This is the second album from Decaying Days, a German death/doom metal band.
Adopting an approach that combines melodic death metal with melodic doom, the emphasis here is on melody and emotive delivery. Imagine a mix of Dark Tranquillity, Insomnium, and Opeth, and you’ll be on the right lines. Continue reading “Decaying Days – The Unknown Beyond (Review)”
Souskinner are a Greek death metal band and this is their fifth album.
Soulskinner are back! A band I really enjoy, (check out Crypts of Ancient Wisdom, Descent to Abaddon, and their split with Obsecration, Abyssus, and Malicious Silence), they have now returned with a new platter boasting 47 minutes of death metal and a brand new singer. Continue reading “Soulskinner – Seven Bowls of Wrath (Review)”
This is the second album from Countless Skies, a melodic/progressive metal band from the UK.
Glow contains 46 minutes of Scandinavian-influenced melodic death metal that has been merged with a progressive metal approach, which has resulted in a high-quality album being produced. Think of a charismatic mixture of Devin Townsend, Wilderun, Insomnium, Amorphis, Opeth, etc. Continue reading “Countless Skies – Glow (Review)”
This is the debut album from Forlorn World, a death metal solo act from the UK.
Umbra contains 30 minutes of melodic death metal, brought to us by the vocalist/guitarist of Bloodshot Dawn, (with some guests as well). Continue reading “Forlorn World – Umbra (Review)”
This is the debut album from US black/death metal band Foretoken.
So, you fancy a good-sized chunk of Scandinavian death metal? That’s no problem, take your pick. What’s that? You also want a decent black metal influence to be felt? That’s easily done. Now you want a take on the style that’s highly melodic too? Sure, Continue reading “Foretoken – Ruin (Review)”
Cult of Lilith are a death metal band from Iceland and this is their debut album.
After a decent wait, we finally have the follow up to the early promise of 2016’s Arkanum. Between the two releases the band have picked up a new singer and filled out to an entire band, so that only one member remains from that first EP. Mara is largely the sound of a new entity. Continue reading “Cult of Lilith – Mara (Review)”
Cytotoxin are a German death metal band and this is their fourth album.
This is my first encounter with nuclear disaster-themed death metallers Cytotoxin, and it’s an extremely satisfying one. Across 44 minutes of material, the band demonstrate that they’re very capable purveyors of technical brutality. Imagine a mix of Aborted, Archspire, Omophagia, and The Faceless and you’ll be on the right lines. Continue reading “Cytotoxin – Nuklearth (Review)”
Dark Divinity are a melodic death metal band from New Zealand, and this is their debut EP.
The promo blurn tells us that “Following in the footsteps of genre originators At the Gates, The Haunted & Dissection, the band also take cues from death/black metal acts such as Immortal, Morbid Angel & Death.” Bold words, but backed up by 18 minutes of music that cuts like a serrated knife, you’ll find no complaint from me. Continue reading “Dark Divinity – Messianic (Review)”
This is the fourth album from French death metallers Exocrine.
Here we have a 42-minute blast of technical death metal. Modern in style and feel, with various progressive and melodic elements, Maelstrom makes a good impression. A very, very good impression. Repeated spins only cements this. I enjoyed 2018’s Molten Giant, but this is superior. Continue reading “Exocrine – Maelstrom (Review)”
Ulthar are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.
Brought to us by current and ex-members of bands such as Vale, Void Omnia, Tombs, and Vastum, (and others), there’s a wealth of experience in this band. They also have a well-regarded debut album, which I somehow overlooked. On Continue reading “Ulthar – Providence (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 