Imperial Triumphant – Wonderbox Metal

Dawnwalker – The Between (Review)

This is the seventh album from UK progressive metal/rock band Dawnwalker.

Dawnwalker are one of those rare bands that genuinely do attempt something different with each release. 2022’s murky, hallucinogenic House of Sand was a massive hit for me, and I loved it. 2024’s follow up The Unknowing was ultimately less to my taste, with its classic prog rock stylings, but still enjoyable nonetheless. So, with that in mind, what does The Between have to offer? Continue reading “Dawnwalker – The Between (Review)”

Heathe – Control Your Soul’s Desire for Freedom (Review)

This is the second album from Heathe, a post-metal/rock band from Denmark.

Control Your Soul’s Desire for Freedom is the 64-minute follow up to 2019’s On the Tombstones; the Symbols Engraved. Heathe have developed their sound on this new record, expanding widely into multifaceted waters that take in a broad set of influences. I’ve tagged this above as post-metal/rock, but it’s not really – at least not in any traditional sense. They are simply the closest broad terms relevant. There’s certainly very little in the way of metal on this record, for example. Heathe exist in a niche world, where a lot of recognisable materials have been mangled into something quite atypical. Continue reading “Heathe – Control Your Soul’s Desire for Freedom (Review)”

Ethereal Wound – Defile | Demise (Review)

This is the debut album from Portuguese death metal band Ethereal Wound.

Defile | Demise contains 38 minutes of death metal that’s blackened, dissonant, and atmospheric. Ethereal Wound, (along with a session drummer, from Ashen Horde, Evilyn, Norse, Somnium Nox, Virulent Depravity, and many more), have produced a striking record that offers a rewarding, satisfying experience. Continue reading “Ethereal Wound – Defile | Demise (Review)”

Kayo Dot – Every Rock, Every Half-Truth under Reason (Review)

This is the eleventh album from US experimental band Kayo Dot.

The tag experimental is frequently not a very useful one, but then Kayo Dot aren’t a band that invite easy categorisation. Every Rock, Every Half-Truth under Reason contains 66 minutes of music, and a range of styles and influences have gone into its creation. Continue reading “Kayo Dot – Every Rock, Every Half-Truth under Reason (Review)”

Byonoisegenerator – Subnormal Dives (Review)

This is the third album by Russian grindcore band Byonoisegenerator.

Jazzgrind, eh? Okay, I’ll bite. Subnormal Dives brings together, as advertised, the worlds of grindcore and jazz. It’s aggressive and dense, and Byonoisegenerator make a splash with the 23-minute free form savagery that is Subnormal Dives. Continue reading “Byonoisegenerator – Subnormal Dives (Review)”

Agabas – Hard Anger (Review)

This is the third album by Norwegian mathcore band Agabas.

How could you not see a band described in the promo blurb as a “brutal heavy deathjazz metal/mathcore quintet” and not want to check them out? Although, I note in the band pics there’s six people, so no idea what that’s about. Regardless, Hard Anger is a 36-minute melting pot of ideas and influences, so strap in tight and get ready for mayhem. Continue reading “Agabas – Hard Anger (Review)”

Smiqra – Rɡyaɡ̇dźé! (Review)

This is the debut album by solo Chinese avant-garde extreme metal act Smiqra.

Brought to us by the artist behind the Ὁπλίτης (Hoplites), Smiqra take the more avant-garde aspects of the last Ὁπλίτης release Παραμαινομένη and runs with them. Rgyaɡ̇dźé! is a 42-minute explosion of avant-garde metal that’s dizzying. Continue reading “Smiqra – Rɡyaɡ̇dźé! (Review)”

Imperial Triumphant – Goldstar (Review)

This is the sixth album from US avant-garde black/death metal band Imperial Triumphant.

Imperial Triumphant always make a fascinating record. Check out any of their albums, (such as 2020’s Alphaville or 2022’s Spirit of Ecstasy and you’ll be in an unfamiliar world of avant-garde experimentation and gilded individuality. Continue reading “Imperial Triumphant – Goldstar (Review)”

Ingurgitating Oblivion – Ontology of Nought (Review)

This is the third album from German extreme metal band Ingurgitating Oblivion.

It’s been some time since Ingurgitating Oblivion terrified the world with their malignant presence. 2014’s Continuum of Absence showed great promise, which was then realised on 2017’s colossal Vision Wallows in Symphonies of Light. The wait is now over, for Ontology of Nought brings us a massive 73 minutes of darkness. It’s time to step into the nightmare once more. Continue reading “Ingurgitating Oblivion – Ontology of Nought (Review)”

Aseitas – Eden Trough (Review)

This is the third album from US death metal band Aseitas.

2020’s False Peace was a mammoth album, brimming with ideas, boasting 11 tracks, and lasting 72 minutes. On Eden Trough Aseitas trim down to a more manageable 5 tracks and a much-shorter 30 minutes, leading me to wonder if their experimental death metal is still as multifaceted and layered as it was previously? Continue reading “Aseitas – Eden Trough (Review)”