Urne are a metal band from the UK and this is their debut album.
Urne combine a variety of influences onto their sound, resulting in an album of heaviness that’s crushing, while also taking the listener in an emotive journey. You can hear elements of bands like Mastodon, Opeth, Metallica, and Alice in Chains in Urne’s sound, but mostly you Continue reading “Urne – Serpent & Spirit (Review)”
Somnuri are a sludge metal band from the US. and this is their second album.
Featuring an ex-member of Cleanteeth, Somnuri’s sound can best be described as something like progressive sludge metal. The promo blurb mentions bands such as High on Fire, Mastodon, Converge, Torche, and Baroness, and this sets the scene nicely. However, while all of the Continue reading “Somnuri – Nefarious Wave (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Vokonis, a progressive doom metal band from Sweden.
Vokonis’ style mixes together progressive metal with stoner and doom metal, resulting in a colourful and enjoyable collection of tracks. While Mastodon is the obvious reference point, it’s also an inadequate one for Odyssey, as there’s a lot more at play here than simply Mastodon worship. I can also hear elements of bands as diverse as Sleep, Slomatics, Elder, Perihelion Ship, Rush, Khemmis, Alice in Chains, Witchkiss, Monolord, and Black Crown Initiate, to name but a few. Continue reading “Vokonis – Odyssey (Review)”
Intonate are a Canadian death metal band and this is their second album.
With five tracks and a duration of 40 minutes, Intonate don’t mess around on Severed Within. No stupid intros or interludes, no wasted space, just well-thought-out, creative death metal. Let’s dive in. Continue reading “Intonate – Severed Within (Review)”
Dvne are a progressive sludge metal band from the UK and this is their second album.
Etemen Ænka is the 67-minute follow up to 2017’s immensely enjoyable Asheran, and a release I’ve been greatly anticipating. If you’re a fan of bands such as Sorxe, Mastodon, The Ocean, Isis, Minsk, Inter Arma, and Neurosis, then Etemen Ænka is an album for you. Maybe even THE album for you. Continue reading “Dvne – Etemen Ænka (Review)”
This is the second album from US black metal band Lord Almighty.
Lord Almighty play a modern brand of progressive black metal that incorporates elements of blackened thrash, sludge, crust, and rock into its vibrant embrace. The press blurb invokes bands such as Darkthrone, Kvelertak, Thin Lizzy, Mastodon, Continue reading “Lord Almighty – Wither (Review)”
This is the debut album from Canadian doom band Empress.
I enjoyed 2017’s Reminiscence, with its psychedelic grooves and rolling riffs. It set out a strong opening argument for the band, which Premonition now ably capitalises on. Combining elements of doom, sludge, progressive, and post-metal into 49 minutes of expressive, mood-focused music, Premonition is a thoroughly convincing affair. Continue reading “Empress – Premonition (Review)”
The Ditch and the Delta are a sludge metal band from the US and this is their second album.
This band combine Neurosis-style post-metal sludginess with energetic riff-worship and a surprisingly technical delivery to produce 38 minutes of abrasive nastiness. Mix Neurosis, very early Mastodon, Today Is the Day, and Meshuggah, and you’ll have a Continue reading “The Ditch and the Delta – The Ditch and the Delta (Review)”
Based in the US, Irist are a modern metal band and this is their debut album.
Irist’s recipe is one that takes a wide range of influences and works them into a comprehensive modern metal framework. Loosely stated, Irist take elements of hardcore, thrash metal, and progressive/post-hardcore/metal, and hone them into song-based packages of metallic heaviness. Continue reading “Irist – Order of the Mind (Review)”
Hyborian are a stoner metal band from the US and this is their second album.
Hyborian’s first album Vol. 1 was infectious and moreish, and made a strong impression. Volume II continues with Hyborian’s hyper-palatable style, providing 40 minutes of anthemic tunes that are near-impossible to dislike. Continue reading “Hyborian – Volume II (Review)”
