Classic Heavy Metal – Wonderbox Metal

Lamp of Murmuur – The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy (Review)

This is the fourth album from US solo black metal band Lamp of Murmuur.

The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy is the follow up to 2023’s well-received Saturnian Bloodstorm. The latter was a record that only improved over time, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing songs from it, (and other releases), performed live when I saw Lamp of Murmuur at 2024’s Fortress Festival. All of this is to say, I’ve been looking forward to this new record. Continue reading “Lamp of Murmuur – The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy (Review)”

Black Soul Horde – Symphony of Chaos (Review)

This is the fourth album from Greek heavy metal band Black Soul Horde.

Black Soul Horde play a mix of classic heavy metal and power metal, combined with a touch of epic doom metal. As such, Symphony of Chaos is great fun. It’s a 44-minute explosion of addictive metallic joy. If you’re partial to the style, how could you not enjoy this? Continue reading “Black Soul Horde – Symphony of Chaos (Review)”

Krigsgrav – Stormcaller (Review)

Krigsgrav are a black metal band from the US and this is their eighth album.

Stormcaller is the 52-minute follow up to 2023’s well-received Fires in the Fall. Krigsgrav have already proven their worth at this point, so I was looking forward to what this new record brought. Continue reading “Krigsgrav – Stormcaller (Review)”

King Witch – III (Review)

This is the third album from UK doom/heavy metal band King Witch.

King Witch play classic doom and heavy metal spliced with equally vintage grunge and heavy rock. It’s a very effective mix, showcasing the band’s songwriting skill as they deliver 44 minutes of the good stuff. III is a high quality record through and through. Continue reading “King Witch – III (Review)”

Chaos Inception – Vengeance Evangel (Review)

This is the third album from US death metallers Chaos Inception.

Wow, I did not see this coming. 2012’s The Abrogation stood out with its quality, and I’ve periodically wondered over the years if we’d ever see another from Chaos Inception. I had long assumed not, but here it is – unheralded, and unexpected. Can Chaos Inception stand up to scrutiny in 2025? Continue reading “Chaos Inception – Vengeance Evangel (Review)”

Black Sites – The Promised Land? (Review)

Black Sites are a heavy/progressive metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.

The Promised Land? is the 44-minute follow up to 2021’s enjoyable Untrue. That record was a strong one, narrowly missing on on my end of year list. I’m interested to see how The Promised Land? fares by the end of the year, as it’s arguably even stronger than its predecessor. Continue reading “Black Sites – The Promised Land? (Review)”

Ironflame – Kingdom Torn Asunder (Review)

This is the fifth album from Ironflame, a heavy metal solo act from the US.

Despite not reviewing the style as much as, say, black or death metal, I’m a huge fan of heavy/power/etc. metal. The problem is though that is a very easy style to play poorly, as you need really really good songs and a really good singer to make an impression on me. This is where Ironflame come in, as they tick both boxes. Kingdom Torn Asunder is filled with metallic bangers and they have a singer that can belt them out with the best of them. Continue reading “Ironflame – Kingdom Torn Asunder (Review)”

Crystal Viper – The Silver Key (Review)

Crystal Viper are a Polish heavy metal band and this is their ninth album.

Despite being nine albums into their career, this is my first encounter with Crystal Viper. Containing 11 tracks of classic heavy metal, The Silver Key is 47 minutes, (with the Bathory cover song), of solid, old-fashioned metal. Continue reading “Crystal Viper – The Silver Key (Review)”

Inconcessus Lux Lucis – Temples Colliding in Fire (Review)

This is the third album from UK black metal band Inconcessus Lux Lucis.

Inconcessus Lux Lucis made a good impression on me with 2017’s The Crowning Quietus, and this was reinforced on 2021’s SamaeLilith: A Conjunction of the Fireborn split with Thy Darkened Shade, Amestigon, & Shaarimoth. The band have now returned with Temples Colliding in Fire, which delivers 44 minutes of new material. Continue reading “Inconcessus Lux Lucis – Temples Colliding in Fire (Review)”

Cobra the Impaler – Karma Collision (Review)

Cobra the Impaler are a Belgian metal band and this is their second album.

I enjoyed 2022’s Colossal Gods, so it’s great to have some new music from Cobra the Impaler. Across 52 minutes Karma Collision demonstrates that Colossal Gods was merely an appetiser, as now we have the main course. Continue reading “Cobra the Impaler – Karma Collision (Review)”