Akhenaten – The Emerald Tablets of Thoth (Review)

Akhenaten - The Emerald Tablets of ThothAkhenaten are a death metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.

Akhenaten play a hybrid style of black and death metal that’s been spiced up with Middle Eastern folk influences. The music brings to mind a cross between aspects of bands such as Nile, Melechesh, Arallu, Orphaned Land, Rudra, Septic Flesh, and the like. In other words, bands that use their extreme metal for more than simple brutality. Continue reading “Akhenaten – The Emerald Tablets of Thoth (Review)”

Spectral Lore – Ετερόφωτος (Review)

Spectral Lore - ΕτερόφωτοςSpectral Lore is a one-man Greek atmospheric black metal band, and this is his fifth album.

I was quite excited to see a new Spectral Lore release so soon after the masterful Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine – a colossal split with Mare Cognitum. This new album is pretty colossal too, containing a whopping 79 minutes of music, and it’s every bit as good as you think it is for the most part. Continue reading “Spectral Lore – Ετερόφωτος (Review)”

Cryptosis – Bionic Swarm (Review)

Cryptosis - Bionic SwarmCryptosis are a thrash metal band from the Netherlands and this is their debut album.

Cryptosis play an aggressive form of thrash that combines raw fiery hostility with progressive depth. Thrown into this mix are minor elements of symphonic, technical, black, and death metal, all of which merely add flavour to an already tasty thrash-tastic recipe. Think Continue reading “Cryptosis – Bionic Swarm (Review)”

Rorcal & Earthflesh – Witch Coven (Review)

Rorcal & Earthflesh - Witch CovenWitch Coven is a collaboration between Swiss post-black/doom metallers Rorcal, and Earthflesh, a noise incarnation of Rorcal’s ex-bassist.

This collaboration has birthed two immense tracks with a duration of 30 minutes in total. Combining Continue reading “Rorcal & Earthflesh – Witch Coven (Review)”

Unflesh – Inhumation (Review)

Unflesh - InhumationUnflesh are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Described in the promo blurb as blackened melodic death metal, and noted as for fans of Arsis, Dissection, Emperor, Necrophagist, Necrophobic, Naglfar, Tribulation, Obscura, and Revocation, I confess I was hooked; I had to check out Inhumation. Continue reading “Unflesh – Inhumation (Review)”

Distant – Dusk of Anguish (Review)

Distant - Dusk of AnguishThis is the latest EP from Distant, a deathcore band from the Netherlands.

Distant never seem to disappoint. From 2019’s Tyrannotophia to 2020’s Dawn of Corruption, they’ve revealed themselves to be a reliable and enjoyable exemplar of modern hyper-heavy deathcore. Continue reading “Distant – Dusk of Anguish (Review)”

The Lylat Continuum – Ephemeral (Review)

The Lylat Continuum - EphemeralThe Lylat Continuum are a progressive death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Ephemeral is a 56-minute trip into progressive death metal waters, although the death metal influences are not always prominently displayed; the band’s modern progressive metal influences are Continue reading “The Lylat Continuum – Ephemeral (Review)”

Spire – Temple of Khronos (Review)

Spire - Temple of KhronosThis is the second album from Australian black metal act Spire.

Temple of Khronos offers a dark mix of atmospheric, progressive, and psychedelic black metal. It’s as if the classic style that we know and love has been mutated and warped into something even darker and more malefic. Continue reading “Spire – Temple of Khronos (Review)”