Qrixkuor – The Womb of the World (Review)

Qrixkuor - The Womb of the WorldThis is the second album from Qrixkuor, a death metal band from the UK.

Following on from 2021’s monstrous Poisoning Palinopsia comes The Womb of the World. Qrixkuor’s new record contains four songs, totalling a full duration of 50 minutes. It’s punishing, but also terrifyingly beautiful. Continue reading “Qrixkuor – The Womb of the World (Review)”

Kostnatění – Přílišnost (Excess) (Review)

Kostnatění - Přílišnost (Excess)This is the second album from US solo extreme metal band Kostnatění.

2023’s Úpal was a notable record, standing out from the crowd with its atypical approach to black metal. Now comes Přílišnost, and it’s a refined beast of uncommon extremity we find ourselves faced with. Continue reading “Kostnatění – Přílišnost (Excess) (Review)”

Miasmata – Subterrania (Review)

Miasmata - SubterraniaThis is the second album from New Zealand solo blackened heavy metal band Miasmata.

Subterrania brings us 39 minutes of material from the artist behind Miasmata. The style is a mix of black, speed, thrash, and heavy metal, and these six songs exemplify how to combine these elements into something cohesive and entertaining. Continue reading “Miasmata – Subterrania (Review)”

An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City (Review)

An Abstract Illusion - The Sleeping CityThis is the third album from Swedish atmospheric death metal band An Abstract Illusion.

Now here’s a very highly anticipated album. The Sleeping City is An Abstract Illusion’s follow up to their highly acclaimed 2022 album Woe, which was so good it made it onto my year end list. Yes, expectations are high for this record, but there’s also trepidation too – how can An Abstract Illusion possibly meet the high standards they have now set for themselves? Continue reading “An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City (Review)”

Portal/Impetuous Ritual/Abduction – Rebellion, Manchester – 18/09/25 (Live Review)

Portal Impetuous Ritual Abduction - Rebellion, Manchester - 18.09.25

When a rare chance to see Portal and Impetuous Ritual appears, you take it. The show being opened by the mighty Abduction is then simply the icing on the top. Continue reading “Portal/Impetuous Ritual/Abduction – Rebellion, Manchester – 18/09/25 (Live Review)”

Tithe – Communion in Anguish (Review)

Tithe - Communion in AnguishTithe are a death metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Tithe’s previous record – 2023’s Inverse Rapture – was a hybrid extreme metal album that was difficult to pin down genre-wise, although that didn’t stop it from being a satisfying and enjoyable listen. Communion in Anguish focuses Tithe’s sound, pushing up the lethal aggression and dark atmosphere to new heights. Continue reading “Tithe – Communion in Anguish (Review)”

Between the Buried and Me – The Blue Nowhere (Review)

Between the Buried and Me - The Blue NowhereThis is the eleventh album from Between the Buried and Me, a progressive metal band.

Every Between the Buried and Me release is An Important Event in my world. I’ve reviewed a handful, (Coma EclipticComa Ecliptic: LiveAutomata IAutomata II), but nowhere their full discography. I’m very pleased to add one more to the pile now though, with The Blue Nowhere, which brings us 71 minutes of new material to obsess over. Continue reading “Between the Buried and Me – The Blue Nowhere (Review)”

Tine – A Winter Horrorscape (Review)

Tine - A Winter HorrorscapeThis is the third album from US solo symphonic black/death metal act Tine.

Tine made a very positive impression on me with 2015’s The Forest Dreams of Black, and followed this up well with 2022’s Mergae Maris Profundi. As such, it’s with expectation that we turn to the 42 minutes of new material that A Winter Horrorscape provides us with. Continue reading “Tine – A Winter Horrorscape (Review)”

Imperishable – Revelation in Purity (Review)

Imperishable - Revelation in PurityImperishable are a death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Brought to us by current/ex-members of Aurora Borealis, Enthean, Hate Eternal, Malevolent Creation, Nile, and Olkoth, Imperishable have a wealth of experience available to them. What do they do with it? They unleash the 32-minute Revelation in Purity, and you’d better get out of its way, lest you be left a bloody smear on the floor. Continue reading “Imperishable – Revelation in Purity (Review)”