Alpha Wolf – Half Living Things (Review)

Alpha Wolf - Half Living ThingsAlpha Wolf are an Australian metalcore band and this is their third album.

I thoroughly enjoyed 2020’s A Quiet Place to Die, as well as 2022’s split with Holding Absence The Lost & the Longing, so more new material from Alpha Wolf is very well-received. I dislike the album art, but ignoring that, what do Alpha Wolf have in store for us this time around? Continue reading “Alpha Wolf – Half Living Things (Review)”

Dödsrit – Nocturnal Will (Review)

Dödsrit - Nocturnal WillThis is the fourth album from Swedish black metal band Dödsrit.

Whereas each of Dödsrit’s well-regarded previous albums, (including 2018’s top notch Spirit Crusher), contained four songs, Nocturnal Will breaks with tradition and delivers six tracks in total, (although to be fair one is a sub-minute interlude). Continue reading “Dödsrit – Nocturnal Will (Review)”

Mastiff – Deprecipice (Review)

Mastiff - DeprecipiceMastiff are a hardcore/sludge metal band from the UK and this is their fourth album.

Both 2019’s Plague and 2021’s Leave Me the Ashes of the Earth were enjoyable slabs of ugly sludgy hardcore heaviness, so it’s great to have a new Mastiff album in our lives. Deprecipice contains 34 minutes of material, and sees Mastiff stepping up their game once more. Continue reading “Mastiff – Deprecipice (Review)”

Defocus – There Is a Place for Me on Earth (Review)

Defocus - There Is a Place for Me on EarthDefocus are a German metalcore band and this is their second album.

Following on from 2021’s In the Eye of Death We Are All the Same comes There Is a Place for Me on Earth, bringing us 32 minutes of aggressive new material. Continue reading “Defocus – There Is a Place for Me on Earth (Review)”

Darkest Hour – Perpetual | Terminal (Review)

Darkest Hour - Perpetual TerminalDarkest Hour are a US metal band and this is their tenth album.

It’s been a long time since 2017’s Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora, but now Darkest Hour have returned. They’ve brought with them 41 minutes of scorching material in the shape of Perpetual | Terminal, and make no mistake, this has been worth the wait. Continue reading “Darkest Hour – Perpetual | Terminal (Review)”

Balsam Grove – You’re Safe Here (Review)

Balsam Grove - You're Safe HereThis is the debut album from Balsam Grove, a post-hardcore band from the US.

You’re Safe Here contains 40 minutes of material brought to us by ex-members of Caves of Glass. Whereas that mighty band played a distinct brand of multifaceted post-metal, Balsam Grove’s music is a post-hardcore mix of punk, screamo, and metalcore. Continue reading “Balsam Grove – You’re Safe Here (Review)”

Cabal/Viscera/Vexed/Lifesick – Rebellion, Manchester – 16/01/24 (Live Review)

Cabal Viscera Vexed Lifesick - Rebellion, Manchester - 16.01.24 (Live Review)

Here’s a tasty show that I knew I wanted to catch. Both Viscera and Cabal are extremely well-regarded at Wonderbox Metal, so this was one for me to not miss. It was, however, one of the less well-attended gigs I’ve been to in a while. A shame, but it’s other people’s loss, as this was a damn good night out. Continue reading “Cabal/Viscera/Vexed/Lifesick – Rebellion, Manchester – 16/01/24 (Live Review)”

Upon Stone – Dead Mother Moon (Review)

Upon Stone - Dead Mother MoonUpon Stone are a melodic death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Upon Stone play melodic death metal in the classic Scandinavian style. The band list influences such as At the Gates, In Flames, and Dissection, so you should have a decent idea of where Dead Mother Moon is coming from. Across a lean 32 minutes Upon Stone demonstrate that they understand the style well. Continue reading “Upon Stone – Dead Mother Moon (Review)”