1914 are a Ukrainian blackened death/doom band and this is their fourth album.
It’s great to have a new album from this well-regarded band, (check out some of their past work here, here, and here). Containing 57 minutes of new material, Veribus Unitis is 1914’s most absorbing work yet. Continue reading “1914 – Viribus Unitis (Review)”
Another year, another Damnation Festival. Has it really been 20 years? I went to the very first one waaaaay back in 2005, and a love affair was born. It has been great to watch it become one of the world’s best festivals. Kudos to the organisers for their continued passion and ability.
This edition is therefore the festival’s twentieth year and sees Damnation bigger and arguably better than ever before. It’s across two days now, and the lineup is strong in both depth and breadth. From veteran classics to newborn sensations, the festival has it all. Continue reading “Damnation Festival 2025 – BEC Arena, Manchester – 08/11/25-09/11/25 (Live Review)”
This is the second album from Qrixkuor, a death metal band from the UK.
Following on from 2021’s monstrous Poisoning Palinopsia comes The Womb of the World. Qrixkuor’s new record contains four songs, totalling a full duration of 50 minutes. It’s punishing, but also terrifyingly beautiful. Continue reading “Qrixkuor – The Womb of the World (Review)”
This is the second album from US solo extreme metal band Kostnatění.
2023’s Úpal was a notable record, standing out from the crowd with its atypical approach to black metal. Now comes Přílišnost, and it’s a refined beast of uncommon extremity we find ourselves faced with. Continue reading “Kostnatění – Přílišnost (Excess) (Review)”
This is the debut album from Swiss black metal band Irr.
Irr have risen from the ashes of the mighty Forlet Sires, so Remains Remain was definitely something I needed to hear once I knew of its existence. Across 34 minutes it provides an experience that belies its relatively brief duration. Continue reading “Irr – Remains Remain (Review)”
This is the debut album from Canadian death metal band Scorching Tomb.
Ossuary contains 30 minutes of crushing death metal, and it offers a real treat for fans of the modern old-school, (if you know what I mean). Scorching Tomb have created a cracking record. Let’s get to it. Continue reading “Scorching Tomb – Ossuary (Review)”
This is the latest EP from UK hardcore/sludge metallers Mastiff.
A new Mastiff release is always something to pay attention to. Since 2019’s Plague I’ve thoroughly enjoyed betting beaten around the head by their brutal heaviness. On 2021’s Leave Me the Ashes of the Earth and last year’s Deprecipice they only seemed to get heavier and nastier. Which brings us to For All the Dead Dreams, which delivers seventeen minutes of punishment for us to soak up. Continue reading “Mastiff – For All the Dead Dreams (Review)”
This is the fourth album form French black metallers Dysylumn.
Following on from 2020’s Cosmogonie comes the 37-minute Abstraction. Compared to its gargantuan predecessor, it’s far shorter, but lacks for nothing in dominating presence. Continue reading “Dysylumn – Abstraction (Review)”
Tribal Gaze are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.
Inveighing Brilliance is the 32-minute follow up to 2022’s well-received The Nine Choirs. Tribal Gaze are back, and they have brought with them enough riffs and breakdowns to fuel mosh pits for years to come. Continue reading “Tribal Gaze – Inveighing Brilliance (Review)”
This is the sixth album from Australian death metallers Werewolves.
Another year, another Werewolves album. Whether it’s 2022’s From the Cave to the Grave, 2023’s My Enemies Look and Sound Like Me, or 2024’s Die for Us, you basically know what you’re getting yourself into, and in my humble opinion it’s always gonna be good. If ferocious, unforgiving death metal, with a blackened bite and a technical edge is your thing, (along with some thrashy and grindy goodness), then The Ugliest of All is definitely for you. Continue reading “Werewolves – The Ugliest of All (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 