Fortress Festival 2024 – Scarborough Spa, Scarborough, 01-02/06/24 (Live Review)

Fotress Festival 2024

What an incredible lineup this is. I mean, just look at it. It’s ridiculous. I’ve never been to Fortress Festival before, (this is its second year), or Scarborough, but this was an event not to be missed. My words below won’t really do justice to what a great festival this was, but hopefully you’ll get a flavour of it at the very least.

Before we get into it – if you’ve ever read one of my live reviews previously you’ll notice that the quality of the photos used here far, far, far outstrips my usual meagre efforts. This is because I didn’t take them. I’m enormously pleased to say that they very talented Aleksandra Hogg captured and supplied all of these photos, and I urge you to check out her work at Acidolka here, here, or here. Continue reading “Fortress Festival 2024 – Scarborough Spa, Scarborough, 01-02/06/24 (Live Review)”

Tzompantli – Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force (Review)

Tzompantli - Beating the Drums of Ancestral ForceThis is the second album from US death/doom band Tzompantli.

2022’s Tlazcaltiliztli was a record that I got a lot of enjoyment out of, so it’s great to see the return of Tzompantli once more. Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force contains 42 minutes of new material, and finds the band taking giant leaps forward in more than one way. Continue reading “Tzompantli – Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force (Review)”

Funeral Leech – The Illusion of Time (Review)

Funeral Leech - The Illusion of TimeFuneral Leech are a death/doom metal band from the US and this is their second album.

I enjoyed 2020’s Death Meditation, so knew I didn’t want to miss out on hearing The Illusion of Time. I’m glad I didn’t either, as this is a damn fine album. Continue reading “Funeral Leech – The Illusion of Time (Review)”

Apparition – Disgraced Emanations from a Tranquil State (Review)

Apparition - Disgraced Emanations from a Tranquil StateApparition are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Featuring an ex-member of Nails, Apparition play progressive death/doom metal. On Disgraced Emanations from a Tranquil State they deliver 38-minutes of music that hits the spot. Continue reading “Apparition – Disgraced Emanations from a Tranquil State (Review)”

Civerous – Maze Envy (Review)

Civerous - Maze EnvyThis is the second album from US death metallers Civerous.

We last met Civerous on their 2020 split with Stygian Obsession, so it’s great to be able to hear a full album from them. Brought to us by members of Aylwin and Tzompantli, Maze Envy contains 42 minutes of cavernous death that’s wrapped around doom and black metal elements. Continue reading “Civerous – Maze Envy (Review)”

Hamferð – Men Guðs Hond er Sterk (Review)

Hamferð - Men Gu​ð​s Hond er SterkThis is the third album from death/doom band Hamferð, who are from the Faroe Islands.

2018’s Támsins Likam is a tough album to follow. A long six years later, can Hamferð’s newest release – the 44-minute Men Guðs Hond er Sterk – match up to just how good its predecessor is? Continue reading “Hamferð – Men Guðs Hond er Sterk (Review)”

Slimelord – Chytridiomycosis Relinquished (Review)

Slimelord - Chytridiomycosis RelinquishedThis is the debut album from UK death/doom metal band Slimelord.

Chytridiomycosis Relinquished comes to us from current/ex-members of Cryptic Shift and Horrified, which should bode well for Slimelord. This coupled with the promo stating that this is for fans of Disembowelment, Immolation, Gojira, Morbid Angel, Voidceremony, Tomb Mold, Edge of
Sanity, and Morbus Chron, made me quite intrigued to check out Chytridiomycosis Relinquished, as that’s quite the mix. Continue reading “Slimelord – Chytridiomycosis Relinquished (Review)”

Spectral Voice – Sparagmos (Review)

Spectral Voice - SparagmosThis is the second album from US death/doom band Spectral Voice.

Featuring members of Black Curse and Blood Incantation, Spectral Voice play the sort of humungous death doom that crushes mountains and destroys villages. Sparagmos boasts 46 minutes of material that’s as distressing as it is rewarding. Continue reading “Spectral Voice – Sparagmos (Review)”

Damnation Festival 2023 – BEC Arena, Manchester, 04/11/23 (Live Review)

Damnation Festiva 2023 - PosterIt’s Damnation o-clock once more! This is always such a good festival to attend. The line up is an interesting and varied one, with some bands I’m less interested in, some that are an essential experience, and some frustrating clashes. I missed some great bands today, unfortunately, but that’s always going to be the case with such a jam-packed festival. Continue reading “Damnation Festival 2023 – BEC Arena, Manchester, 04/11/23 (Live Review)”

Dead Chasm – Sublimis Ignotum Omni (Review)

Dead Chasm - Certain RaptureDead Chasm are an Italian death metal band and this is their debut album.

Featuring current and ex-members of Decrepid, Funest, Horrid, and Stench of Profit, Sublimis Ignotum Omni contains 33 minutes of macabre old-school death metal. This is damn good stuff. Continue reading “Dead Chasm – Sublimis Ignotum Omni (Review)”