Oceans of Slumber – Oceans of Slumber (Review)

Oceans of Slumber - Oceans of SlumberThis is the fourth album from US progressive metallers Oceans of Slumber.

Oceans of Slumber is the much-anticipated follow up to 2018’s well-received The Banished Heart.

Oceans of Slumber’s progressive metal takes in elements of doom and Gothic metal to produce music that hits a lot of emotional highs, while still having kick where it counts. The band combine heaviness with ethereal beauty. Some of Continue reading “Oceans of Slumber – Oceans of Slumber (Review)”

Monthly Overview – the Best of August 2020

August came and went, and left us with some top tunes to enjoy. Here are a selection of those that I’ve particularly liked… Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of August 2020”

Cult of Lilith – Mara (Review)

Cult of Lilith - MaraCult of Lilith are a death metal band from Iceland and this is their debut album.

After a decent wait, we finally have the follow up to the early promise of 2016’s Arkanum. Between the two releases the band have picked up a new singer and filled out to an entire band, so that only one member remains from that first EP. Mara is largely the sound of a new entity. Continue reading “Cult of Lilith – Mara (Review)”

Vacant Eyes – A Somber Preclusion of Being (Review)

Vacant Eyes - A Somber Preclusion of BeingThis is the debut album from US doom band Vacant Eyes.

Combining funeral doom, death/doom, melodic doom, and progressive doom, A Somber Preclusion of Being contains 75 minutes of sorrowful soundscapes. Continue reading “Vacant Eyes – A Somber Preclusion of Being (Review)”

Necrot – Mortal (Review)

Necrot - MortalThis is the second album from US death metallers Necrot.

Necrot play highly engaging classic death metal, and Mortal presents us with 38 minutes of the stuff. There are a range of different influences at play on Mortal, and it doesn’t adhere to the style of any one particular geographic area or era, much to its credit. Instead Continue reading “Necrot – Mortal (Review)”

Hymn – Breach Us (Review)

Hymn - Breach UsThis 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)”

Elegis – Kultus (Review)

Elegis - KultusElegis are a Polish death metal band and this is their second album.

This is the follow up to 2017’s Superhuman Syndrome, and whereas that album was a solo affair, this new one finds Elegis expanded to a three-piece. Continue reading “Elegis – Kultus (Review)”

Cytotoxin – Nuklearth (Review)

Cytotoxin - NuklearthCytotoxin are a German death metal band and this is their fourth album.

This is my first encounter with nuclear disaster-themed death metallers Cytotoxin, and it’s an extremely satisfying one. Across 44 minutes of material, the band demonstrate that they’re very capable purveyors of technical brutality. Imagine a mix of Aborted, Archspire, Omophagia, and The Faceless and you’ll be on the right lines. Continue reading “Cytotoxin – Nuklearth (Review)”