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
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
This is the third album from Timeworn, a Norwegian sludge metal band.
This is riff-friendly sludge metal, with both a hardcore influence and an atmospheric one. There’s a mix of the harsh and the beautiful here, which is weighted towards the energetic former, but the latter is still an important part of the band’s sound too. Continue reading
Wizard Rifle are a US sludge band and this is their third album.
Wizard Rifle are a band that mixes together doom and sludge metal with psychedelic, noise, and progressive rock, creating songs that twist and turn with virile life. A rough approximation of their sound would be a cross between Melvins, Electric Wizard, and Mastodon. Sort of. Continue reading
This is the third album from Lord Dying, a sludge metal band from the US.
A quick comparison between the cover artwork for the band’s previous album Poisoned Altars and this new one immediately led me to believe that Mysterium Tremendum was going to be a different kettle of fish Continue reading
This is the debut album from Everest Queen, a sludge metal band from the UK.
Having enjoyed 2016’s self titled debut EP it’s good to have a full length from the band now. This is progressive sludge metal, with an imposing presence and plenty of riffs. The band’s promo blurb states that this is for fans of High on Fire, Om, Mastodon, and Isis, and it’s hard to disagree. Continue reading
This is the latest EP from US stoner metal band Druids.
After enjoying 2016’s Cycles of Mobeum and 2017’s Spirit Compass, I’m glad to be able to catch up with Druids once more. Continue reading
East of the Wall are a progressive metal band from the US and this is their fifth album.
East of the Wall have produced a progressive metal album that finds the band in fine form. This is a collection of textured, layered songs, embracing a modern progressive approach that has elements of the heavier side of the spectrum in its makeup. Continue reading
Gross Misconduct are a Canadian death metal band and this is their third album.
This is progressive death metal with a thrash influence. The band describe this album in the following way – “Imagine Cynic with a dollop of Death, a smattering of The Crown/Mastodon/Gojira and healthy doses of 1980s Metallica and Slayer.” I’ve simply regurgitated this here as it’s a better descriptor of how Equinox sounds than anything I could come up with. Continue reading
Skullcave are a progressive doom band from Australia and this is their debut album.
I was drawn to this album by the enigmatic album cover, and then reeled in by the description of the music – “an ambitious, qualitative blend of thick doom, dreamy instrumentals and layered vocals.” Continue reading
