Monthly Overview – the Best of May 2022

May saw an unreasonable amount of good metal albums released into the wild. The below are just the tip of the iceberg, but more than worth celebrating in their own right. Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of May 2022”

Origin – Chaosmos (Review)

Origin - ChaosmosThis is the eighth album from US death metallers Origin.

It seems like Unparalleled Existence only came out a couple of years ago, but it was actually 2017. Time certainly flies. Still, at least Origin have now returned, bringing us the 46-minute beast that is Chaosmos. Continue reading “Origin – Chaosmos (Review)”

Miserable Failure – Death March (Review)

Miserable Failure - Death MarchThis is the latest release from Miserable Failure, (or MSRBLFLR), a French death metal/grindcore band.

This enigmatic act have been quiet since 2017’s Alone, (at least with this project), but now they’re back with the beautifully adorned Death March. Containing just one 22-minute track, (made up of three named movements), this is a welcome return from this talented group. Continue reading “Miserable Failure – Death March (Review)”

Blut Aus Nord – Disharmonium – Undreamable Abysses (Review)

Blut Aus Nord - Disharmonium - Undreamable AbyssesThis is the fourteenth album from Blut Aus Nord, a French black metal band.

A new Blut Aus Nord release is always worth paying attention to. Over the years the band have ranged through a variety of dark, blackened styles, (see some examples, here, here, here, and here), so what delights does Disharmonium – Undreamable Abysses hold? Continue reading “Blut Aus Nord – Disharmonium – Undreamable Abysses (Review)”

Black Void – Antithesis (Review)

Black Void - AntithesisThis is the debut album from Black Void, a Norwegian black metal band.

Featuring members of Borknagar, Ihsahn, In Vain, Profane Burial, and Solefald, Antithesis delivers 39 minutes of furious black metal cut with harsh hardcore punk, black ‘n’ roll, and some unexpectedly anthemic influences. Continue reading “Black Void – Antithesis (Review)”

Hyrgal – – (Review)

Hyrgal - -Hyrgal are a French black metal band and this is their third album.

I enjoyed both 2017’s Serpentine and 2020’s Fin de Règne, so – is well-received, if unusually titled. We once again get seven tracks of dark black metal art, this time with a duration of 38 minutes. Continue reading “Hyrgal – – (Review)”

Predatory Light – Death and the Twilight Hours (Review)

Predatory Light - Death and the Twilight HoursThis is the second album from US black metallers Predatory Light.

Featuring current and ex-members of Vanum and Ash Borer, Death and the Twilight Hours contains 38 minutes of charismatic black metal, and is the follow up to 2016’s Predatory Light. Continue reading “Predatory Light – Death and the Twilight Hours (Review)”

Déhà – Decadanse (Review)

Déhà - DecadanseDéhà is a Belgian solo artist who plays in a vast multitude of bands, across a variety of styles. In his solo work alone he spans a wide range of genres. This album is his 26th, (I think).

Decadanse was unleashed into the world back in March, so I’m a bit late to this particular party, but what an insanely madcap and enjoyable party it is! Continue reading “Déhà – Decadanse (Review)”

Bog Body – Cryonic Crevasse Cult (Review)

Bog Body - Cryonic Crevasse CultBog Body are a blackened sludge metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Oh dear. This is some gloriously foul stuff. Bog Body have come to torment us with a 34-minute deluge of swampy horror that’s wonderfully hideous. Cryonic Crevasse Cult is a sort of corrupted mix of sludge doom and black metal, with touches of death metal and industrial nightmare added for extra terror. Continue reading “Bog Body – Cryonic Crevasse Cult (Review)”