Tombs – Monarchy of Shadows (Review)

Tombs - Monarchy of ShadowsTombs are a post-black metal band from the US, and this is their latest EP.

Tombs have a strong track record, (Savage Gold, All Empires Fall, The Grand Annihilation), so ensuring I listened to this release was an easy choice. Having undergone a twisted rebirth of sorts, (three out of the four members are new), the latest Tombs EP marks a more-collaborative version of the band, and the results are impressive. Continue reading “Tombs – Monarchy of Shadows (Review)”

Sightless Pit – Grave of a Dog (Review)

Sightless Pit - Grave of a DogSightless Pit are an experimental band from the US and this is their debut album.

This project brings together the considerable talents of members of Full of Hell, LINGUA IGNOTA, and The BodyGrave of a Dog sounds like a hideous amalgamation of these three parent groups, while also being its own monstrous creation too. Continue reading “Sightless Pit – Grave of a Dog (Review)”

Mourir – Animal Bouffe Animal (Review)

Mourir - Animal Bouffe AnimalThis is the debut album from Mourir, a black metal band from France.

The music on Animal Bouffe Animal takes influence from the Scandinavian second wave, but then updates this with modern touches and uncomfortable dissonance, scathing sludge, and harrowing doom. The end result is 34 minutes of atmospheric rawness that combines old and new to produce something hideously enjoyable. Continue reading “Mourir – Animal Bouffe Animal (Review)”

Polaris – The Death of Me (Review)

Polaris - The Death of MePolaris are an Australian metalcore band and this is their second album.

The music on The Death of Me involves heavy aggression with melodic texture, and although it frequently combines the two, it also equally-frequently separates them. This results in an album that’s far more diverse than your average metalcore record, yet will probably mean that some people get Continue reading “Polaris – The Death of Me (Review)”

Schizogen – Spawn of Almighty Essence (Review)

Schizogen - Spawn of Almighty EssenceSchizogen are a death metal band from Ukraine, and this is their second album.

Schizogen specialise in precisely executed brutal death metal. Spawn of Almighty Essence contains 39 minutes of ultra-brutality, replete with thick blast beats, fierce guitars, and murderous growls. Continue reading “Schizogen – Spawn of Almighty Essence (Review)”

Throne of Iron – Adventure One (Review)

Throne of Iron - Adventure OneThis is the debut album from US heavy metal band Throne of Iron.

“Highly recommended for fans of Dungeons & Dragons, Eternal Champion, Visigoth and Manilla Road!”, states the promo blurb, and it’s hard to disagree. Adventure One provides 42 minutes of classic metal escapism and fun, and I like what Throne of Iron are peddling. Continue reading “Throne of Iron – Adventure One (Review)”

Kreator – London Apocalypticon – Live at the Roundhouse (Review)

Kreator - London Apocalypticon - Live at the RoundhouseKreator are a legendary German thrash band who need little introduction.

Touring for the hugely enjoyable Gods of Violence album, this live album catches the band at a UK show in London, and records 73 minutes of thrashtastic tunes for prosperity. Bonus editions of this album Continue reading “Kreator – London Apocalypticon – Live at the Roundhouse (Review)”

Suicide Silence – Become the Hunter (Review)

Suicide Silence - Become the HunterSuicide Silence are an extreme metal band from the US and this is their sixth album.

2017’s self-titled album was an enjoyable throwback to the nu-metal era, replete with all of the requisite parts you would expect from such a release. On Become the Hunter Suicide Silence leave behind the experimental nature of their fifth album and instead focus on the more familiar extreme metal ground that they are known for. Continue reading “Suicide Silence – Become the Hunter (Review)”

Blissful Stream – When the Wolves Start to Circle (Review)

Blissful Stream - When the Wolves Start to CircleThis is the debut album from one-man Swedish doom metal band Blissful Stream.

It seems like an age since Blissful Stream first appeared in 2016 with Ascending Demons, which impressed with its lo-fi rocky take on doom metal. The next two years saw a release every year, (Devil’s Night to All Souls – Split with Lightsabres, and Dead Religious), and then a quiet 2019. This was apparently due to the artist building up to his fist full length, which we are now lucky enough to have in 2020. Continue reading “Blissful Stream – When the Wolves Start to Circle (Review)”