Doom – 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)”

In a House of Heartbeats – Divination of Dreams (Review)

This is the debut album from UK post-metal band In a House of Heartbeats.

Divination of Dreams is a 54-minute cinematic blend of post-rock, post-metal, shoegaze, and doom. In a House of Heartbeats have produced a cracking first record that’s more than worth spending time getting to know intimately. Continue reading “In a House of Heartbeats – Divination of Dreams (Review)”

The Ruins of Beverast – Tempelschlaf (Review)

This is the seventh album from one-man German black/doom metal metal band The Ruins of Beverast.

For some reason it feels like an age since The Thule Grimoires came out, but it was only actually 2021. As such, the arrival of Tempelschlaf feels like an occasion of note. The artist behind The Ruins of Beverast has amassed a great deal of experience and renown across his career – can Tempelschlaf keep the momentum going? Continue reading “The Ruins of Beverast – Tempelschlaf (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”

Vin de Mia Trix – This Landscape Is Alive (Review)

This is the third album from Ukrainian doom metal band Vin de Mia Trix.

Palimpsests was a record that topped my 20174 year end list, but that was a long time ago, and I never really expected to hear from Vin de Mia Trix again after so long. However, they resurfaced in 2022 with the EP Waves~Stars, and have now returned fully with the colossal This Landscape Is Alive. Continue reading “Vin de Mia Trix – This Landscape Is Alive (Review)”

Doubtsower – The Past Melts Away with a Sneer (Review)

Doubtsower is a one-man Welsh doom metal band and this is his fourth album.

If you have yet to experience the uncommon blackened doom of Doubtsower, then let me recommend you Asphyxiation of a Seasick Soul, The Endless Shadow of Despicable Power, and Nothing Reduced to Everything. All are quality slabs of experimental darkness, and all have paved the way for The Past Melts Away with a Sneer. Continue reading “Doubtsower – The Past Melts Away with a Sneer (Review)”

Old Night – Mediterranean Melancholy (Review)

Old Night are a Croatian doom metal band and this is their fourth album.

2017’s Pale Cold Irrelevance and 2019’s A Fracture in the Human Soul were both great records, so I was pleased and surprised when Mediterranean Melancholy appeared out of the blue. I was even more surprised to find out that Old Night released another album – Ghost Light – in 2022 that had completely escaped my attention. Boo! Anyway, let’s now turn our attention to the 44 minutes of new material on Mediterranean Melancholy. Continue reading “Old Night – Mediterranean Melancholy (Review)”

Bell Witch and Aerial Ruin – Stygian Bough Volume II (Review)

Bell Witch and Aerial Ruin are both artists from the US, and they have teamed up once more to bring us a new outing of mournful doom.

2020’s Stygian Bough Volume I was one of my favourites from that year, so I was very excited by the appearance of Stygian Bough Volume II. Bell Witch and Aerial Ruin have impressed in the past, but can they do so again? Continue reading “Bell Witch and Aerial Ruin – Stygian Bough Volume II (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)”

Primitive Man – Observance (Review)

Primitive Man are a doom band from the US and this is their fourth album.

I confess to being a huge Primitive Man fan. If you’re unfamiliar with their horrendous works, check out (deep breath) – here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Observance brings us a massive new 68 minutes of material to get pulled down into the murk by. Continue reading “Primitive Man – Observance (Review)”