Amiensus – Reclamation: Part 1 (Review)

Amiensus - Reclamation Part 1This is the fourth album from US black metallers Amiensus.

Amiensus are a band I’ve really enjoyed watching the development of over the years. 2012’s Restoration was an early highlight, but every release has offered something tasty from the band. Whether this is the stripped back classic approach of 2017’s All Paths Lead to Death, or the standout Abreaction, which rightfully made it onto my 2020 year end list, Amiensus always seem to have something meaningful to say. Continue reading “Amiensus – Reclamation: Part 1 (Review)”

Mòr – Hear the Hour Nearing! (Review)

Mòr - Hear the Hour Nearing!This is the debut album from French black metallers Mòr.

Containing members of Iffernet and Sordide, Hear the Hour Nearing! is a 44-minute black metal record that merges second wave black metal with a modern delivery. Continue reading “Mòr – Hear the Hour Nearing! (Review)”

Sacrificial Vein – Black Terror Genesis (Review)

Sacrificial Vein - Black Terror GenesisSacrificial Vein are a black metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Containing the singer of Nothingness in their ranks, Sacrificial Vein play avant-garde/dissonant black metal. Black Terror Genesis is a 47-minute journey into darkness. Continue reading “Sacrificial Vein – Black Terror Genesis (Review)”

Dödsrit – Nocturnal Will (Review)

Dödsrit - Nocturnal WillThis is the fourth album from Swedish black metal band Dödsrit.

Whereas each of Dödsrit’s well-regarded previous albums, (including 2018’s top notch Spirit Crusher), contained four songs, Nocturnal Will breaks with tradition and delivers six tracks in total, (although to be fair one is a sub-minute interlude). Continue reading “Dödsrit – Nocturnal Will (Review)”

Lvme – Of Sinful Nature (Review)

Lvme - Of Sinful NatureThis is the second album from international black metal band Lvme.

Of Sinful Nature contains 45 minutes of esoteric and mysterious black metal. Taking influence from traditional black metal and then incorporating modern elements into it, Lvme’s music will be of interest to fans of bands such as Funeral Mist, Deathspell Omega, Mayhem, Dødsengel, Nightbringer, Verberis, and Blaze of Perdition. Continue reading “Lvme – Of Sinful Nature (Review)”

Andracca – To Bare the Weight of Death (Review)

Andracca - To Bare the Weight of DeathAndracca are a black metal band from the UK and this is their second album.

To Bare the Weight of Death clocks in at 39 minutes long and showcases a capable band playing a style they clearly love. Andracca weave the their dark magic through a mixture of melodic malevolence, bleak blackened fury, sinister atmosphere, and classic icy might. Continue reading “Andracca – To Bare the Weight of Death (Review)”

Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2023

Welcome to my annual attempt to make sense of the ridiculous amount of good metal albums out there, awaiting discovery by intrepid metal explorers.

2023’s best of list has been one of the more difficult ones to put together, placing-wise, which is one of the reasons that I’m posting it later than I usually do. Even more so than normal many of the slots are interchangeable, and I especially struggled with positions two-nine – if such a thing were possible, they all deserve to be higher! In the end I decided to stop overthinking it and go with my gut, but the usual caveat of these lists being very subjective and subject to change depending on mood, feelings, etc. is larger than normal here.

There are some notable acts missing form the below. Not because they’re not worthy of inclusion, but because there are only so many spaces to be had. In fact, I almost ended up limiting this list to 20, rather than the now-customary 30, as I found it really difficult to know who to include and who not to. In the end I went with the standard 30 so that I could promote a few extra bands, as they absolutely all deserve it.

As for the top position, I wasn’t expecting it to be filled by a band I’d never heard before, playing a style that I don’t listen to as much as I used to. However, I suppose after last year, I shouldn’t have been too surprised.

I do hope you enjoy this list and find some new music to obsess over. Like always, thanks for your support if you have ever visited this site before, and here’s to a great 2024 for as many of us as possible. Continue reading “Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2023”

Árstíðir Lífsins – Hermalausaz (Review)

Árstíðir Lífsins - HermalausazThis is the latest EP from Árstíðir Lífsins, an international, (Germany/Iceland), black metal band.

Following on from 2020’s epic Saga á tveim tungum II: Eigi fjǫll né firðir comes an equally epic EP. Despite containing only two songs, Hermalausaz is an album-length release at 43 minutes in duration, and packs a lot of content into its extended running time. Continue reading “Árstíðir Lífsins – Hermalausaz (Review)”

Bury Them and Keep Quiet/Lust Hag – Split (Review)

Bury Them and Keep Quiet Lust Hag - SplitThis is a split between two solo US black metal acts – Bury Them and Keep Quiet and Lust Hag.

Bury Them and Keep Quiet start us off with two tracks, with a total duration of 14 minutes. Continue reading “Bury Them and Keep Quiet/Lust Hag – Split (Review)”