Downfall of Gaia – Wonderbox Metal

Ba’al – The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here (Review)

This is the second album by Ba’al, a blackened post-metal band from the UK.

I’ve been looking forward to this. 2017’s In Gallows by Mass introduced me to Ba’al’s brand of post-metal, but it was on 2020’s Elipsism where the band truly came into their own, developing a post-black metal framework for their post-metal that was hugely impressive. Last year’s EP Soft Eyes, a quality collection of songs, merely whetted my appetite for more, which we are now gifted with in the form of the 62-minute The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here. Continue reading “Ba’al – The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here (Review)”

Acceptance – Crucifixion of Orchids (Review)

Acceptance are a post-black metal band from the UK and this is their debut album.

Previously known as Fatalist, (with an album under that name, so whether this is their first or second I suppose is up for debate), Acceptance exist at an interesting intersection between atmospheric black metal, sludge, blackgaze, and post-rock. Continue reading “Acceptance – Crucifixion of Orchids (Review)”

Cave Sermon – Fragile Wings (Review)

This is the third album from Australian post-metal solo band Cave Sermon.

On Fragile Wings the artist behind Cave Sermon has created an interesting and enjoyable 4o minutes of music. It’s a hybrid style, combining death, black, sludge, progressive, and post-metal, resulting in an album that covers a lot of bases in a well-blended, immersive way. Continue reading “Cave Sermon – Fragile Wings (Review)”

Heir – Terra Triumphans Jubila (Review)

This is the second album from French post-black metallers Heir.

It has been a loooong time since 2017’s Au Peuple de l’Abîme. In fact, I had no idea that Terra Triumphans Jubila even existed until I was kindly pointed in its direction. So Heir are back, with a new lineup since their debut, and have brought 60 minutes of new material with them. Continue reading “Heir – Terra Triumphans Jubila (Review)”

Cross Bringer – Healismus Aeternus (Review)

Cross Bringer are a black metal band from Russia and this is their second album.

Brought to us by the singer of Predatory Void and the drummer of Downfall of Gaia, Healismus Aeternus contains 27 minutes of scathing modern black metal. Taking influences from post-black metal, blackened hardcore, and crust, and building them into a whirlwind of intricate ferocity, Healismus Aeternus is a rewarding album that should find favour with fans of bands such as Black Birch, Celeste, Hexis, Rorcal, Still, The Sun’s Journey Through the Night, and Wiegedood. Continue reading “Cross Bringer – Healismus Aeternus (Review)”

Morne – Engraved with Pain (Review)

This is the fifth album from US doom band Morne.

Engraved with Pain combines elements of doom, sludge, post-metal, and crust, to create a 41-minute album of bleak emotion and textured heaviness. Continue reading “Morne – Engraved with Pain (Review)”

Black Birch – Black Birch (Review)

This is the debut EP from Black Birch, a Swedish black metal band.

Containing 22 minutes of music, Black Birch is an atmospheric black metal release that showcases the very capable talents of this new black metal act in no uncertain terms. Continue reading “Black Birch – Black Birch (Review)”

Earthen Altar – Earthen Altar (Review)

This is the debut album from US black metal band Earthen Altar.

Earthen Altar play nature-inspired atmospheric black metal informed by the Cascadian style., but not restricted to it. Earthen Altar contains three tracks with a total duration of 27 minutes. Before we start, prepare yourself, as this is a colossally strong release. Continue reading “Earthen Altar – Earthen Altar (Review)”

Downfall of Gaia – Silhouettes of Disgust (Review)

Downfall of Gaia are a German post-black metal band and this is their sixth album.

Following on from 2016’s Atrophy and 2019’s Ethic of Radical Finitude, Sillhouettes of Disgust brings us a new 45 minutes of Downfall of Gaia’s idiosyncratic mix of black metal, post-metal, sludge, blackgaze, and crust. Continue reading “Downfall of Gaia – Silhouettes of Disgust (Review)”

Axioma – Sepsis (Review)

Axioma are a post-black/sludge metal band from the US and this is their second album.

I first met Axioma back in 2016 on their debut EP Opia, which seems like an age ago. Well, since then they haven’t been idle, and their second album Sepsis came out earlier this year. Let’s dive in. Continue reading “Axioma – Sepsis (Review)”