This is the third album from Ὁπλίτης, (otherwise known as Hoplites), a solo post-black metal band from China.
The artist behind Ὁπλίτης has had a busy year. This is the third album from this project alone, (following on from Ψευδομένη and Τρωθησομένη), never mind other extracurricular activities such as the Vitriolic Sage record. With such a withering rate of output, has Ἀντιτιμωρουμένη seen the quality levels of Ὁπλίτης dip? Continue reading “Ὁπλίτης (Hoplites) – Ἀντιτιμωρουμένη (Review)”
This is the second album from US metallic hardcore band Capra.
I enjoyed 2021’s In Transmission, and now it’s time to check out what Errors has to offer. Is its title a warning against its content? Continue reading “Capra – Errors (Review)”
Svalbard are a crust/hardcore band from the UK and this is their fourth album.
This is one I’ve been quite eagerly awaiting. 2018’s It’s Hard to Have Hope was a very enjoyable record, but 2020’s When I Die, Will I Get Better? was the record that really put Svalbard on most people’s radars. Now the band have returned, with the 44-minute wonder that is The Weight of the Mask. Continue reading “Svalbard – The Weight of the Mask (Review)”
Restless Spirit are a metal band from the US and this is their third album.
Afterimage contains 38 minutes of heavy, moreish music that’s infectiously delivered by a band that clearly know what they’re doing. Restless Spirit are not to be ignored. Fans of acts such as Somnuri, Witch Ripper, Khemmis, and Spirit Adrift please take note. Continue reading “Restless Spirit – Afterimage (Review)”
Rorcal are a Swiss post-black/doom metal band and this is their sixth album.
Rorcal have shown what they’re capable of very ably on previous releases such as their 2014 split with Process of Guilt, 2016’s κρέων (Creon), 2019’s Muladona, and 2021’s collaboration with Earthflesh, so I was eager to experience the punishment Silence inevitably held in store for me, whatever form it took. On this release we get 42 minutes of new material, and it is not to be approached by the unwary. Continue reading “Rorcal – Silence (Review)”
Bear are a progressive hardcore/metal band from Belgium and this is their fifth album.
When the promo blurb states that an album is recommended for fans of bands such as Dillinger Escape Plan, Botch, and Norma Jean, how can you not check it out? Besides, I’m already a fan of Bear’s work, as both 2017’s /// and 2020’s Propaganda were very enjoyable slabs of angular heaviness. Continue reading “Bear – Vanta (Review)”
KEN Mode are a noise rock/hardcore band from Canada and this is their ninth album.
While I really liked 2018’s Loved, 2022’s Null hit harder, and really made KEN Mode an exciting proposition. Apparently I missed out on reviewing Null, (I honestly thought I did), but Void offers an opportunity of sorts to correct that oversight; Void is the companion piece to Null, recorded at the same time, and designed to go together. Continue reading “KEN Mode – Void (Review)”
This is the second album from UK hardcore band Geist.
Following on from 2019’s Swarming Season, Blueprints to Moderate Sedation provides us with 31 minutes of dark aggression. Combining punk, crust, and metal into an abrasive hardcore intensity, Geist have produced an enjoyable album of dark heaviness. Continue reading “Geist – Blueprints to Moderate Sedation (Review)”
This is the debut album from Scottish grindcore band Gendo Ikari.
Featuring a member of Ashenspire, Gendo Ikari play scathing grindcore that should appeal to fans of bands such as Discordance Axis, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Antigama, and Pig Destroyer. It’s fast, it’s nasty, and in 25 minutes it will leave you a bloody puddle on the floor. Continue reading “Gendo Ikari – Rokubungi (Review)”
This is the third album from US progressive metallers The Gorge.
Mechanical Fiction contains 45 minutes of modern, heavy music. The Gorge are an interesting band, in that they are ostensibly a band you’d give the tags of progressive metal and technical metal too, but they also incorporate avant-garde and jazz elements into their style, as well as having an underpinning hardcore/sludge influence that’s formative. Continue reading “The Gorge – Mechanical Fiction (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 