This is the sixth album from US avant-garde black/death metal band Imperial Triumphant.
Imperial Triumphant always make a fascinating record. Check out any of their albums, (such as 2020’s Alphaville or 2022’s Spirit of Ecstasy and you’ll be in an unfamiliar world of avant-garde experimentation and gilded individuality. Continue reading “Imperial Triumphant – Goldstar (Review)”
Dissocia are a Spanish progressive metal band and this is their debut album.
Brought to us by current/ex-members of Aposento, Bizarre, Cancer, Eternal Storm, and Wormed, Dissocia play modern progressive metal, with elements of death metal incorporated into its cinematic whole. Across 41 minutes, To Lift the Veil makes its intentions known in no uncertain terms, and has an impact. Continue reading “Dissocia – To Lift the Veil (Review)”
This is the second album from US extreme metal band Aversed.
2021’s Impermanent was an enjoyable album that mixed a few different metal styles together to deliver a satisfying result. Four years and a change of singer later, and Aversed are back with the 40-minute Erasure of Color. Continue reading “Aversed – Erasure of Color (Review)”
This is the third album from Dawn of Ouroboros, a progressive black/death metal band from the US.
Both 2020’s The Art of Morphology and 2023’s Velvet Incandescence were solid albums from Dawn of Ouroboros, so when I heard about Bioluminescence, it became an anticipated album for 2025. Across 43 minutes Dawn of Ouroboros once again deliver an expressive and charismatic album of hybridised metal styles. Continue reading “Dawn of Ouroboros – Bioluminescence (Review)”
Cryptosis are a extreme metal band from the Netherlands and this is their second album.
Following on from 2021’s well-received Bionic Swarm, Cryptosis are now back with the 42-minute face ripper Celestial Death. I am of the opinion that a black metal touch makes everything better. Cryptosis seem to agree. Continue reading “Cryptosis – Celestial Death (Review)”
This is the third album from US death metallers Pissgrave.
Malignant Worthlessness contains 31 minutes of foul death metal extremity. It’s intense and brutal, but not delivered without skill. For all the rampant aggression and disgusting brutality on display, Pissgrave also know how to write a death metal song that hits the spot. Continue reading “Pissgrave – Malignant Worthlessness (Review)”
Bleeding Through are a metalcore band from the US and this is their ninth album.
It has been some time since the last Bleeding Through album, (2018’s Love Will Kill All), but fresh off the back of seeing the band last year at 2024’s Damnation Festival, I have been looking forward to getting stuck into Nine. Continue reading “Bleeding Through – Nine (Review)”
Sarcator are a Swedish thrash metal band and this is their third album.
Sarcator play a black/death-influenced style of thrash metal, and Swarming Angels & Flies contains 44 minutes of material. Think of a blend of early-period old-school metal in the form of bands such as Kreator, Sarcófago, Sodom, and Morbid Angel, and then blend this with more contemporary acts like Hellripper, Devastator, and Midnight, and you’ll be on the right lines. You can throw in some other refences too at various points, but ultimately, despite the ancient style that underpins this album, it’s remarkably fun and fresh sounding. Continue reading “Sarcator – Swarming Angels & Flies (Review)”
This is the third album from US progressive extreme metal band Orgone.
Pleroma is a 65-minute multifaceted beast of a record that, loosely, can be described as progressive/technical death metal. Orgone flesh out their death metal base with technical expertise and progressive depth. Around this though they breach a range of other musical territories, including folk, jazz, classical, and progressive rock. Continue reading “Orgone – Pleroma (Review)”
Yes, it’s list season once more, so gather round and witness some of the best metal that 2024 had to offer!
2024 was a fantastic year for metal, and that’s an understatement. I thought 2023 was one of the weaker years for metal releases, overall. As such, putting last year’s list together, although challenging as it always is, was relatively effortless compared to this one. I don’t think I’ve agonised over placings more any other year. In the end, similar to last year, I just decided that enough was enough and I needed to just stop needlessly obsessing. Continue reading “Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2024”
Wonderbox Metal 