Maloic – Death (Review)

MaloicMaloic are an Indian death metal band and this is their debut album.

This is melodic death metal with folk elements. Featuring influences from traditional Indian music, Maloic are reminiscent of the early/mid 90s death metal era, where bands were experimenting with the core genre to include wider styles.  Continue reading “Maloic – Death (Review)”

Ophidian Spell – Nux/Hêmera (Review)

Ophidian SpellOphidian Spell are a symphonic/melodic death metal band from France and this is their debut album.

Combining aspects of melodic, progressive and symphonic death metal into their delivery, Ophidian Spell offer up the listener a modern blend of these various influences. I can hear aspects of The Faceless, Devin Townsend, In Flames, Emperor/Ihsahn, Ne Obliviscaris, Delain and Septic Flesh in the mix, along with some others. Continue reading “Ophidian Spell – Nux/Hêmera (Review)”

Serpentine Dominion – Serpentine Dominion (Review)

Serpentine DominionSerpentine Dominion are a US death metal band. This is their debut album.

Featuring current and ex-members of Cannibal Corpse, Killswitch Engage and The Black Dahlia Murder, this was only ever going to be good at the very least.

Well, it’s even better than that. Continue reading “Serpentine Dominion – Serpentine Dominion (Review)”

Lost Opera – Hidden Sides (Review)

Lost OperaThis is the second album by French symphonic metal band Lost Opera.

Lost Opera are a symphonic metal band specialising in a modern take on the genre, heavily accentuated with orchestral keyboards and with a side-order of extremity. This manifests via heavier-than-average guitars, (for this kind of thing), and the Continue reading “Lost Opera – Hidden Sides (Review)”

Cerberus Unchained – Di Inferi (Review)

Cerberus UnchainedCerberus Unchained are a melodic death metal band from the UK. This is their debut EP.

After their early promise, it’s time to see if Cerberus Unchained have lived up to their potential on this new, 26 minute EP.

(Spoiler: They have).

The EP boasts a strong, beefy recording that sees the band immediately stake claim to the airwaves with Continue reading “Cerberus Unchained – Di Inferi (Review)”

Dark Tranquillity – Atoma (Review)

Dark TranquillityThis is the eleventh album by Dark Tranquillity, a melodic death metal band from Sweden.

Now this is the stuff. Dark Tranquillity know what they’re doing. I’ve been a fan of this band for a long, long time, but somehow haven’t kept up with their last couple of outings, so it feels great to reconnect with them on this release. Continue reading “Dark Tranquillity – Atoma (Review)”

Faustian Dripfeed – Between This and Death (Review)

Faustian DripfeedThis is the debut EP from Nowegian melodic death metal band Faustian Dripfeed.

You never quite know what you’re going to get when something is described as melodic death metal, as frequently it ends up being something that has little or no actual death metal content. Well, this is certainly not the case with Faustian Dripfeed. Continue reading “Faustian Dripfeed – Between This and Death (Review)”

Dorylus – The Rapture (Review)

DorylusDorylus are a metal band from the UK. This is their debut EP.

Dorylus play groove metal influenced by all of the usual suspects of the style, (Lamb of God, Pantera, etc.).

For a first release this is a well-realised 21 minutes of aural Continue reading “Dorylus – The Rapture (Review)”

L’Incendio – L’Incendio (Review)

L'IncendioL’Incendio are an extreme metal band from Italy. This is their debut album.

L’Incendio have a death metal core that they build on with elements of other sub-genre styles, fleshing out their well-rounded assault in a wider-ranging way than many of their peers.

Combining atmosphere and accessibility into their Continue reading “L’Incendio – L’Incendio (Review)”