Experimental – Wonderbox Metal

Doubtsower – The Endless Shadow of Despicable Power (Review)

Doubtsower is a one-man Welsh doom metal band and this is his second album.

Ahh, the return of Doubtsower. 2021’s Asphyxiation of a Seasick Soul was an unexpected highlight of that year, and although I was surprised to find a new album available so soon, I’m nonetheless pleased by this unlooked for treat. Once again delivering five tracks of emotive doom metal across 49 minutes, the artist behind Doubtsower continues to produce the very definition of underground gems. Continue reading “Doubtsower – The Endless Shadow of Despicable Power (Review)”

Through Mists – Mindless Automatons (Review)

This is the third album from one-man Canadian black/death metal band Through Mists.

The artist behind Through Mists appears to be very prolific, with a huge amount of material being released on Bandcamp in a short period of time. This is my first Continue reading “Through Mists – Mindless Automatons (Review)”

Locrian – New Catastrophism (Review)

Locrian are a US experimental drone band and this is their seventh album.

It has been seven long years since 2015’s Infinite Dissolution, but Locrian have finally resurfaced to bring us a tale of apocalyptic decline and environmental decay. New Catastrophism is a different record to its predecessor though. It contains 36 minutes of new material divided into four tracks, and showcases Locrian at their sparsest, yet also their most immersive and atmospheric. Continue reading “Locrian – New Catastrophism (Review)”

1/2 Southern North – Narrations of a Fallen Soul (Review)

This is the debut album from 1/2 Southern Soul, a one-woman blackened doom band from Greece.

Narrations of a Fallen Soul is a 67-minute journey into lesser travelled terrain. Powered by a single creative artist, but fleshed out by many guests on different tracks and instruments, (including drums, saxophone, violin, davul, kaval, and dahare), 1/2 Southern North provides an unusual album that is well-crafted and realised. Continue reading “1/2 Southern North – Narrations of a Fallen Soul (Review)”

Ithaca – They Fear Us (Review)

This is the second album from UK metallic hardcore band Ithaca.

Following on from 2019’s very enjoyable The Language of Injury, They Fear Us contains 35 minutes of new material from Ithaca.

There’s a greater diversity of material on this album than on Continue reading “Ithaca – They Fear Us (Review)”

Imperial Triumphant – Spirit of Ecstasy (Review)

This is the fifth album from US avant-garde black/death metal band Imperial Triumphant.

After 2020’s Alphaville, any Imperial Triumphant release is going to be much-anticipated, and now we have it; 55 minutes of new material in the form of the warped, mutating Spirit of Ecstasy. Continue reading “Imperial Triumphant – Spirit of Ecstasy (Review)”

Grave Lines – Communion (Review)

This is the third album from UK doom/sludge metallers Grave Lines.

Featuring the guitarist from Dead Witches/Sea Bastard, Grave Lines play an interesting and immersive form of doom. Weaving together doom metal and sludge into a tapestry that also includes Gothic, ambient drone, post-punk, and experimental elements, Communion contains 44 minutes of music that’s highly compelling. Continue reading “Grave Lines – Communion (Review)”

Candy – Heaven Is Here (Review)

Candy are a hardcore band from the US and this is their second album.

I do so enjoy music that’s violent and punishing, and Candy’s scathing mix of industrial, metal, and hardcore is exactly that. Across 30 minutes the band demonstrate that they’re very capable in all of these arenas. Continue reading “Candy – Heaven Is Here (Review)”

White Ward – False Light (Review)

This is the third album from Ukrainian post-black metalers White Ward.

2016’s Futility Report was a fine album, but when 2019’s Love Exchange Failure came along it really made its mark on the extreme metal landscape. Last year’s Debemur Morti teased us some new material, but now here’s the main event. So what does False Light hold for us? Continue reading “White Ward – False Light (Review)”

Miserable Failure – Death March (Review)

This is the latest release from Miserable Failure, (or MSRBLFLR), a French death metal/grindcore band.

This enigmatic act have been quiet since 2017’s Alone, (at least with this project), but now they’re back with the beautifully adorned Death March. Containing just one 22-minute track, (made up of three named movements), this is a welcome return from this talented group. Continue reading “Miserable Failure – Death March (Review)”