This is the fourth album from Irish doom band Nomadic Rituals.
I really like Nomadic Rituals. Both 2017’s Marking the Day and 2021’s Tides were strong and charismatic takes on sludge/doom metal, with Marking the Day being especially good. So, it’s great to now have the 43-minute Fust appear. Continue reading “Nomadic Rituals – Fust (Review)”
This is the debut album from US doom band Guiltless.
Following on from last year’s enjoyable debut EP Thorns, it’s time to see what Guiltless are capable of across a full length. Brought to us by current/ex-members of Intronaut, Generation of Vipers, Battle of Mice, A Storm of Light, IIVII, and Neurosis, the 43-minute Teeth to Sky is no disappointment. Continue reading “Guiltless – Teeth to Sky (Review)”
Raging 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)”
This is the third album from UK post-metal band The Grey.
The Grey blend post-metal with stoner doom riffery and post-rock grace. Kodok spends 42 minutes building a variety of sonic soundscapes that are immersive and absorbing. Stylistically, we’re in the territory of acts such as Pelican, Red Sparowes, Mountain Caller, Russian Circles, Bossk, and similar, at least as a rough starting point for Kodok. Continue reading “The Grey – Kodok (Review)”
This 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)”
This 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)”
This is the debut album from US sludge band Old Skin.
Wails of Ten Thousand is a 28-minute beast of crushingly filthy sludge metal nastiness. The promo blurb states that it is for fans of bans like Eyehategod, Fistula, and Coffins, and that it contains noise and death metal elements. Sold! At least in theory. In practice, is it actually any good? Continue reading “Old Skin – Wails of Ten Thousand (Review)”
Wren are a UK sludge/post-metal band and this is their third album.
I was introduced to Wren on their 2015 split with Irk, and I’ve been a fan ever since. They followed that with the enjoyable EP Host in 2016, and then by their debut full length, (and particular favourite of mine), Auburn Rule in 2017. Groundswells followed in 2020, and continued their string of quality releases. Which brings us up to date with the 36-minute Black Rain Falls. Continue reading “Wren – Black Rain Falls (Review)”
Lay Waste are a grindcore band from the US and this is their debut EP.
I’m going to try to listen to more grindcore this year. It’s a genre I love, but has been a bit thin on the ground for my tastes for the last few years. With that in mind, I randomly came across Lay Waste on Bandcamp, so here we are with my first new grind listening experience of 2025. Continue reading “Lay Waste – Savage Rebellion (Review)”
This is the debut album from Scottish post-metal/rock band Beneath a Steel Sky.
The promo blurb recommends the 40-minute Cleave for fans of bands such as Isis, Cult of Luna, Russian Circles, Cave In, and Mogwai, which should give you a good starting point for Beneath a Steel Sky’s material. This is good stuff, and worth your attention. Continue reading “Beneath a Steel Sky – Cleave (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 