Beastwars are a sludge/stoner metal band from New Zealand and this is their fifth album.
Following on from 2019’s IV, (via a covers album in 2023 called Tyranny of Distance), comes the 40-minute The Ship // The Sea. I was excited to listen to this, as Beastwars always deliver, and it hasn’t disappointed. Continue reading “Beastwars – The Ship // The Sea (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Italian progressive doom/sludge metallers Void of Sleep.
It feels like an age has passed since 2020’s sterling record Metaphora, so it’s great that Void of Sleep grace us with their progressive doom/sludge metal once more. Containing 52 minutes of new material, The Abyss into Which We All Have to Stare is an album to spend some quality time with, unlocking its multitude of secrets. Continue reading “Void of Sleep – The Abyss into Which We All Have to Stare (Review)”
This is the fourth album from French heavy rockers Appalooza.
The successor to 2023’s The Shining Son, The Emperor of Loss contains 50 minutes, (with bonus track), of Appalooza’s characterful hard rock. Blending the classic rock, stoner, alternative, and grunge styles together into a collection of compelling songs, Appalooza have once again hit that sweet spot that most modern rock bands easily miss. Continue reading “Appalooza – The Emperor of Loss (Review)”
This is the fourth album from US metallic hardcore band Turian.
Blood Quantum Blues contains 38 minutes of music that mixes together punk, metal, and hardcore, with electronics and progressive elements thrown in for extra flavour and texture. Turian have produced an album that rages and snarls, but does so with skill and ability. Continue reading “Turian – Blood Quantum Blues (Review)”
This is the third album from Blessings, a Swedish post-hardcore band.
Four years after Biskopskniven made it’s way onto my 2021 end of year list, Blessings are back, with the 41-minute Blodsträngen. Once again we’re gifted with an amalgam of hardcore, noise rock, post-metal, and sludge, giving rise to a post-hardcore experience that’s remarkable. Continue reading “Blessings – Blodsträngen (Review)”
This is the second album from German progressive metal band Sheev.
Ate’s Alchemist contains 50 minutes of music, and showcases Sheev’s personable brand of progressive metal. Taking in influences from grunge and stoner metal, Sheev fuse these into progressive metal creations that impress. Continue reading “Sheev – Ate’s Alchemist (Review)”
This is the seventh album from UK metal band Bleed from Within.
Despite being aware of Bleed from Within since they began – and I even saw them live I think many, many, many years ago in a support slot somewhere – I had never actually heard them properly before now. Zenith was a good opportunity to change this and see what I’ve been missing out on. Well, what do Bleed from Within have to offer? Continue reading “Bleed from Within – Zenith (Review)”
This is the sixth album from US doom/sludge band Rwake.
The Return of Magik contains 54 minutes of a progressive and atmospheric mix of sludge, doom, and post-metal. With three guitarists, two vocalists, and the select use of a range of instruments and ideas, Rwake have created an impressive record. Continue reading “Rwake – The Return of Magik (Review)”
This is the debut album from Australian progressive metal band Primrose Path.
The promo blurb says this is for fans of Opeth, Tesseract, Mastodon, and Gojira, which should give you a starting point for approaching the 43-minute Ruminations. Now here’s an underground gem that likely won’t stay underground for long. Continue reading “Primrose Path – Ruminations (Review)”
This is the third album from Canadian progressive metal band Anciients.
I haven’t heard Anciients since their 2013 album Heart of Oak, and it’s been a long eight years since their last release, (2016’s Voice of the Void, which I completely missed out on), so I’ve some cathing up to do. I really like their debut though, so was looking forward to the 59 minuets of Beyond the Reach of the Sun. The band have a new lineup, but they still don’t let me down. Continue reading “Anciients – Beyond the Reach of the Sun (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 