Blacklab – Abyss (Review)

Blacklab - AbyssThis is the second album from Japanese doom band Blacklab.

Taking a jagged, almost experimental approach to doom, Blacklab’s music is a curious fusion of Black Sabbath, Boris, and The Stooges. This is dark, raw, and peppered with hardcore and noise rock influences. Continue reading “Blacklab – Abyss (Review)”

Civerous/Stygian Obsession – Heralds of Affliction – Split (Review)

Civerous Stygian Obsession - Heralds of Affliction - SplitCiverous and Stygian Obsession are both US death metal bands, and they’ve teamed up for this split release.

This is my first encounter with Civerous, but their 17-minute side of this split means that hopefully it won’t be my last, as it definitely makes me want to hear more from them. Continue reading “Civerous/Stygian Obsession – Heralds of Affliction – Split (Review)”

Monthly Overview – the Best of April 2020

As it is every month, April’s releases were a hard bunch to whittle down to just a worthy few. I’ve settled on just the five below to highlight, but be aware that I’ve left out many other damn good records. Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of April 2020”

Black Curse – Endless Wound (Review)

Black Curse - Endless WoundBlack Curse are a US blackened death metal band and this is their debut album.

Black Curse contain members of bands such as Blood Incantation, Khemmis, Spectral Voice, and Primitive Man, (as well as many others), and Black Curse provides 38 minutes of poisonous extreme metal. Continue reading “Black Curse – Endless Wound (Review)”

Vij (Вий) – Oblivium (Review)

Vij (Вий) - ObliviumThis is the second album from Вий, (otherwise known as Vij), an Italian doom/sludge band.

Vij’s music is dark and heavy, combining harsh sludge and funeral doom. It’s a great mixture of the two styles, making for an absorbing album that’s a little different from what many other doom/sludge bands are doing. Continue reading “Vij (Вий) – Oblivium (Review)”

Forlesen – Hierophant Violent (Review)

Forlesen - Hierophant ViolentForlesen are from the US and play doom. This is their debut album.

There are only two lengthy tracks on this album, but with a total duration of 36 minutes, that matters not. The band members in Forlesen have a lot of experience with atypical music, as they play in a variety of bands such as Lotus Thief, Kayo Dot, Botanist, Maudlin of the Well, Nero Order, Palace of Worms, and Vesper Moth. Continue reading “Forlesen – Hierophant Violent (Review)”

Funeral Leech – Death Meditation (Review)

Funeral Leech - Death MeditationFuneral Leech are a death/doom metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

With a name like Funeral Leech how could you not want to check out Death Meditation? That’s certainly what made me pay attention to them. It’s paid off too, as Funeral Leech have not disappointed. Continue reading “Funeral Leech – Death Meditation (Review)”

Depleted – Wretched Decay (Review)

Depleted - Wretched DecayDepleted is a one-man death/doom band from the US and this is his latest demo.

We first met Depleted in 2018 with Conjurations of Void, and it impressed with its virulent underground nastiness. On this new release we are (mis)treated to 31 minutes of horror and despair. It may not be pleasant, but it is damn good. Continue reading “Depleted – Wretched Decay (Review)”