Hardcore – Wonderbox Metal

Nails/Rotten Sound/Invunche – Rebellion, Manchester – 05/10/26 (Live Review)

Tonight is a good night for sonic violence, and here are three bands very well-placed to dish it out. Within such a brutal niche as tonight’s show, Nails are big fish, (and that’s before you factor in the draw of the mighty Rotten Sound, as well as opener Invunche). Rebellion is therefore as busy as you’d expect it to be, and space is at a premium. If this show isn’t sold out, then it’s pretty damn close to it. Continue reading “Nails/Rotten Sound/Invunche – Rebellion, Manchester – 05/10/26 (Live Review)”

Burner – No One Is Coming to Save Us (Review)

This is the second album by UK extreme metal band Burner.

Burner bring us 48 minutes of material to abandon all hope to on No One Is Coming to Save Us. Playing a hybrid style that’s as effective as it is unexpectedly multifaceted, Burner’s new record is a real powerhouse. Continue reading “Burner – No One Is Coming to Save Us (Review)”

Kōya – Pendula (Review)

Kōya are a post-hardcore band from Denmark and this is their debut album.

Pendula consists of 38 minutes of material that is impressively wrought, especially for a first record. Kōya bring a few different influences together well, and the result is an album as devastating as it is well-rendered. Continue reading “Kōya – Pendula (Review)”

ArcTanGent Festival 2026 – Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin, 21/08/26-22/08/26 (Live Review)

ArcTanGent is the UK’s premier outdoor alternative music festival, and it’s a great pleasure to have so many great bands here over one weekend, from all over the world.

It’s this writer’s first time at the festival, even if it’s only for the Friday and the Saturday, and it turns out to be an extremely enjoyable and rewarding couple of days. The festival’s organisation, layout, lineup, and everything else have clearly been thought about closely and iterated upon over time. The end result is a festival experience that’s one of the best out there. Continue reading “ArcTanGent Festival 2026 – Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin, 21/08/26-22/08/26 (Live Review)”

Chat Pile – Who Loves the Sun (Review)

This is the third album from Chat Pile, a noise/sludge rock band from the US.

Chat Pile understandably made a stir with their debut album God’s Country, so Who Loves the Sun is a most welcome release. This time the band have gifted us with a 10-track, 44-minute record that’s much anticipated by many who thought very highly of their last two records. Continue reading “Chat Pile – Who Loves the Sun (Review)”

Gorge – Deeds of Horror (Review)

Gorge are an Italian death metal band and this is their debut album.

Containing a member of Fulci, Deeds of Horror dishes out 28 minutes of death metal that’s raw and nasty, but surprisingly catchy and memorable too. Gorge’s music is effortlessly good fun, and destined to cause pit mayhem wherever it goes. Continue reading “Gorge – Deeds of Horror (Review)”

Disgracing – Descension into Despair (Review)

This is the debut EP from UK death metal band Disgracing.

Introducing the world to Disgracing’s brand of brutal death metal comes Descension into Despair – 19 minutes of barbaric savagery and bone-crushing heaviness. Continue reading “Disgracing – Descension into Despair (Review)”

Beyond Grace – Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 3 (Review)

This is the latest EP from Beyond Grace, a death metal band from the UK.

Two years after the second part of this EP trilogy, we come to Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 3. Beyond Grace continue to impress, and their continued lack of higher profile continues to be a mystery. Regardless, this EP is another reason to get on board the Beyond Grace train. Continue reading “Beyond Grace – Welcome to the New Dark Ages, Part 3 (Review)”

Fuming Mouth – The Ringing Bell (Review)

This is the third album from US death metal band Fuming Mouth.

Fuming Mouth play a hybrid brand of death metal and hardcore, adopting an approach which sees them cover roughly 50% of each style across the record. The Ringing Bell contains 34 minutes of the band’s crushing material, so get ready to flail around wildly. Continue reading “Fuming Mouth – The Ringing Bell (Review)”

Mourir – Nous, le Venin (Review)

This is the third album from French black metal band Mourir.

Following on from 2020’s Animal Bouffe Animal and 2022’s Disgrâce, Nous, le Venin contains 41 minutes of new, ferociously grim material from Mourir. If you haven’t encountered Mourir before, then steel yourself before entering their threatening world. Continue reading “Mourir – Nous, le Venin (Review)”