Doom – Page 20 – Wonderbox Metal

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)”

Tzompantli – Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force (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 – Chasing Shadows (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 – Nothing Reduced to Everything (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)”

Naxen – Descending into a Deeper Darkness (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)”