This is the fifth album from US metallic hardcore band 156/Silence.
People Watching contains 47 minutes of 156/Silence’s brand of crushing metalcore. It’s a contemporary blend of hardcore and metal that’s not completely what I expected it to be. Continue reading “156/Silence – People Watching (Review)”
This is the debut EP from Spanish grindcore band Immune to Them.
Five tracks, 10 minutes – it’s time for a hit of grinding ferocity from Immune to Them. Vomit the Chains marks a new entrant into the grindcore killing arena, and we may have a future champion on our hands. Continue reading “Immune to Them – Vomit the Chains (Review)”
This is the third album from Nails, a grindcore band from the US.
There are a fair few albums being released in 2024 that are hotly anticipated, including some from bands that haven’t released anything for a while. For me, near the top of that list is Every Bridge Burning by Nails. 2016’s You Will Never Be One of Us was a grindcore/powerviolence/hardcore monster, so this new record has a lot to live up to. Continue reading “Nails – Every Bridge Burning (Review)”
To the Grave are an Australian deathcore band and this is their third album.
Quickly following on from 2023’s Director’s Cuts, To the Grave are back with the 35-minute Everyone’s a Murderer. I wasn’t expecting to hear more new material so soon from them, but I’m not complaining. Continue reading “To the Grave – Everyone’s a Murderer (Review)”
This is the second album from Swiss sludge/doom band Norna.
Norna contains 41 minutes of dark heavy ugliness, brought to us by the ex-singer of Breach and two members of Ølten. Norna’s music will surely satiate fans hungry for the heavier, darker side of sludge/doom/post-metal. Continue reading “Norna – Norna (Review)”
This is the fourth album from UK black metallers Gråt Strigoi.
Despite being four albums deep into their career, I’ve never heard of Gråt Strigoi before the wonderful Fiadh Productions put them on my radar. It’s seriously been my loss, as this stuff is so far up my alley it hurts. The Prophetic Silence contains 56 minutes of black metal that’s so good you should just stop reading this now and go and listen to it. Continue reading “Gråt Strigoi – The Prophetic Silence (Review)”
Respire are a post-hardcore/screamo band from Canada and this is their fourth album.
Now here’s something interesting. Respire describe themselves as an orchestral post-everything collective. They have seven core members, six of whom provide vocals, and collectively they play the usual instruments you’d expect, plus synths, viola, violin, and trumpet. There are also guests that bring vocals, saxophone, piano, synths, glockenspiel, music box, vibraphone, and additional strings to the mix. There’s a lot going on here. Continue reading “Respire – Hiraeth (Review)”
This is the second album from US death metallers 200 Stab Wounds.
With a name like 200 Stab Wounds, you know this is going to be brutal, and if you weren’t sure, then the album cover would surely confirm it. Manual Manic Procedures contains 29 minutes of bloodthirsty cruelty, and if you’re a death metal fan then it’s an easy album to enjoy getting punched around by. Continue reading “200 Stab Wounds – Manual Manic Procedures (Review)”
This is the fifth album from UK metal band Earthtone9.
11 years after their last album, Earthtone9 have returned to deliver more of their individual and idiosyncratic take on heavy music. You could probably get away with calling this a few different things – alternative metal, post-metal, post-hardcore, modern metal, progressive metal – but ultimately Earthtone9 have always moved to their own beat, and had their own quite distinctive sounds very early on. Continue reading “Earthtone9 – In Resonance Nexus (Review)”
Apes are a grindcore band from Canada and this is their debut album.
I thoroughly enjoyed 2017’s Lightless, with its hybrid blackened sludge/grind assault. It wasn’t until 2022 that we saw new material though, with the EP Lullabies for Eternal Sleep. Thankfully we haven’t had to wait quite as long for Apes’ second album, Penitence. Continue reading “Apes – Penitence (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 