Tag: Gothic

Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2024

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”

Aklash – Reincarnation (Review)

Aklash - ReincarnationThis is the fourth album from UK black metal band Aklash.

According to the promo blurb, Aklash “…cite Drudkh, Wolves in the Throne Room, and Judas Priest as key influences”, which sounds like an interesting enough mix to me to merit further investigation. That description doesn’t quite do Reincarnation justice though, as Aklash’s music is diverse and rich. Continue reading “Aklash – Reincarnation (Review)”

Vanishing Kids – Miracle of Death (Review)

Vanishing Kids - Miracle of DeathThis is the sixth album from US doom band Vanishing Kids.

Miracle of Death offers up 42 minutes of luscious Gothic doom, sprinkled with psychedelia, shoegaze, and oceans of atmosphere. It’s an absorbing listen, one that showcases the style and personality of Vanishing Kids in the best of lights. Continue reading “Vanishing Kids – Miracle of Death (Review)”

Host – IX (Review)

Host - IXThis is the debut album from UK dark/Gothic rock band Host.

Brought to us by the singer and guitarist of Paradise Lost, IX contains 42 minutes of electronically enhanced dark/Gothic rock. Imagine, if you will, a cross between Paradise Lost’s Host album, (and parts of the other albums surrounding this one), and the 80s Goth and New Wave scenes, and Continue reading “Host – IX (Review)”

Grave Lines – Communion (Review)

Grave Lines - CommunionThis 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)”

Hulder – The Eternal Fanfare (Review)

Hulder - The Eternal FanfareThis is the latest EP from Hulder, a one-woman black metal band from the US.

A 26-minute mini-album, The Eternal Fanfare has strong roots in the classic 90s era. It uses these influences well, but is not restricted by them. The artist behind the band clearly knows what she wants to achieve with her music, and uses influences Continue reading “Hulder – The Eternal Fanfare (Review)”

Louise Lemón – Purge (Review)

Louise LemonLouise Lemón is a Swedish death gospel artist and this is her debut album.

Mixing folk, soul, Gothic, electronic, pop, and ambient into slow, meaningful songs, Purge contains 31 minutes of exquisite material. Pretty much every second of it is tinged with darkness and melancholy, which has all contributed towards the creation of a superlative collection of tracks. Continue reading “Louise Lemón – Purge (Review)”

Dead Register – Fiber (Review)

Dead RegisterThis is the debut album from Dead Register, a post-metal band from the US.

This is a slightly different take on what most post-metal bands are doing, and Dead Register have managed to pull off an unusual feat – Fiber is not an album that readily sounds like many others out there. Continue reading “Dead Register – Fiber (Review)”

Emptiness – Not for Music (Review)

EmptinessEmptiness are from Belgium and this is their fifth album. They play experimental black metal.

Featuring members of Enthroned, this is dark, experimental, ambient post-black metal, with plenty of malevolent, melancholic atmosphere.

If you’re after the Continue reading “Emptiness – Not for Music (Review)”