Metal – Page 422 – Wonderbox Metal

Råttkung – Unborn Undead (Review)

This is the latest EP from one-man black metal band Råttkung, who hails from Denmark.

Råttkung’s debut EP Dark Is the Beginning was 17 minutes of raw, underground black metal that reached back to the early days of the second wave for inspiration.

In some ways this influence is continued on this latest short release, but we also see another side to Råttkung too. Here we get a mere three songs in 10 minutes, but what this EP lacks in length it makes up for in blackened malice and ambition. Continue reading “Råttkung – Unborn Undead (Review)”

Interview with Omnizide

Omnizide’s latest release Nekroregime is a blackened assault on the senses. The band play blisteringly fast and mid-paced blackened groove equally as well as each other, and the entire album is a dark and sinister treat. Continue reading “Interview with Omnizide”

Lifeblind – Insanity Infesting Reality (Review)

Lifeblind are a Swedish death metal band and this is their debut EP.

Ahhhh Swedish death metal. Always reliable, always enjoyable. Sure, it has its detractors, but when you get right down to it, what’s not to like?

Influenced by the usual suspects, (Entombed, Dismember, etc.), Continue reading “Lifeblind – Insanity Infesting Reality (Review)”

Suppressive Fire – Nature of War (Review)

Suppressive Fire are a death/thrash metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Shockingly hot on the heels of this year’s debut album Bedlam, it’s clear that Suppressive Fire are a hungry, ambitious lot, and rather than rest on their laurels, (Bedlam was quite the corker), they’ve seemingly just rushed back into the studio to produce their second album already. Continue reading “Suppressive Fire – Nature of War (Review)”

The Drip – The Haunting Fear of Inevitability (Review)

This is the debut album from US grindcore band The Drip.

The band’s 2014 EP A Presentation of Gruesome Poetics was a brief glimpse into the world of The Drip and what they were capable of. I said in the review that the EP bodes well for a future album release and that they were ones to watch. Well, after a longer wait than Continue reading “The Drip – The Haunting Fear of Inevitability (Review)”

Grafvitnir – Obeisance to a Witch Moon (Review)

This is the fourth album by Swedish black metal band Grafvitnir.

Influenced by the second wave of black metal, Grafvitnir take the traditional template and for 39 minutes bend this to their will, providing the listener with sophisticated brutality and thoughtful harshness. Continue reading “Grafvitnir – Obeisance to a Witch Moon (Review)”

Cryptic Realms – Enraptured by Horror (Review)

This is the debut album by Cryptic Realms, a death metal band with members from various countries.

Featuring the singer of Abyssus, (one of my favourites), I was keen to see what Cryptic Realms had to offer.

Here we have classic, old-school death metal, played with a purity of intent and grim authenticity. Taking cues from Continue reading “Cryptic Realms – Enraptured by Horror (Review)”

Prisoner 639/Throw Me in the Crater – Split (Review)

Prisoner 639 are from Belgium and play grinding powerviolence. They have teamed up for this split with Dutch sludge band Throw Me in the Crater.

Prisoner 639 get things going in a slow-burning fashion, opening up with lots of noise, distortion and feedback. Before long some drums and bass enter the fray, producing grim sludgy sounds. After a couple of minutes of this the Continue reading “Prisoner 639/Throw Me in the Crater – Split (Review)”

Balfor – Black Serpent Rising (Review)

This is the third album from Ukrainian black metal band Balfor.

This is upbeat black metal that uses blackened melodies and aspects of death metal as weapons in the war against their enemies. If you’re looking for music that’s direct and aggressive, yet still has depth and longevity, you’ve come to the right place. Continue reading “Balfor – Black Serpent Rising (Review)”

Herem – III (Review)

Herem are a sludge metal band from Finland. This is their third album.

Ahh, heavy, sludgy doom. Always a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Deep deathgrowls are backed up by serrated screams; both are very ably performed and both get the job done nicely. The singer’s voice Continue reading “Herem – III (Review)”