This is the seventh album from US avant-garde/experimental doom band Yakuza.
Sutra is a 54-minute journey into the unexpected and the atypical. Few genre tags will do this justice, so I’ve settled on avant-garde doom, which is vague enough to be relevant, so why not. Whatever you call them, Yakuza have provided a multifaceted metal album that’s diverse and enjoyable. Continue reading “Yakuza – Sutra (Review)”
This is the debut album from Sol Kia, a Belgian experimental black metal band.
Zos Ethos features a member of Neptunian Maximalism, and contains 45 minutes of experimental psychedelic black metal. Continue reading “Sol Kia – Zos Ethos (Review)”
This is the second album from Japanese doom band Blacklab.
Taking a jagged, almost experimental approach to doom, Blacklab’s music is a curious fusion of Black Sabbath, Boris, and The Stooges. This is dark, raw, and peppered with hardcore and noise rock influences. Continue reading “Blacklab – Abyss (Review)”
Megaton Leviathan are a US psychedelic rock/doom band, and this is their third album.
Now here’s a band that have flowered quite impressively since their already very accomplished 2014 album Past 21: Beyond the Arctic Cell. Boasting new members, new instrumentation, and an enriched direction, Mage is indebted to the band’s past, while being unconstrained by it. Continue reading “Megaton Leviathan – Mage (Review)”
Skullcave are a progressive doom band from Australia and this is their debut album.
I was drawn to this album by the enigmatic album cover, and then reeled in by the description of the music – “an ambitious, qualitative blend of thick doom, dreamy instrumentals and layered vocals.” Continue reading “Skullcave – Fear (Review)”
Big | Brave are an experimental doom band from Canada and this is their third album.
This is minimalist experimental music, expressed as vast sheets of abstract soundscapes and diligently pieced together emotional compositions. Continue reading “Big | Brave – Ardor (Review)”
Boris are a legenday group from Japan. Over the years they have produced so much music in so many different styles it’s actually quite difficult to keep up with them. Suffice to say, whatever they do, they usually do it very well indeed.
The last time we caught up with Boris it was only a year or so ago, with their split/collaboration with Merzbow. This was experimental noise at its very best, a style I’m not a huge fan of, but done so well that I couldn’t help but take to it. Continue reading “Boris – Dear (Review)”
This is the debut album by Ukrainian doom band Nonsun.
Here we have somewhat of a colossal album. This is 84 minutes of slow, weighty music designed to physically and mentally crush, while transporting the listener to other, bleaker realms. Continue reading “Nonsun – Black Snow Desert (Review)”
Debutante is a solo-project from Switzerland and this is his latest EP of electro rock/drone/pop.
From the blurb – “An EP about anxiety, depression and crippling, petty envy.” So now you know. Continue reading “Debutante – EP3 (Review)”
Gridfailure is a one-man solo experimental project from the US.
This is a mutated, corrupted, experimental release that incorporates all manner of guitars, electronics, keyboards, noises, violins, bongos, harmonicas, and much, much more into its aborted embrace.
Okay, but is it any good? This is the Continue reading “Gridfailure – Ensuring the Bloodline Ends Here (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 