Ghost Bath – Wonderbox Metal

Psycroptic/Ghost Bath/Underdark – Rebellion, Manchester – 02/08/25 (Live Review)

Psycroptic, Ghost Bath, and Underdark were originally part of a larger event, (with a pretty damn sexy lineup), that got cancelled for reasons unknown. In its place is this very enticing show, with only these three bands surviving the cut. It was a relatively late change, with the tickets not transferring, so I was hoping that this new event would have sold enough tickets in its own right to have a decent-sized crowd for the bands. Regardless of the turnout, I’ve been looking forward to this, Psycroptic especially, as I’ve never seen them and they’re one of the best tech death bands in existence. Continue reading “Psycroptic/Ghost Bath/Underdark – Rebellion, Manchester – 02/08/25 (Live Review)”

Ghost Bath – Rose Thorn Necklace (Review)

Ghost Bath are a depressive black metal band from the US and this is their fifth album.

I do like a bit of Ghost Bath. Both 2017’s Starmourner and 2021’s Self Loather were very enjoyable, despite actually being quite different. Out if the two, Rose Thorn Necklace is probably closer in style overall to Self Loather, although is by no means a repeat of it. Continue reading “Ghost Bath – Rose Thorn Necklace (Review)”

Decompression – Love Is the Beauty of the Soul (Review)

This is the debut album from one-woman black/doom band Decompression from the US.

Decompression is a 53-minute collection of original compositions, (five), and cover songs, (three, including one from Forgotten Tomb). Stylistically, black/doom doesn’t really do it full justice, but it’s a loose descriptor that’s suitable enough. Continue reading “Decompression – Love Is the Beauty of the Soul (Review)”

Nothingness – Supraliminal (Review)

This is the second album from US death metallers Nothingness.

Featuring the drummer of Ghost Bath, Supraliminal contains 43 minutes of foul, riff-hungry death metal. The promo blurb states that this is for fans of Gorguts, Gojira, Morbid Angel, and Iniquity, and this should give you a good starting point for the band’s tar-thick heaviness. I’m a little late discovering this, but I’m sure glad that I did. Continue reading “Nothingness – Supraliminal (Review)”

Ghost Bath – Self Loather (Review)

Ghost Bath are a depressive black metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.

I’m a big fan of Ghost Bath‘s work. Although somewhat divisive and an acquired taste for some, 2017’s Starmourner was so unusual and charismatic with its over-the-top histrionics and charged melodic atmosphere, that I couldn’t help but fall for it completely. As such, I’ve been looking forward to Self Loather. Continue reading “Ghost Bath – Self Loather (Review)”

Katatonia/Ghost Bath/The Great Discord – Manchester Sound Control, 11/05/17 (Live Review)

Well, it’s a fine Thursday evening in Manchester, and the wise and the lucky are gathered in Sound Control for a very exciting lineup. Continue reading “Katatonia/Ghost Bath/The Great Discord – Manchester Sound Control, 11/05/17 (Live Review)”

Ghost Bath – Starmourner (Review)

This is the third album from Ghost Bath, a post-black metal band from the US.

Ghost Bath play post-black metal that combines the depressive and atmospheric styles. Okay, but what does this mean in practice?

Ghost Bath are an unusual band. This Continue reading “Ghost Bath – Starmourner (Review)”

Harakiri for the Sky – III: Trauma (Review)

As the name suggests, this is the third album from this Austrian post-black metal band.

Harakiri for the Sky blend resplendent, expansive post-rock/metal with a blackened intensity. The resulting 75 minutes of music on III: Trauma is heavily atmospheric, with a darkened core that screams out in forlorn misery and pain.

There’s an element of the depressive black metal style on this album, but whereas Continue reading “Harakiri for the Sky – III: Trauma (Review)”