This is the third album from US black/death metallers Haunter.
Following on from 2019’s very well-received Sacramental Death Qualia, Haunter have now returned with 32 minutes of new material. The band’s style can be termed progressive black/death metal, and Continue reading “Haunter – Discarnate Ails (Review)”
Epitaphe are a French progressive death/doom band and this is their second album.
Featuring three near-20-minute songs bookended by a 3-minute intro and outro, II is a mammoth 63-minute offering from this enticing entity. For a simplistic starting point, think of a mix of bands such as Opeth, Nile, and Pink Floyd, and then realise that Epitaphe have even more to offer than this would lead you to believe. Continue reading “Epitaphe – II (Review)”
This is the debut album from The Final Sleep, a progressive metal band from the US.
Vessels of Grief has an interesting and engaging sound that works well for the band. Mixing a range of influences together into six songs that have a strong old-school feel to them, The Final Sleep still manage to avoid sounding dated or tired, despite this. Continue reading “The Final Sleep – Vessels of Grief (Review)”
This is the second album from one-man Australian black metal act Aquilus.
Bellum I features 62 minutes of atmospheric black metal combined with folk and classical elements. The promo blurb states that Aquilus’ music is for fans of Midnight Odyssey, Skogen, and Falls of Rauros, which immediately caused me to be interested. I’d also add bands like Opeth, Ne Obliviscaris, Agalloch, and Wilderun to this list too. Continue reading “Aquilus – Bellum I (Review)”
This is the second album from New Zealand instrumental progressive metal/rock band Filth Wizard.
How could you not want to check out a band named Filth Wizard? Even though I do enjoy instrumental albums, sometimes a great deal, I’m not always drawn to them like I am some other styles that tend to have vocals. In this instance, the band’s name, Continue reading “Filth Wizard – Sleepeater (Review)”
Veil of Conspiracy are a melodic metal band from Italy and this is their second album.
The promo blurb states that the 45 minutes of material on Echoes of Winter is for fans of Katatonia, Opeth, and The Morningside, which is a good starting point for Veil of Conspiracy’s sound. I’d also add that fans of bands such as Amorphis, Paradise Lost, Deathwhite, Moonspell, My Dying Bride, and Anathema will find much to like here. Continue reading “Veil of Conspiracy – Echoes of Winter (Review)”
Ænigmatum are a US death metal band and this is their second album.
Featuring a member of Azath and Torture Rack, Deconsecrate contains 45 minutes of technical and melodic death metal. The promo blurb states that Deconsecrate is for fans of Eucharist, The Chasm, At the Gates, Dark Tranquillity, Necrophobic, Atrocity, and Opeth, and this provides a decent starting image. Continue reading “Ænigmatum – Deconsecrate (Review)”
Necronautical are a UK black metal band and this is their fourth album.
Featuring members of Winterfylleth and Foetal Juice, Necronautical play black metal influenced by the second wave, in particular the keyboard-enhanced symphonic side of it. To this is added a muscular death metal influence, which is streamlined by the blackened core of the band and used to add a lethal edge to the music. There’s also a progressive metal influence that can felt on occasion, usually in a particular riff, solo, or melody, for example. Continue reading “Necronautical – Slain in the Spirit (Review)”
This is the debut album from US progressive rock band Moon Machine.
I was initially attracted to this album by the evocative album art, and the suggestion that it should appeal to fans of Porcupine Tree, Devin Townsend, Opeth, Alcest, Anathema, and Tool. Sold. Of course, there’s always the danger of being disappointed, but thankfully Moon Machine lived up to its promise. Continue reading “Moon Machine – Moon Machine (Review)”
Urne are a metal band from the UK and this is their debut album.
Urne combine a variety of influences onto their sound, resulting in an album of heaviness that’s crushing, while also taking the listener in an emotive journey. You can hear elements of bands like Mastodon, Opeth, Metallica, and Alice in Chains in Urne’s sound, but mostly you Continue reading “Urne – Serpent & Spirit (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 