Tantal – Ruin (Review)

TantalTantal are a Russian metal band and this is their third album.

Mixing elements of modern, progressive, melodic, and Gothic metal into 49 minutes of music, Ruin is the follow up to 2014’s Expectancy, which was a good starter for getting to know Tantal’s sound. Ruin sees the band Continue reading “Tantal – Ruin (Review)”

Æpoch – Awakening Inception (Review)

ÆpochÆpoch are a Canadian death metal band and this is their debut album.

Æpoch play progressive death metal, with additional elements of both black and thrash metal appearing in their sound here and there. Continue reading “Æpoch – Awakening Inception (Review)”

De Profundis – The Blinding Light of Faith (Review)

De ProfundisDe Profundis are a death metal band from the UK and this is their fifth album.

If you haven’t encountered De Profundis before then you’re in for a treat. This is 43 minutes of timeless death metal, combining old-school classic appeal with forward-thinking progressive enhancements and striking melodies. Continue reading “De Profundis – The Blinding Light of Faith (Review)”

The Iron Gates – The Story Thus Far (Review)

The Iron GatesThis is the debut EP from US metalcore band The Iron Gates.

Here we have 20 minutes of thrash-influenced metalcore that strikes a balance between Darkest Hour‘s razor-sharp thrash, Killswitch Engage’s groove, and something a little more along the melodic death metal lines, (Amon Amarth?); there’s a pleasing aggression to parts of these songs. Continue reading “The Iron Gates – The Story Thus Far (Review)”

NVC – The Deleted Scenes (Review)

NVCNVC are a Canadian progressive metal band and this is their debut album.

This is modern and emotive progressive metal that marries some latter-day Anathema influences with a melodic death metal side; think Ensiferum and Wintersun for a starting point. The resulting Continue reading “NVC – The Deleted Scenes (Review)”

Alterbeast – Feast (Review)

AlterbeastAlterbeast are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.

It seems like an age since Alterbeast released their stunning debut album Immortal, which was a masterclass in how to create enjoyable modern, technical death metal. Well now the band are back, with a new lineup too, it seems. Continue reading “Alterbeast – Feast (Review)”

In Vain – Currents (Review)

In VainThis is the fourth album from Norwegian progressive/melodic death metal band In Vain.

In Vain offer us 42 minutes of progressive death metal with a melodic death/black metal edge. It’s a well-received offering, and Currents is a satisfying and well-written album. Continue reading “In Vain – Currents (Review)”

Faustian Dripfeed – Faustian Escapades (Review)

Faustian DripfeedThis is the latest EP from Faustian Dripfeed, a Norwegian melodic death metal band.

Having enjoyed the band’s debut EP Between This and Death, it’s great to catch up with Faustian Dripfeed once more for this new EP. Continue reading “Faustian Dripfeed – Faustian Escapades (Review)”

Infected Dead – Archaic Malevolence (Review)

Infected DeadInfected Dead are a death metal band from the UK and this is their debut EP.

On the long side for an EP, this is almost 28 minutes of ferocious, modern death metal.

After the usual rather pointless intro, we’re straight into the action, with the band revealing themselves to be a modern blending of brutal and melodic death metal. Continue reading “Infected Dead – Archaic Malevolence (Review)”

Void of Sympathy – Lost in Thoughts (Review)

Void of SympathyVoid of Sympathy are a melodic death/groove metal band from Poland. This is their debut EP.

Here we have 20 minutes of enjoyable upbeat aggression, with a fiery heart and some decent riffs. Continue reading “Void of Sympathy – Lost in Thoughts (Review)”