Khemmis – Wonderbox Metal

Old Night – Mediterranean Melancholy (Review)

Old Night are a Croatian doom metal band and this is their fourth album.

2017’s Pale Cold Irrelevance and 2019’s A Fracture in the Human Soul were both great records, so I was pleased and surprised when Mediterranean Melancholy appeared out of the blue. I was even more surprised to find out that Old Night released another album – Ghost Light – in 2022 that had completely escaped my attention. Boo! Anyway, let’s now turn our attention to the 44 minutes of new material on Mediterranean Melancholy. Continue reading “Old Night – Mediterranean Melancholy (Review)”

Mriodom – Vlies (Review)

This is the debut album from German doom metal band Mriodom.

Vlies contains 44 minutes of music that takes elements of doom metal, stoner metal, and psychedelic rock into itself, producing five songs that earn their own keep. Mriodom’s music hits the spot nicely. Continue reading “Mriodom – Vlies (Review)”

Glacial Tomb – Lightless Expanse (Review)

This is the second album from US death metal band Glacial Tomb.

Glacial Tomb boast not one, but two members of the mighty Khemmis, so I’m somewhat shocked that I’m so late to their sludgy blackened death metal party. Yep, that’s right – Lightless Expanse gifts us with a 36-minute platter of horrific death metal, ripe with sludge and black metal flavourings. It’s only right that we eat deep of this malignant bounty that’s set before us. Continue reading “Glacial Tomb – Lightless Expanse (Review)”

Crypt Sermon – The Stygian Rose (Review)

This is the third album from US doom metal band Crypt Sermon.

If you haven’t encountered Crypt Sermon before, the promo blurb recommends them for fans of Candlemass, Khemmis, Visigoth, Eternal Champion, King Diamond, and Solitude Aeternus, which should give you a decent idea of what to expect on Stygian Rose. Across 45 minutes Crypt Sermon deliver the goods in epic style. Continue reading “Crypt Sermon – The Stygian Rose (Review)”

Damnation Festival 2023 – BEC Arena, Manchester, 04/11/23 (Live Review)

It’s Damnation o-clock once more! This is always such a good festival to attend. The line up is an interesting and varied one, with some bands I’m less interested in, some that are an essential experience, and some frustrating clashes. I missed some great bands today, unfortunately, but that’s always going to be the case with such a jam-packed festival. Continue reading “Damnation Festival 2023 – BEC Arena, Manchester, 04/11/23 (Live Review)”

Flesh of the Stars – The Glass Garden (Review)

Flesh of the Stars are from the US and play doom metal. This is their fifth album.

Flesh of the Stars are a band that I always enjoy catching up with. 2015’s Hide, 2017’s Anhilla, and 2019’s Mercy are all albums worthy of your time, and the same is true of their new record, The Glass Garden, doubly so in fact. Continue reading “Flesh of the Stars – The Glass Garden (Review)”

Restless Spirit – Afterimage (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)”

Khemmis – Deceiver (Review)

Khemmis are a doom metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.

Khemmis are a great band, it’s as simple as that. Across three very well-received albums, (Absolution, Hunted, and Desolation), they have established themselves as modern doom metal heavyweights extraordinaire. On Deceiver Khemmis have continued their trend of high quality releases, and it’s one not be missed. Continue reading “Khemmis – Deceiver (Review)”

Grief Collector – En Delirium (Review)

This is the debut album from US doom metallers Grief Collector.

Featuring Robert Lowe, (an ex-member of Candlemass), on vocals, En Delirium contains 48 minutes of largely traditional doom metal mixed with a touch of modern sludge, to produce a compelling piece of work. Continue reading “Grief Collector – En Delirium (Review)”

Go Ahead and Die – Go Ahead and Die (Review)

This is the debut album from Go Ahead and Die, a death/thrash metal band.

Go Ahead and Die treats us to 44 minutes of old-school thrash metal, with some death metal, punk, and grindcore thrown in for good measure. Continue reading “Go Ahead and Die – Go Ahead and Die (Review)”