Melodic Death Metal – Page 3

The Halo Effect – March of the Unheard (Review)

This is the second album from Swedish melodic death metal band The Halo Effect.

2022’s Days of the Lost was an album I really enjoyed, so it’s great to have a new album once more from The Halo Effect. In case you’re unaware, The Halo Effect are a band that features ex-members of In Flames, (and many other bands), along with the singer of Dark Tranquillity, (also from Grand Cadaver and Cemetery Skyline, and who was also in In Flames very early on). Yep, there’s a lot of talent involved in the March of the Unheard. Continue reading “The Halo Effect – March of the Unheard (Review)”

Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2024

Yes, it’s list season once more, so gather round and witness some of the best metal that 2024 had to offer!

2024 was a fantastic year for metal, and that’s an understatement. I thought 2023 was one of the weaker years for metal releases, overall. As such, putting last year’s list together, although challenging as it always is, was relatively effortless compared to this one. I don’t think I’ve agonised over placings more any other year. In the end, similar to last year, I just decided that enough was enough and I needed to just stop needlessly obsessing. Continue reading “Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2024”

Damnation Festival 2024 – BEC Arena, Manchester – 02/11/24 (Live Review)

Another year, another Damnation Festival. As always, the organisers are to be commended for putting on one of the UK’s premier metal festivals. I’ve been coming here most years for almost two decades now, and I’ve never yet had a bad day.

There are three stages. Two smaller stages that clash with each other, and a main stage that clashes with nothing. Continue reading “Damnation Festival 2024 – BEC Arena, Manchester – 02/11/24 (Live Review)”

The Spirit – Songs Against Humanity (Review)

The Spirit are a German black/death metal band and this is their fourth album.

Songs Against Humanity contains 42 minutes of material that combines the melodic strains of both black and death metal. It’s essentially Scandinavian melodic black metal with elements of death metal that provide a technical edge in places. Continue reading “The Spirit – Songs Against Humanity (Review)”

Iotunn – Kinship (Review)

Iotunn are a progressive metal band from Denmark, and this is their second album.

Now here’s one that’s been greatly anticipated. It’s an absolute travesty that Iotunn’s 2021 debut Access All Worlds didn’t end up on that year’s end of year list. How it didn’t I’ll never know, as it would easily have been in the top 5 or 10. Entirely my mistake, as it’s a fantastic record. All of which is to say that Kinship has a lot of expectation riding on it. Continue reading “Iotunn – Kinship (Review)”

Carnosus – Wormtales (Review)

This is the third album from Swedish death metal band Carnosus.

2023’s very enjoyable Visions of Infinihility made a splash in the death metal pond, and now Wormtales is here to capitalise. Let’s see what Carnosus have for us this time around. Continue reading “Carnosus – Wormtales (Review)”

Undeath – More Insane (Review)

Undeath are a death metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Undeath have built a strong reputation very quickly. 2020’s Lesions of a Different Kind put them on the map, and then It’s Time…to Rise from the Grave saw them conquer and dominate a large portion of it. With that in mind, what do the 34 minutes of More Insane bring us? Continue reading “Undeath – More Insane (Review)”

The Black Dahlia Murder – Servitude (Review)

The Black Dahlia Murder are a death metal band from the US and this is their tenth album.

After suffering the tragic loss of their iconic singer, The Black Dahlia Murder have returned with their co-founder taking on vocal duties instead of the guitar. So, following on from 2020’s Verminous, we now have the 33-minute Servitude to embrace. Continue reading “The Black Dahlia Murder – Servitude (Review)”

Amiensus – Reclamation Pt. II (Review)

This is the fifth album from US black metallers Amiensus.

We’re being treated. This is the second Amiensus album of the year; the second part of Reclamation: Part 1 that we saw back in April. The first instalment was a progressive black metal feast that focused on atmospheric depth. What do the 38 minutes of Reclamation Pt. II have to offer us then? Continue reading “Amiensus – Reclamation Pt. II (Review)”

Glacial Tomb – Lightless Expanse (Review)

This is the second album from US death metal band Glacial Tomb.

Glacial Tomb boast not one, but two members of the mighty Khemmis, so I’m somewhat shocked that I’m so late to their sludgy blackened death metal party. Yep, that’s right – Lightless Expanse gifts us with a 36-minute platter of horrific death metal, ripe with sludge and black metal flavourings. It’s only right that we eat deep of this malignant bounty that’s set before us. Continue reading “Glacial Tomb – Lightless Expanse (Review)”