Doom – Page 17 – Wonderbox Metal

Sumac – The Healer (Review)

This is the fifth album from Canadian post-metal/sludge band Sumac, (who boast current and ex-members of bands such as Baptists, Genghis Tron, Isis, Old Man Gloom, Russian Circles, and These Arms Are Snakes in their ranks).

It’s been a while since I caught up with Sumac – 2018’s collaboration with Keijo Haino in fact, as well as their full length from the same year, Love in Shadow. I even had the privilege of catching them live in 2019. Apparently they also had an album out in 2020 called May You Be Held, which I somehow completely missed, which is a shame. All of which brings us to the immense 76 minutes of material on The Healer. Continue reading “Sumac – The Healer (Review)”

Ghozer – Forest of Bones (Review)

This is the latest EP from UK stoner rock/metal band Ghozer.

Following on from 2022’s solid Black Lotus, Ghozer have now returned with Forest of Bones, a new 22-minute EP. Forest of Bones contains four tracks – three new originals and a cover of a song by The Beatles. Continue reading “Ghozer – Forest of Bones (Review)”

Mumuksu/Iravu – Sudra – Split (Review)

Mumuksu/Iravu are both solo acts from Malaysia. The latter plays black metal, and the former doom.

I thoroughly enjoyed Iravu’s debut album from last year – A Fate Worse Than Home – so knew I wanted to check out this split. It contains three tracks and has a total duration of 55 minutes. The first two songs are by the individual artists, and the final is a collaboration between them both. Continue reading “Mumuksu/Iravu – Sudra – Split (Review)”

Insect Ark – Raw Blood Singing (Review)

This is the fourth album from Insect Ark, an experimental doom band from Germany.

An album consisting of members of Swans and Khanate? Yep, colour me interested. Taking in doom, avant-garde, psychedelic, noise, drone, and Gothic influences, Raw Blood Singing is an expansive work of darkness and beauty. Continue reading “Insect Ark – Raw Blood Singing (Review)”

Huntsmen – The Dry Land (Review)

Huntsmen are a US progressive metal band and this is their third album.

Leaving a lasting mark with 2018’s striking American Scrap, Huntsmen made a strong first impression with their debut record. They followed this up with 2020’s Mandala of Fear, which saw the band go big in many different ways, living up to their early promise. It’s now four years later and here we have The Dry Land, which gives us 42 minutes of new material. What does the Huntsmen of 2024 provide us with? Continue reading “Huntsmen – The Dry Land (Review)”

Gurthang – Martyrium (Review)

This is the eighth album from Polish black metal act Gurthang.

It’s always good to catch up with what Gurthang are doing. 2019’s Ascension and 2021’s Hearts of the Hollow were both solid records, which now brings us to the 43-minute Martyrium. Continue reading “Gurthang – Martyrium (Review)”

Thou – Umbilical (Review)

Thou are a sludge/doom band from the US and this is their sixth album.

Following on from 2018’s immense Magus, Umbilical contains 49 minutes of new music from the very well-regarded Thou. Umbilical takes a different route to heaviness than its predecessor, but is no less effective in achieving its goals. Continue reading “Thou – Umbilical (Review)”

Dopethrone – Broke Sabbath (Review)

Dopethrone are a Canadian sludge metal band and this is their sixth album.

Following on from 2018’s Transcanadian Anger, Dopethrone have finally returned to crush everyone flat with their charismatic sludge metal brew. Broke Sabbath contains 39 minutes of filth and hatred, all thrown at the listener in typically heavy Dopethrone fashion. Ahh, it’s good to have this particular brand of sludge nastiness back in town. Continue reading “Dopethrone – Broke Sabbath (Review)”

Urzah – The Scorching Gaze (Review)

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 – Hidden (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)”