This Gift Is a Curse are a blackened hardcore/sludge band from Sweden and this is their fourth album.
I thoroughly enjoyed 2019’s A Throne of Ash, so the return of This Gift Is a Curse is a welcome one. They’ve not held back either; Heir is a 67-minute monster. Honestly, I was expecting something good from the band, but Heir is just exceptional. Continue reading “This Gift Is a Curse – Heir (Review)”
Cross Bringer are a black metal band from Russia and this is their second album.
Brought to us by the singer of Predatory Void and the drummer of Downfall of Gaia, Healismus Aeternus contains 27 minutes of scathing modern black metal. Taking influences from post-black metal, blackened hardcore, and crust, and building them into a whirlwind of intricate ferocity, Healismus Aeternus is a rewarding album that should find favour with fans of bands such as Black Birch, Celeste, Hexis, Rorcal, Still, The Sun’s Journey Through the Night, and Wiegedood. Continue reading “Cross Bringer – Healismus Aeternus (Review)”
Still are a post-black metal band from the UK and this is their second album.
Still boast a fierce, ugly sound that’s equal parts black metal, sludge, and hardcore, resulting in a post-blackened 35-minute burst of punishment that’s damaging, yet moreish. The more Still scar and brutalise you, the more you want more. Continue reading “Still – A Theft (Review)”
This is the second album from Canadian post-black metal band Hell Is Other People.
Moirae contains 44 minutes of music that combines elements of depressive, atmospheric, and post-black metal, (with a touch of doom), into a cohesive whole. Hell Is Other People, (who contain a member of Æpoch), are recommended by the promo blurb for fans of Agalloch, Altar of Plagues, Winterfylleth, White Ward, and Drudkh, so that should give you a decent starting point for their sound. Continue reading “Hell Is Other People – Moirae (Review)”
This is the fourth album from UK black metallers The Sun’s Journey Through the Night.
Despite enjoying The Sun’s Journey Through the Night at this year’s Reaper Festival 2023 over the summer, I’m late to actually checking out their most recent recorded work. This has now been rectified. Does Worldless live up to the promise of the band’s live show? Continue reading “The Sun’s Journey Through the Night – Worldless (Review)”
Rorcal are a Swiss post-black/doom metal band and this is their sixth album.
Rorcal have shown what they’re capable of very ably on previous releases such as their 2014 split with Process of Guilt, 2016’s κρέων (Creon), 2019’s Muladona, and 2021’s collaboration with Earthflesh, so I was eager to experience the punishment Silence inevitably held in store for me, whatever form it took. On this release we get 42 minutes of new material, and it is not to be approached by the unwary. Continue reading “Rorcal – Silence (Review)”
This is the debut album from Thørn, a blackened crust band from Italy.
Inferno contains 36 minutes of anger, teeth, and crushing distorted intensity. Thørn’s blackened crusty hardcore is a shockingly good record. Continue reading “Thørn – Inferno (Review)”
Axioma are a post-black/sludge metal band from the US and this is their second album.
I first met Axioma back in 2016 on their debut EP Opia, which seems like an age ago. Well, since then they haven’t been idle, and their second album Sepsis came out earlier this year. Let’s dive in. Continue reading “Axioma – Sepsis (Review)”
Throwing Bricks are from the Netherlands and play post-metal/sludge. This is their second album.
The Burden contains 46 minutes of music that mixes together elements of sludge, hardcore, and black metal into a bleak post-metal cocktail. The band’s hybrid approach to their art is compelling, and The Burden offers fans of modern sludgy extremity a feast of scathing vocals and anguished riffs to explore. Continue reading “Throwing Bricks – The Burden (Review)”
This is the third album from Danish blackened deathcore band Cabal.
A new Cabal album is very welcome. 2020’s Drag Me Down was murderously good fun, so it’s great to greet Magno Interitus‘ 36 minutes with big expectations. But have Cabal once again delivered the goods? Continue reading “Cabal – Magno Interitus (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 