Ghostsmoker – Inertia Cult (Review)

Ghostsmoker - Inertia CultThis is the debut album from Australian blackened doom/sludge band Ghostsmoker.

Playing a hideous stew of blackened sludge and doom metal, Ghostsmoker’s debut album Inertia Cult is a 42-minute endurance test – do you have what it takes to survive their onslaught of abrasive distortion and scathing darkness? Continue reading “Ghostsmoker – Inertia Cult (Review)”

Osgraef – Reveries of the Arcane Eye (Review)

Osgraef - Reveries of the Arcane EyeOsgraef are a black/death metal band and this is their debut album.

Osgraef mix black, death, doom, and war metal into a 42-minute expression of mysterious brutality. Reveries of the Arcane Eye is a ball of raging potency and deep obscure atmosphere. Continue reading “Osgraef – Reveries of the Arcane Eye (Review)”

Raging Speedhorn – Nightwolf (Review)

Raging Speedhorn - Night WolfRaging Speedhorn are a sludge metal band from the UK and this is their seventh album.

Following on from 2016’s Lost Ritual and 2020’s Hard to Kill, we’re now treated to the 35-minute Nightwolf. Raging Speedhorn are such a great, fun band, that a new album from this act is always a treat. Continue reading “Raging Speedhorn – Nightwolf (Review)”

Ocultum – Buena Muerte (Review)

Ocultum - Buena MuerteThis is the third album from Ocultum, a doom band from Chile.

Buena Muerte is a 39-minute doom record that takes influence from the stoner and sludge styles. Ocultum have big presence, heavy riffs, a filthy sound, and crushing songs. What’s not to like? Continue reading “Ocultum – Buena Muerte (Review)”

Vacuous – In His Blood (Review)

Vacuous - In His BloodThis is the second album from UK death metallers Vacuous.

2022’s Dreams of Dysphoria was a record that stood out from the crowd with its own take on a darker version of old-school death metal. As a result, I’ve been really looking forward to In His Blood. Can lightning strike twice? Continue reading “Vacuous – In His Blood (Review)”

Dawn of Solace – Affliction Vortex (Review)

Dawn of Solace - Affliction VortexThis is the fourth album from Finnish melodic metal band Dawn of Solace.

I enjoyed 2022’s Flames of Perdition a great deal, so it’s great to now have Affliction Vortex appear amidst the darkness. Dawn of Solace’s return brings us 39 minutes of new material, and they have not disappointed. Continue reading “Dawn of Solace – Affliction Vortex (Review)”

Onirophagus – Revelations from the Void (Review)

Onirophagus - Revelations from the VoidOnirophagus are a Spanish death/doom metal band and this is their third album.

It’s been some time since Onirophagus graced us with the crushing slab of death/doom that was 2019’s Endarkenment (Illumination Through Putrefaction), but now the band have returned. The 48-minute Revelations from the Void is a leaner beast than its predecessor, with shorter songs, (significantly so in many cases), and an increase in atmospheric malevolence that’s remarkable. Continue reading “Onirophagus – Revelations from the Void (Review)”

A Thousand Sufferings/Kludde – Het Pact – Split (Review)

A Thousand Sufferings Kludde - Het Pact - SplitA Thousand Sufferings and Kludde are both from Belgium. The former play doom, and the latter black metal.

A Thousand Sufferings start this split off with two songs totalling 13 minutes. I’ve enjoyed all of the band’s work so far, (Burden, Bleakness, Stilte), which made me eager to hear what Het Pact had in store. Continue reading “A Thousand Sufferings/Kludde – Het Pact – Split (Review)”

Epitaph – Path to Oblivion (Review)

Epitaph - Path to OblivionThis is the third album from Italian doom metallers Epitaph.

I enjoyed 2014’s Crawling out of the Crypt a great deal, and 2017’s Claws wasn’t too shabby either. It’s been a long time since their last album though, and Epitaph also have a new singer now too. So, what do the 41 minutes of new music on Path to Oblivion have to offer us then? Continue reading “Epitaph – Path to Oblivion (Review)”