Oubliette – The Passage (Review)

OublietteOubliette are a melodic black metal band from the US and this is their second album.

As well as featuring members of bands such as Enfold Darkness and Inferi, Oubliette also have a member of the always impressive Battle Path in their ranks. Oubliette are a somewhat different proposition than the expansive post-metal of the guitarist’s other band, however. Continue reading “Oubliette – The Passage (Review)”

Follow the Cipher – Follow the Cipher (Review)

Follow the CipherFollow the Cipher are a power metal band from Sweden and this is their debut album.

Here we have 45 minutes of slick, charismatic power metal. It’s professionally produced, delivered, and performed, and has a huge sound as you would want for something of this ilk. Continue reading “Follow the Cipher – Follow the Cipher (Review)”

NVC – The Deleted Scenes (Review)

NVCNVC are a Canadian progressive metal band and this is their debut album.

This is modern and emotive progressive metal that marries some latter-day Anathema influences with a melodic death metal side; think Ensiferum and Wintersun for a starting point. The resulting Continue reading “NVC – The Deleted Scenes (Review)”

Faustian Dripfeed – Faustian Escapades (Review)

Faustian DripfeedThis is the latest EP from Faustian Dripfeed, a Norwegian melodic death metal band.

Having enjoyed the band’s debut EP Between This and Death, it’s great to catch up with Faustian Dripfeed once more for this new EP. Continue reading “Faustian Dripfeed – Faustian Escapades (Review)”

Exit Empire – Exit Empire (Review)

Exit EmpireExit Empire are an alternative/modern metal band from the Czech republic and this is their debut album.

I must confess that I haven’t regularly listened to anything like this in some time, but Exit Empire are good enough to make me start again. Continue reading “Exit Empire – Exit Empire (Review)”

Iapetus – The Long Road Home (Review)

IapetusThis is the debut album from Iapetus, a progressive death metal band from the US.

Okay, here we have – deep breath – atmospheric, progressive, melodic death metal. Well, that wasn’t so bad, actually. Continue reading “Iapetus – The Long Road Home (Review)”

Ophidian Spell – Nux/Hêmera (Review)

Ophidian SpellOphidian Spell are a symphonic/melodic death metal band from France and this is their debut album.

Combining aspects of melodic, progressive and symphonic death metal into their delivery, Ophidian Spell offer up the listener a modern blend of these various influences. I can hear aspects of The Faceless, Devin Townsend, In Flames, Emperor/Ihsahn, Ne Obliviscaris, Delain and Septic Flesh in the mix, along with some others. Continue reading “Ophidian Spell – Nux/Hêmera (Review)”

Dorylus – The Rapture (Review)

DorylusDorylus are a metal band from the UK. This is their debut EP.

Dorylus play groove metal influenced by all of the usual suspects of the style, (Lamb of God, Pantera, etc.).

For a first release this is a well-realised 21 minutes of aural Continue reading “Dorylus – The Rapture (Review)”

Subliminal Fear – Escape from Leviathan (Review)

Subliminal FearThis is the third album from Subliminal Fear, an Italian metal band.

This is modern metal that takes its primary influences from a combination of the cybermetal styles, (Fear Factory, Mnemic), and melodic groove metal, (Soilwork, In Flames, etc.), alongside a pinch of djent and industrial.

With this in mind, the band operate in the more commercial realm of the style, rather than on the heavier end as some bands do when incorporating these influences, (for the most part at least; that’s not to say the band can’t be heavy or more extreme when they want to). The songs work well in this context though, with the band’s clean vocal harmonies being Continue reading “Subliminal Fear – Escape from Leviathan (Review)”

Karnak Seti – The Distance That Made Us Cold (Review)

Karnak SetiKarnak Seti are from Portugal and play melodic/groove metal. This is their third album.

The Distance That Made Us Cold is an album that bursts out of the speakers with a strong and confident sound, polished to perfection but not lacking in some underground grit when the songs need it. Continue reading “Karnak Seti – The Distance That Made Us Cold (Review)”