Death Metal – Page 7 – Wonderbox Metal

Ligation – After Gods (Review)

This is the debut album from Finnish death metal band Ligation.

After Gods is billed as a full album, although it actually only contains 24 minutes of new music, spread over five tracks. However, there’s also a version with three additional bonus tracks that have been taken from Ligation’s previous two split releases, which brings the total up to 41 minutes. Either way, it’s an unconventional approach, but then Ligation’s music is unconventional too. Continue reading “Ligation – After Gods (Review)”

Carrion Vael – Slay Utterly (Review)

This is the fifth album from US death metallers Carrion Vael.

I enjoyed 2022’s Abhorrent Obsessions much more than I expected to, so I was pleased to see Slay Utterly appear, (it turns out I’d completely missed 2024’s Cannibals Anonymous too, which is annoying). This new record offers up 42 minutes of premium Carrion Vael, and it’s pretty damn good. Continue reading “Carrion Vael – Slay Utterly (Review)”

Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2025

Another year, another list. 2025 followed 2024 as it was meant to, and brought with it a plethora of new metal albums to get excited about. Continue reading “Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2025”

Phobocosm – Gateway (Review)

This is the fourth album from Canadian death metal act Phobocosm.

2023’s Foreordained made a good impression on me, so when ominous portents heralded the arrival of Gateway, I was ready. Across 35 minutes Phobocosm unleash a dark and dismal death metal dénouement that apparently closes their current chapter, making ready for a future one. Continue reading “Phobocosm – Gateway (Review)”

Voidceremony – Abditum (Review)

This is the third album from US death metallers Voidceremony.

Following on 2023’s enjoyable Threads of Unknowing, Abditum contains 30 minutes of complex technical death metal wizardry. As much as I liked that last record, this new one is a step up for Voidceremony. Continue reading “Voidceremony – Abditum (Review)”

Depravity – Bestial Possession (Review)

Depravity are an Australian death metal band and this is their third album.

It’s been a while since 2018’s Evil Upheaval and 2020’s Grand Malevolence, but both records made their mark. Well, 2025 marks the return of the mighty Depravity, so can Bestial Possession clear the high bar set by its two predecessors? Continue reading “Depravity – Bestial Possession (Review)”

1914 – Viribus Unitis (Review)

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)”

Damnation Festival 2025 – BEC Arena, Manchester – 08/11/25-09/11/25 (Live 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)”

Qrixkuor – The Womb of the World (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)”

Kostnatění – Přílišnost (Excess) (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)”