Big | Brave – A Chaos of Flowers (Review)

Big Brave - A Chaos of FlowersBig | Brave are a doom/drone band from Canada and this is their seventh album.

New Big | Brave, so soon after last year’s Nature Morte? I’ll take it! If you’re unfamiliar with this remarkable band, check out that record immediately, (and 2017’s Ardor), and then dive into the 40 minutes of material we get on A Chaos of Flowers. Continue reading “Big | Brave – A Chaos of Flowers (Review)”

My Dying Bride – A Mortal Binding (Review)

My Dying Bride - A Mortal BindingThis is the fifteenth album from UK doom metal band My Dying Bride.

A Mortal Binding contains 55 minutes of new music from this legendary act. My Dying Bride have returned with a doom-drenched descent into the abyssal depths of loss and despair. It’s rich in moody darkness, and resplendent with emotive colour. Balancing atmospheric immersion with aggressive melancholy, the songs are captivating examples of a band’s vision expertly rendered. Continue reading “My Dying Bride – A Mortal Binding (Review)”

Uttertomb – Nebulas of Self-Desecration (Review)

Uttertomb - Nebulas of Self-DesecrationUttertomb are a death metal band from Chile and this is their debut album.

Nebulas of Self-Desecration contains 43 minutes of morbid death metal darkness. Manifesting as ancient death metal with a serving of doom horror, if you think of a mix of bands such as Autopsy, Incantation, and Immolation, you’ll have a decent starting point for Uttertomb’s output. Continue reading “Uttertomb – Nebulas of Self-Desecration (Review)”

Dool – The Shape of Fluidity (Review)

Dool - The Shape of FluidityThis is the third album from Dutch dark rock band Dool.

The Shape of Fluidity contains 50 minutes of dark rock music with both a metallic and a Gothic edge, as well as containing elements of doom, post-rock and post-punk. Dool’s music flows together seamlessly, making for an individualistic blend that is extremely enjoyable and moreish. Continue reading “Dool – The Shape of Fluidity (Review)”

Bell Witch/Knoll – Rebellion, Manchester – 14/04/24 (Live Review)

Bell Witch Knoll - Rebellion, ManchesterNow here’s an interesting show. A bill of extremes, from the deathgrind mayhem of Knoll to the funeral doom crawl of Bell Witch. How could I miss such a compelling reason to journey to one of my favourite venues in Manchester once more? Continue reading “Bell Witch/Knoll – Rebellion, Manchester – 14/04/24 (Live Review)”

The Vision Bleak – Weird Tales (Review)

The Vision Bleak - Weird TalesThis is the seventh album from German Gothic metal band The Vision Bleak.

Weird Tales consists of a single 41-minute song, which is made up of twelve separate movements. It looks like on Bandcamp this will be divided into actual tracks, but thankfully the review version consists of just one track, as this is definitely a release to experience in its entirety, without interruption. Continue reading “The Vision Bleak – Weird Tales (Review)”

Cistvaen – At Light’s Demise (Review)

Cistvaen - At Light's DemiseThis is the debut album from UK atmospheric black metallers Cistvaen.

I like this form of atmospheric black metal, and I like it even more when it’s played with a weighty doom component, as it is here. The promo blurb mentions bands like Agalloch, Fen, My Dying Bride, Alcest, Insomnium, Wolves in the Throne Room, and Winterfylleth, amongst others, so this should give you a good starting point for approaching the 58 minutes of music on At Light’s Demise. Continue reading “Cistvaen – At Light’s Demise (Review)”