Downcross – White Tower (Review)

Downcross - White TowerDowncross are a black metal band from Belarus and this is their sixth album.

White Tower contains 43 minutes of melodic black metal. It’s sharp and well-performed, and Downcross showcase what they’re capable of with attitude and force. Continue reading “Downcross – White Tower (Review)”

Svneatr – Never Return (Review)

Svneatr - Never ReturnSvneatr are a Canadian black metal band and this is their third album.

Across six tracks Never Return delivers 40 minutes of progressive black metal. Taking a second wave base and building on it with contemporary influences and an array of additional musical layers, Svneatr’s music is impressive and moreish. Continue reading “Svneatr – Never Return (Review)”

Dödsrit – Nocturnal Will (Review)

Dödsrit - Nocturnal WillThis is the fourth album from Swedish black metal band Dödsrit.

Whereas each of Dödsrit’s well-regarded previous albums, (including 2018’s top notch Spirit Crusher), contained four songs, Nocturnal Will breaks with tradition and delivers six tracks in total, (although to be fair one is a sub-minute interlude). Continue reading “Dödsrit – Nocturnal Will (Review)”

Primordial – How It Ends (Review)

Primordial - How It EndsPrimordial are an Irish metal band and this is their tenth album.

Primordial are a reliably enjoyable band that found a voice of their own early on in their career. They have some top quality albums, the most recent of which was 2018’s Exile Amongst the Ruins. Playing a blackened form of heavy metal and doom, new album How It Ends delivers 66 minutes of Primordial’s inimitable material. Continue reading “Primordial – How It Ends (Review)”

Weald and Woe – For the Good of the Realm (Review)

Weald and Woe - For the Good of the RealmThis is the second album from US black metallers Weald and Woe.

Weald and Woe play a medieval folk-influenced brand of melodic black metal. Across 37 minutes they craft an album of ancient atmosphere and blackened hooks. Continue reading “Weald and Woe – For the Good of the Realm (Review)”

Spirit Adrift – Ghost at the Gallows (Review)

Spirit Adrift - Ghost at the GallowsThis is the fifth album from the US heavy metal band Spirit Adrift.

I’ve always enjoyed what Spirit Adrift offer, (check out Chained to Oblivion, Curse of Conception, Divided by Darkness, and Enlightened in Eternity), so new album Ghost at the Gallows is most welcome. Continue reading “Spirit Adrift – Ghost at the Gallows (Review)”

Horrendous – Ontological Mysterium (Review)

Horrendous - Ontological MysteriumThis is the fifth album from US death metallers Horrendous.

Horrendous’ trajectory through their last three albums – 2014’s Ecdysis, 2015’s Anareta, and 2018’s Idol – has been an enjoyable one to experience, but it’s been a while since we’ve heard from them. As such, it’s great to finally have Ontological Mysterium, which contains 38 minutes of new material. Continue reading “Horrendous – Ontological Mysterium (Review)”

Tailgunner – Guns for Hire (Review)

Tailgunner - Guns for HireTailgunner are a heavy metal band from the UK and this is their debut album.

Boasting the endlessly enjoyable singing voice of the vocalist from the mighty InductionGuns for Hire offers a 48-minute feast of classic heavy metal tunes for fans of the style to eagerly devour. Continue reading “Tailgunner – Guns for Hire (Review)”

Forged in Black – Lightning in the Ashes (Review)

Forged in Black - Lightning in the AshesForged in Black are a UK heavy metal band and this is their third album.

I thoroughly enjoyed 2019’s Descent of the Serpent, so it’s good to have some new material from Forged in Black. Across 42 minutes the band once again unleash a torrent of quality heavy metal on the world in the shape of Lightning in the Ashes. Continue reading “Forged in Black – Lightning in the Ashes (Review)”

Blood Star – First Sighting (Review)

Blood Star - First SightingBlood Star are a heavy metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Featuring a member of Visigoth, First Sighting provides us with a 33-minute journey into the past. First Sighting is a well-written slab of traditional heavy metal. The band ply their trade with passion and obvious skill, and the Continue reading “Blood Star – First Sighting (Review)”