more expressive and higher quality than you typically find in the wild. Continue reading “Heathen Deity – Satan’s Kingdom (Review)”
Wolvencrown are a black metal band from the UK and this is their second album.
After 2019’s very enjoyable Of Bark and Ash, Wolvencrown have now returned with the majestic Celestial Lands. Bigger, better, and more ambitious, the Wolvencrown of 2024 is a formidable force. Continue reading “Wolvencrown – Celestial Lands (Review)”
Pestilent Hex are a black metal band from Finland and this is their second album.
After 2022’s enjoyable The Ashen Abhorrence, Pestilent Hex have now returned with the 46-minute Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow. Continue reading “Pestilent Hex – Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow (Review)”
This is the third album from UK black metal act Ante-Inferno.
Following on from 2022’s Antediluvian Dreamscapes comes Death’s Soliloquy, which contains 47 minutes of new material. It’s Ante-Inferno’s longest album, but also their most engaging and well-realised. Continue reading “Ante-Inferno – Death’s Soliloquy (Review)”
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