This is the debut album from international black metal band Merihem.
Featuring members of bands such as Frostmoon Eclipse, Israthoum, Manetheren, and Suffering Hour, Incendiary Darkness contains 39 minutes of occult black metal.
These songs weep nightmare Continue reading “Merihem – Incendiary Darkness (Review)”
This is the third album from US technical death metal band Artificial Brain.
The follow up to 2017’s very well-received Infrared Horizon, Artificial Brain contains 46 minutes of new material, and is brought to us from current and ex-members of bands such as Aeviterne, Afterbirth, Buckshot Facelift, Coma Cluster Void, Grey Skies Fallen, and Revocation. Continue reading “Artificial Brain – Artificial Brain (Review)”
This is the latest release from Miserable Failure, (or MSRBLFLR), a French death metal/grindcore band.
This enigmatic act have been quiet since 2017’s Alone, (at least with this project), but now they’re back with the beautifully adorned Death March. Containing just one 22-minute track, (made up of three named movements), this is a welcome return from this talented group. Continue reading “Miserable Failure – Death March (Review)”
Aeviterne are a death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.
Aeviterne contain current and ex-members of bands such as Artificial Brain, Tombs, and Pillory, and play a brutal form of death metal with experimental tendencies. Continue reading “Aeviterne – The Ailing Facade (Review)”
Near Death Condition are a Swiss death metal band and this is their fourth album.
It’s been a long eight years since 2014’s Evolving Towards Extinction, and the band have changed their lineup since then, but Near Death Condition are finally back. Continue reading “Near Death Condition – Ascent from the Mundane (Review)”
Aethereus are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.
Leiden is a 55-minute death metal monstrosity that blends technical, progressive, and dissonant elements together into a very impressive package. The band’s Facebook page describes them as for fans of Obscura, Beyond Creation, and Gorguts, and that’s a good starting place from which to approach Leiden. Continue reading “Aethereus – Leiden (Review)”
This is the latest EP from French death metallers Barús.
I enjoyed 2015’s self-titled EP, as well as 2018’s Drowned, so when it appeared Fanges was always destined for my playlists. Although billed as an EP, there’s actually an album’s worth of material for some bands here – 34-minutes spread out over two large tracks. Barús play atmospheric death metal with progressive and dissonant elements, and on Fanges they range wider and more freely than they have done before. Continue reading “Barús – Fanges (Review)”
Yes, it’s that time of year again! 2021 gave us some very, very good metal, and I feel honoured to have been able to have listened to as much of it as I have done. There are some notable absences, (for me at least), from the below list, but there’s just not enough time or space for everything, dammit!
2020 was a very blackened year for me; I listened to a lot of black metal, and the list for that year reflected that. At the start of 2021 I decided I’d consciously try to ensure I cast my net a bit wider again, reconnecting more deeply with some of many other styles of metal that I enjoy. 2021’s list reflects this. However, I’ve still ended up with much more of a black metal presence in the list than I was initially expecting. What can I say? I’m a sucker for all of the myriad blackened flavours of the style. However, there’s also a lot of other stuff here that I hope you’ll dig into and enjoy too. I felt that there was a notable absence of grindcore in 2021, as well as some of the more extreme styles of doom. What do you think?
I hope you enjoy perusing some of my favourite records from this year, and I hope you find something new to tickle your fancy. What’s your number one this year? Continue reading “Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2021”
This is the third album from Polish death metallers Dormant Ordeal.
Now here’s something pretty tasty. I haven’t encountered Dormant Ordeal before, but The Grand Scheme of Things is impressive enough to make me wish I had. Across 39 minutes the band absolutely punish the listener with their idiosyncratic and exemplary take on death metal mastery. Continue reading “Dormant Ordeal – The Grand Scheme of Things (Review)”
This is the second album from Hyperdontia, an international death metal band.
Hyperdontia, (who feature current and ex-members of Burial Invocation, Diabolizer, and Sulphurous), present us with 39 minutes of old-school death metal on Hideous Entity. Continue reading “Hyperdontia – Hideous Entity (Review)”
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