Fires in the Distance – Air Not Meant for Us (Review)

Fires in the Distance - Air Not Meant for UsThis is the second album from US death/doom metal band Fires in the Distance.

Air Not Meant for Us is a 50-minute journey into melodic death/doom waters from Fires in the Distance, who feature an ex-member of Xenosis in their ranks. Continue reading “Fires in the Distance – Air Not Meant for Us (Review)”

Sermon – Of Golden Verse (Review)

Sermon - Of Golden VerseThis is the second album from UK progressive metal band Sermon.

Of Golden Verse is a 49-minute tour de force of engaging progressive metal. Sermon’s new album immediately grabs your attention with its vibrant, feeling-focused personality, and holds it throughout the running time by the sheer quality and richness of its material. Continue reading “Sermon – Of Golden Verse (Review)”

Shores of Null – The Loss of Beauty (Review)

Shores of Null - The Loss of BeautyThis is the fourth album from Italian doom metal band Shores of Null.

I thoroughly enjoyed 2020’s single track album Beyond the Shores (on Death and Dying), so knew that I wanted to catch up with The Loss of Beauty when it appeared. Unlike its predecessor, this new album is divided into individual tracks, and delivers 55 minutes of material, (or 49 minutes without the bonus tracks). Continue reading “Shores of Null – The Loss of Beauty (Review)”

Kuolemanlaakso – Kuolleiden Laulu (Review)

Kuolemanlaakso - Kuolleiden LauluKuolemanlaakso are a Gothic metal band from Finland and this is their latest EP.

I thoroughly enjoyed Kuusumu from earlier in the year, so it’s pleasing – yet surprising – to have a new EP so soon. Apparently these songs were recorded at the same time as Kuusumu though, and in the words of the band, “We knew already when entering the studio that we’re going to record more than an album, as we had plenty of material to work on. Continue reading “Kuolemanlaakso – Kuolleiden Laulu (Review)”

Monolithe – Kosmodrom (Review)

Monolithe - KosmodromThis is the ninth album from French doom band Monolithe.

Monolithe are a band that I have really enjoyed over the years, and you can pick up pretty much anything they have released and be transported into a world of doom delights. (this, this, this, this, this, this or this, for example). Kosmodrom is as epic and ambitious as anything the band have previously attempted, and the album is a 67-minute journey into conceptual spacefaring territories.

Continue reading “Monolithe – Kosmodrom (Review)”

Mother of Graves – Where the Shadows Adorn (Review)

Mother of Graves - Where the Shadows AdornThis is the debut album from US death/doom metal band Mother of Graves.

So, here we have it then. After the very enjoyable 2021 EP In Sombre Dreams we now get to see whether that release’s promise has paid off on a full length album. Can Mother of Graves maintain the quality levels that they have already introduced us to? Continue reading “Mother of Graves – Where the Shadows Adorn (Review)”

Behind Your Fear – Anthropocene (Review)

Behind Your Fear - AnthropoceneThis is the debut album from Behind Your Fear, a Gothic/melodic metal band from Germany.

Featuring current and ex-members of bands such as Crimson Moon and Flowing Tears, Anthropocene provides us with 47 minutes of quality tunes. It succeeds in taking cues from the past to deliver a satisfying interpretation of an older style. Continue reading “Behind Your Fear – Anthropocene (Review)”

Deathwhite – Grey Everlasting (Review)

Deathwhite - Grey EverlastingDeathwhite are a melodic metal band from the US and this is their third album.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed witnessing Deathwhite’s continued development, (check out Ethereal, Solitary Martyr, For a Black Tomorrow, and Grave Image), so the appearance of Grey Everlasting is very welcome. On their latest release Deathwhite spend 48 minutes doing what they do best, only better than they ever have done it before. Continue reading “Deathwhite – Grey Everlasting (Review)”

Mass Worship – Portal Tombs (Review)

Mass Worship - Portal TombsThis is the second album from Mass Worship, an extreme metal band from Sweden.

The Mass Worship formula for delivering a crushing metal album is one of finding the best ratio of metal, death metal and hardcore. At the Gates, Meshuggah, and Mastodon are all mentioned as influences, and these help appreciate where Mass Worship are coming from. Continue reading “Mass Worship – Portal Tombs (Review)”