Contrarian – Sage of Shekhinah (Review)

Contrarian - Sage of ShekhinahThis is the fifth album from US progressive death metallers Contrarian.

New Contrarian! Cast your mind and ears back over Polemic, To Perceive Is to Suffer, Their Worm Never Dies, and Only Time Will Tell, and you’ll find a band that has never released a bad album. I have a long-running soft spot for this band, but one that’s well-deserved. Contrarian are the sound of pure satisfying enjoyment in progressive death metal form. Continue reading “Contrarian – Sage of Shekhinah (Review)”

Redemption – I Am the Storm (Review)

Redemption - I Am the StormThis is the eighth album from Redemption, a progressive metal band from the US.

Following up 2016’s The Art of Loss and 2018’s Long Night’s Journey into Day, Redemption now return with 55 minutes of new material, (71 minutes including a remix and covers of Genesis and Peter Gabriel songs), on I Am the Storm. Continue reading “Redemption – I Am the Storm (Review)”

Håndgemeng – Ultraritual (Review)

Håndgemeng - UltraritualThis is the debut album from Norwegian stoner/sludge metal band Håndgemeng.

Ultraritual provides us with 42 minutes of stoner/sludge metal that has a hardcore edge. Taking a high energy approach to riff-focused heavy music, yet varied within this, Ultraritual is a melting pot of influences that come together well. Continue reading “Håndgemeng – Ultraritual (Review)”

Minenwerfer – Feuerwalze (Review)

Minenwerfer - FeuerwalzeMinenwerfer are a black metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.

Brought to us by an ex-member of Lycus and Plague Widow, Feuerwalze contains 49 minutes of black metal that’s harsh, unforgiving, and utterly merciless. Continue reading “Minenwerfer – Feuerwalze (Review)”

Unfelled – Pall of Endless Perdition (Review)

Unfelled - Pall of Endless PerditionThis is the debut album from Unfelled, an international black metal band.

Pall of Endless Perdition contains 36 minutes of black metal and is brought to us by current and ex-members of Woods of Desolation, Drudkh, Windswept, Ill Omen, and Temple Nightside. Continue reading “Unfelled – Pall of Endless Perdition (Review)”

Rezn – Solace (Review)

Rezn - SolaceThis is the fourth album from US psychedelic doom/stoner band Rezn.

Rezn’s sound combines the base elements of stoner, doom, and heavy psych into music that is far more adventurous and idiosyncratic than that of many ostensibly similar acts. For a start, there’s a shimmering shoegaze influence apparent on Solace that’s unexpected, but that manages to work its way into much of the material here. Continue reading “Rezn – Solace (Review)”

Straight Hate – Slaves of Falseness (Review)

Straight Hate - Slaves of FalsenessThis is the third album from Polish grindcore band Straight Hate.

On 2016’s Every Scum Is a Straight Arrow and 2019’s Black Sheep Parade, Straight Hate amiably demonstrated their competence in the gritty arts of grindcore. Now they’ve returned with 26 minutes of new material on Slaves of Falseness, and they’re ready to grind. Continue reading “Straight Hate – Slaves of Falseness (Review)”