Knoll – As Spoken (Review)

Knoll - As SpokenThis is the third album from US grindcore band Knoll.

Following on from 2022’s blistering Metempiric comes As Spoken, its 41-minute follow up. On their new record Knoll have continued to push their punishing sound forward, embracing the nihilistic darkness more than ever. Continue reading “Knoll – As Spoken (Review)”

Furia – Huta Luna (Review)

Furia - Huta LunaFuria are a black metal band from Poland and this is their sixth album.

I haven’t reviewed a Furia release before, so this offers a well-overdue chance to rectify this unfortunate situation, and cast a critical eye over what this idiosyncratic band are up to in 2023. Over time Furia have only gotten more individual and experimental, so what does Huta Luna have to offer discerning black metal fans? Continue reading “Furia – Huta Luna (Review)”

Ashbringer – We Came Here to Grieve (Review)

Ashbringer - We Came Here to GrieveThis is the fourth album from US post-black metal band Ashbringer.

This is the follow up to 2019’s well-received Absolution, We Came Here to Grieve brings us 44 minutes of new music. On this new record Ashbringer continue to evolve their sound, pushing the envelope further, with a multifaceted mix of experimental black metal sounds. Although having said that, there’s less direct black metal on this album, for sure. Continue reading “Ashbringer – We Came Here to Grieve (Review)”

Quiet Man – The Starving Lesson (Review)

Quiet Man - The Starving LessonThis is the debut album from Quiet Man, a doom/sludge band from the US who were formerly known as God Root.

Across 50 minutes Quiet Man bring an apocalyptic vision of darkness and extinction to the listener, rubbing their face into the contemporary horrors of existence as they unleash their wide-ranging sonic nightmarescapes. Continue reading “Quiet Man – The Starving Lesson (Review)”

Miserable Failure – т​о​с​к​а​́ (Review)

Miserable Failure - т​о​с​к​а​́This is the latest release from Miserable Failure, (or MSRBLFLR), a French death metal/grindcore band.

Miserable Failure have surfaced once more to bring us more multifaceted mayhem with this single-track EP.  Toska is a 25-minute descent into chaos, and it’s great to experience Miserable Failure’s dark, warped reality once more. Continue reading “Miserable Failure – т​о​с​к​а​́ (Review)”

Wallowing – Earth Reaper (Review)

Wallowing - Earth ReaperThis is the second album from UK sludge/doom metal band Wallowing.

Boasting the drummer of the amazing King Goat in their ranks, Wallowing play a sci-fi-themed mix of blackened sludge, doom, and noise. Continue reading “Wallowing – Earth Reaper (Review)”

Sunrot – The Unfailing Rope (Review)

Sunrot - The Unfailing RopeSunrot are a sludge band from the US and this is their second album.

Sunrot’s hostile music is a sludge metal monster that is enhanced by noise and effects in the manner of early Eyehategod records. It’s a 40-minute trip through the corridors of sludge and doom, and wears its influences on its sleeves like badges of honour. Sunrot know what they’re doing with the style though, and The Unfailing Rope is an enjoyable slab of heaviness. Continue reading “Sunrot – The Unfailing Rope (Review)”

Leukotomy – Eternal Path to Eden (Review)

Leukotomy - Eternal Path to EdenLeukotomy are a Vietnamese black metal band and this is their debut album.

Eternal Path to Eden delivers 51 minutes of black metal that has a second wave base which has been adorned with avant-garde enrichments. Continue reading “Leukotomy – Eternal Path to Eden (Review)”

Vessel of Iniquity – The Path Unseen (Review)

Vessel of Iniquity - The Path UnseenThis is the third album from Vessel of Iniquity, a black metal solo act from the UK.

Lasting a brief, yet scarring, 30 minutes, The Path Unseen is a horrific nightmarescape of industrial black metal, replete with harsh noise and terrifying atmosphere. Having enjoyed/weathered the artist’s 2021 split with Thecodontion, I was looking forward to hearing more and The Path Unseen has not disappointed. Continue reading “Vessel of Iniquity – The Path Unseen (Review)”