Damnation Festival 2023 – BEC Arena, Manchester, 04/11/23 (Live Review)

Damnation Festiva 2023 - PosterIt’s Damnation o-clock once more! This is always such a good festival to attend. The line up is an interesting and varied one, with some bands I’m less interested in, some that are an essential experience, and some frustrating clashes. I missed some great bands today, unfortunately, but that’s always going to be the case with such a jam-packed festival. Continue reading “Damnation Festival 2023 – BEC Arena, Manchester, 04/11/23 (Live Review)”

Dying Wish – Symptoms of Survival (Review)

Dying Wish - Symptoms of SurvivalThis is the second album from US metalcore band Dying Wish.

2021’s Fragments of a Bitter Memory was a solid slab of 00s-style metalcore, so Symptoms of Survival is one that I know I wanted to check out. Boasting a lean, mean 32 minutes of new material, in what form do we find Dying Wish’s 2023 offering? Continue reading “Dying Wish – Symptoms of Survival (Review)”

Capra – Errors (Review)

Capra - ErrorsThis is the second album from US metallic hardcore band Capra.

I enjoyed 2021’s In Transmission, and now it’s time to check out what Errors has to offer. Is its title a warning against its content? Continue reading “Capra – Errors (Review)”

Heart of a Coward – This Place Only Brings Death (Review)

Heart of a Coward - This Place Only Brings DeathThis is the fifth album from UK metalcore band Heart of a Coward.

Following on from 2019’s The Disconnect, Heart of a Coward have now returned with another slab of modern heavy music. Running to a lean 36 minutes, This Place Only Brings Death finds the band stripping back their sound somewhat, and refining their focus. Continue reading “Heart of a Coward – This Place Only Brings Death (Review)”

Orbit Culture – Descent (Review)

Orbit Culture - DescentThis is the fourth album from Swedish metallers Orbit Culture.

Both 2020’s Nija and 2021’s Shaman made very good impressions, and now Orbit Culture are back with another 49 minutes of new material in the form of Descent. Continue reading “Orbit Culture – Descent (Review)”

Lokust – Infidel (Review)

Lokust - InfidelThis is the debut album from UK metal band Lokust.

Infidel is a 52-minute metal album that uses modern, groove, and thrash metal to produce a crushing assault that’s shockingly accomplished for a debut album. Despite the genre tags I’ve just thrown around though, Infidel might not be what you’re expecting. Continue reading “Lokust – Infidel (Review)”

Signs of the Swarm – Amongst the Low & Empty (Review)

Signs of the Swarm - Amongst the Low & EmptyThis is the fifth album from US deathcore/death metal band Signs of the Swarm.

It’s always good to have some new Signs of the Swarm, as the band haven’t disappointed me yet. 2017’s The Disfigurement of Existence, 2019’s Vital Deprivation, and 2021’s Absolvere were all crushing slabs of heaviness, and the 42 minutes of new material on Amongst the Low & Empty is no exception. Having said that, it’s not completely business as usual either, and Signs of the Swarm have produced their best work so far. Continue reading “Signs of the Swarm – Amongst the Low & Empty (Review)”

End Reign – The Way of All Flesh Is Decay (Review)

End Reign - The Way of All Flesh Is DecayThis is the debut album from US metallic hardcore band End Reign.

The Way of All Flesh Is Decay is a 37-minute fist to the face that features current/ex-members of All out War, Exhumed, Integrity, Lock Up, Misery Index, Noisem, Pig Destroyer, and Scour unleashing sonic fury on the listener. Continue reading “End Reign – The Way of All Flesh Is Decay (Review)”

Caustic Echoes – The Passing of Moonlight (Review)

Caustic Echoes - The Passing of MoonlightThis is the debut album from US metal band Caustic Echoes.

The Passing of Moonlight contains 50 minutes of well-written melodic metal. The style is one that combines elements of old and new, from 90s nu-metal and heavy metal, and 00s European metal and metalcore, to more contemporary influences. Continue reading “Caustic Echoes – The Passing of Moonlight (Review)”

Memorrhage – Memorrhage (Review)

Memorrhage - MemorrhageThis is the debut album from US metal band Memorrhage.

Now here’s an album I couldn’t miss out on. Brought to us by a member of Cara Neir, Memorrhage is a tribute to the 90s metal scene, specifically nu-metal and the related styles around this, including hardcore, metalcore, and industrial. Yep, I had to hear this. Continue reading “Memorrhage – Memorrhage (Review)”