Keitzer are a German death metal/grindcore band and this is their seventh album.
Keitzer’s 2014 album The Last Defence was a particular favourite of mine, with its energetic and well-delivered deathgrind really hitting the spot. The follow up – 2016’s Ascension – was more of a death metal affair, and although I do prefer The Last Defence, it was still a solid and enjoyable record. Continue reading “Keitzer – Where the Light Ends (Review)”
Ashbringer are an atmospheric black metal band from the US and this is their third album.
Ashbringer’s black metal combines aggressive blackness with melodic sensibilities and folk-influenced post-rock reflection. Elements of bands such as Fen, Agalloch, Falls of Rauros, Amiensus, and Alcest can be heard, but moulded and channelled through Ashbringer’s own collective experiences and personality. Continue reading “Ashbringer – Absolution (Review)”
This is the debut release from Unknown Artist, a French extreme metal band.
What on earth is this unholy abomination? A single 28-minute track of utter nastiness and horror, that’s what. Complex and impenetrable, this is disjointed, inaccessible blackened death metal, and is not for the weak of heart. Continue reading “Unknown Artist – A Pig’s Head on a Stick (Review)”
Chernaa are an international, (Czech Republic/Ukraine/Russia), post-black metal band and this is their debut album.
The promo blurb for this album stated that it was for fans of Deafheaven, Oathbreaker, Wolves in the Throne Room, Wiegedood, and Harakiri for the Sky, so I knew that I had to at least give it a listen. Then, having skimmed through a couple of their videos, I knew I Continue reading “Chernaa – Empyrean Fire (Review)”
This is the debut album from US black metal band Murk Rider.
Three enormous songs, with a combined duration of 82 minutes? Okay, I’ll bite.
An album of depth, both musically and thematically, Exile of Shadows is black metal in only one of its aspects, albeit a primary one. The band also occasionally incorporate apocalyptic sludge and stoner doom into their melting pot, as well as strands of classic heavy and speed metal. This curious, (yet effective), mixture means that Continue reading “Murk Rider – Exile of Shadows (Review)”
Itheist are a UK black/death metal band and this is their debut album.
Previously named Aetherium Mors, this is the band’s first release under its new moniker. This is modern, dissonant black metal that’s been hybridised with death metal and energised with melodic darkness. Continue reading “Itheist – Itheist (Review)”
Memoriam are a UK death metal band and this is their third album.
Hot on the heels of 2018’s The Silent Vigil, we now get 48 minutes of new material in the form of Requiem for Mankind. Continue reading “Memoriam – Requiem for Mankind (Review)”
The Odious are a progressive metal band from the US and this is their second album.
The Odious’ progressive metal is a mix of modern technical/progressive/death metal and progressive rock. The end result can be loosely characterised as a mix of The Faceless, Opeth, Between the Buried and Me, Sikth, Meshuggah, Ulcerate, and Devin Townsend. Continue reading “The Odious – Vesica Piscis (Review)”
This is the fourth album from US doom band Flesh of the Stars.
On both Hide and Anhilla Flesh of the Stars impressed me with their emotive brand of doom metal, and their progression over time. Now the band are back with this latest album that features 48 minutes of new material. Continue reading “Flesh of the Stars – Mercy (Review)”
Organectomy are a New Zealand death metal band and this is their second album.
2017’s Domain of the Wretched arrived with a bang, a whirlwind of spine-ripping aggression, and a surprisingly well-rounded offer. Continue reading “Organectomy – Existential Disconnect (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 