This is the debut album from UK sludge/post-metal band Urzah.
The Scorching Gaze contains 42 minutes of material delivered in a charismatic hybrid metallic style. Urzah combine elements of sludge, post-metal, progressive metal, doom, and hardcore/metalcore into an exemplar of heaviness that feels timeless. Continue reading “Urzah – The Scorching Gaze (Review)”
Ufomammut are an Italian doom band and this is their tenth album.
I always really enjoy catching up with Ufomammut. 2015’s Ectate, 2017’s 8, and 2022’s Fenice were all stonkingly good records, so expectations are high for the 45-minute Hidden. And, as I would have hoped, expectations have been satisfied. Continue reading “Ufomammut – Hidden (Review)”
This is the second album from US death/doom band Tzompantli.
2022’s Tlazcaltiliztli was a record that I got a lot of enjoyment out of, so it’s great to see the return of Tzompantli once more. Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force contains 42 minutes of new material, and finds the band taking giant leaps forward in more than one way. Continue reading “Tzompantli – Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force (Review)”
Sunnata are a Polish doom metal band and this is their fifth album.
Sunnata hugely impressed me with their 2021 album Burning in Heaven, Melting on Earth, which in hindsight I definitely should have included in that year’s best of list. Yes, Chasing Shadows has some big boots to fill, so let’s see what it has to offer. Continue reading “Sunnata – Chasing Shadows (Review)”
Doubtsower is a one-man Welsh doom metal band and this is his third album.
A new Doubtsower record is always well-received. 2021’s Asphyxiation of a Seasick Soul hit hard, as did 2022’s The Endless Shadow of Despicable Power, but a little less so than its predecessor. Now comes Nothing Reduced to Everything, providing us with a new immersive journey to experience. Continue reading “Doubtsower – Nothing Reduced to Everything (Review)”
This is the second album from Naxen, a German black metal band.
Descending into a Deeper Darkness is the follow up to 2020’s Towards the Tomb of Times, and contains 43 minutes of new material that’s spread out over four sprawling tracks. Naxen were already a quality band before this, but Descending into a Deeper Darkness sees them raise their standards even higher. Continue reading “Naxen – Descending into a Deeper Darkness (Review)”
Inter Arma are a post-metal band from the US and this is their fifth album.
Inter Arma are not your average band. They contort and shapeshift from one track to the next – from one part of a song to the next – delivering a multifaceted metallic journey through all kinds of different styles and genres, including doom, death metal, black metal, sludge, and more, all wrapped up in a progressive/post-metal bow that’s just wonderfully realised. Continue reading “Inter Arma – New Heaven (Review)”
Unearthly Rites are a Finnish death metal band and this is their debut album.
Here’s some nasty death metal for you to clog up your pores. Ecdysis is a sludge factory of old-school death metal that really brings out the filth in the style. Across 34 minutes Unearthly Rites spread their disease with convincing menace and a swamp’s worth of heaviness. Continue reading “Unearthly Rites – Ecdysis (Review)”
This is the second album from US metal band The Watchers.
Nyctophilia contains 41 minutes of song-based metallic fun. Taking elements from the classic metal, thrash, stoner, grunge, and doom styles, The Watchers ably demonstrate what they are capable of. Continue reading “The Watchers – Nyctophilia (Review)”
Brume are a doom band from the US and this is their third album.
I’ve been awaiting this with great excitement, but also great apprehension. Why? Because even though 2017’s Rooster was a damn good record, (appearing on my year end list), 2019’s Rabbits was so fantastic it rightfully topped it. The apprehension comes from worrying whether they can match it or not. Can lightning strike twice? Continue reading “Brume – Marten (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 