Melvins – Wonderbox Metal

Cave In – Heavy Pendulum (Review)

Cave In are a US post-hardcore/rock band and this is their seventh album.

Following on from 2019’s Final Transmission, Heavy Pendulum is somewhat of a different beast to their last album. Whereas Final Transmission was short, (31 minutes), fragile, and emotive, reflective of the effects of tragedy and loss, Heavy Pendulum is long, (71 minutes), has greater range, (though still emotive), and more reflective of the band’s varied discography as a whole. Continue reading “Cave In – Heavy Pendulum (Review)”

Helms Alee – Keep This Be the Way (Review)

This is the sixth album by US alternative rock band Helms Alee.

It turns out that a member of Helms Alee was in Harkonen. I loved 2002’s Shake Harder Boy, so it’s great to hear his work once more, albeit in an indirect altered fashion. Continue reading “Helms Alee – Keep This Be the Way (Review)”

CHRMR – Low in the Glow (Review)

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

CHRMR contain members of Contrarian and Sulaco, but are a different proposition to both of those more extreme bands. Low in the Glow offers a much more accessible proposition, focusing on short songs with catchy melodies and good choruses. Continue reading “CHRMR – Low in the Glow (Review)”

Hymn – Breach Us (Review)

This is the second album from Hymn, a Norwegian doom/sludge metal band.

Hymn play a mix of doom and sludge, and Breach Us contains 38 minutes of music divided into 4 tracks. The band is made up of only two members, but you wouldn’t necessarily realise this immediately as Breach Us sounds massive. Continue reading “Hymn – Breach Us (Review)”

-(16)- – Dream Squasher (Review)

-(16)- are a sludge metal band from the US and this is their eighth album.

Apart from 2017’s split with Fistula, I’m unfamiliar with -(16)- and their work, although I’ve been aware of their existence for decades. Due to their pedigree, and the fact that the press blurb recommends them for Continue reading “-(16)- – Dream Squasher (Review)”

Wizard Rifle – Wizard Rifle (Review)

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 “Wizard Rifle – Wizard Rifle (Review)”

KEN Mode – Loved (Review)

KEN Mode are a noise rock/hardcore band from Canada and this is their seventh album.

Loved is 35 minutes of violent mood and vicious emotion. Primarily mixing together metal, hardcore, and noise rock, the album also contains elements of extremity that come from black and death metal backgrounds, as well as moments of industrial and experimental forays. Saxophone is used relatively frequently. Continue reading “KEN Mode – Loved (Review)”

Mantar – The Modern Art of Setting Ablaze (Review)

This is the third album from Mantar, a German black metal band.

I’m a latecomer to Mantar’s work, but I can tell you that if you’re looking for filthy, ugly blackened metallic punk that’s still catchy as fuck, then they stand head and shoulders above most of their peers. Continue reading “Mantar – The Modern Art of Setting Ablaze (Review)”

Brond – Graveyard Campfire (Review)

Brond are a Bulgarian rock band and this is their debut album.

Brond’s music mixes riff-focused modern rock and post-hardcore/rock, with progressive, stoner, and noise/math rock tendencies. Wow. Now there’s a description. Delivering eight tracks across almost 44 minutes of music, Graveyard Campfire is a well-realised and enjoyable release, despite my mangling together of various subgenres in an attempt to loosely categorise it. Continue reading “Brond – Graveyard Campfire (Review)”

Low Flying Hawks – Genkaku (Review)

This is the second album from US doom/sludge band Low Flying Hawks.

This is doom/sludge with drone and shoegaze elements, featuring members of Melvins and Mr. Bungle. Continue reading “Low Flying Hawks – Genkaku (Review)”