Phasma – Purgatory (Review)

vThis is the third album from international, (Greece/US), blackened death metallers Phasma.

Phasma play an interesting and intense mix of black and death metal, cut with elements of doom and deathcore. Purgatory contains 26 minutes of dark violence, and it’s Continue reading “Phasma – Purgatory (Review)”

Dwellnought – Monolith of Ephemerality (Review)

Dwellnought - Monolith of EphemeralityThis is the debut album from Italian blackened doom band Dwellnought.

Dwellnought play hideous, lightless doom that’s soaked in black metal’s corrosive acids. Monolith of Ephemerality is a 47-minute nightmare, one that drowns the listener in Continue reading “Dwellnought – Monolith of Ephemerality (Review)”

Reaper Festival 2026 – Rebellion, Manchester, 14/02/26-15/02/26 (Live Review)

Reaper Festival 2026 - Rebellion, Manchester, 14.02.26-15.02.26

It’s been a few years since the last edition of Reaper Festival, so this show appearing once more was a welcome surprise when it did. The lineup is extremely strong, and it promises to be a great weekend. Kudos to the organisers too, (the always great Reaper Agency), for specifically Continue reading “Reaper Festival 2026 – Rebellion, Manchester, 14/02/26-15/02/26 (Live Review)”

Stygian Bough (Bell Witch & Aerial Ruin)/40 Watt Sun – Rebellion, Manchester – 09/02/26 (Live Review)

Stygian Bough (Bell Witch & Aerial Ruin) 40 Watt Sun - Rebellion, Manchester - 090226

Tonight, Manchester gets a severe case of The Doom. Stygian Bough Volume II is an excellent record that should have had pride of place on last year’s end of year list, (but frustratingly, there always seems to be one that slips through the cracks), so the opportunity to see it played live tonight was too good to miss. Added bonus – 40 Watt Sun. An unlooked for treat that’s Continue reading “Stygian Bough (Bell Witch & Aerial Ruin)/40 Watt Sun – Rebellion, Manchester – 09/02/26 (Live Review)”

Worm – Necropalace (Review)

Worm - NecropalaceThis is the fourth album from US black/death/doom act Worm.

In many quarters Necropalace is a big deal. Through a range of EPs, splits, and albums, (such as Foreverglade and Bluenothing), Worm have continued to develop and grow over the years, essentially Continue reading “Worm – Necropalace (Review)”

Oreyeon – The Grotesque Within (Review)

Oreyeon - The Grotesque WithinOreyeon are an Italian stoner rock band and this is their fourth album.

I enjoyed 2022’s Equations for the Useless, so wanted to check in with Oreyeon once more to see what this stoner rock crew were up to. The Grotesque Within is what. It’s a record bursting with stoner rock flavour, spiced up with grunge, doom, and progressive rock seasoning. Continue reading “Oreyeon – The Grotesque Within (Review)”