Orchestral – Wonderbox Metal

Therion – Leviathan II (Review)

Therion are a Swedish symphonic/operatic metal band and this is their eighteenth album.

2021’s Leviathan was one of my favourite records from that year. How it didn’t end up on my end of year list I’ll never know, and it remains a massive oversight on my part. Suffice to say it’s an absolute killer record, and I love its ostentatious charms. In all honesty I don’t think I’ll have the same long-term reaction to Leviathan II, but that doesn’t stop it from being a damn fine record in its own right. Continue reading “Therion – Leviathan II (Review)”

Sunyata – The Great Beyond (Review)

This is the debut album from UK atmospheric doom metal solo act Sunyata.

The artist describes Sunyata’s music as a mix of funeral doom and modern classical. Although this serves as a decent description, it doesn’t quite do justice to the wealth of rich content that’s to be found on The Great Beyond. Continue reading “Sunyata – The Great Beyond (Review)”

JG Thirlwell & Simon Steensland – Oscillospira (Review)

This is a collaborative work between US-based composer/producer/artist JG Thirlwell and Swedish multi-instrumentalist and composer Simon Steensland.

This album contains 73 minutes of layered and involved material. This is the sort of release that you could easily get away with describing as Continue reading “JG Thirlwell & Simon Steensland – Oscillospira (Review)”

Paul Catten – The Beauty of Decay (Review)

Paul Catten is a prolific UK extreme metal artist and this is his latest album.

We’ve met Paul Catten before, (here, here and here), and you never know what you’re going to get from the man. His latest release is far more accessible and pop-influenced than I was expecting, and it Continue reading “Paul Catten – The Beauty of Decay (Review)”

LÜÜP – Canticles of the Holy Scythe (Review)

LÜÜP is a, (deep breath), Greek one man experimental avant-garde blackened classical band, (phew), and this is his third album.

Canticles of the Holy Scythe features 37 minutes of music that consists of a black metal undercoat, which has then been fully fleshed out and painted with colours from folk, progressive, avant-garde, ambient, and classical music. Continue reading “LÜÜP – Canticles of the Holy Scythe (Review)”

Paul Catten – Themes and Variations Vol. 2 (Review)

Paul Catten is a prolific UK extreme metal artist and this is his latest album of electronic orchestral music.

Known for his many contributions to the UK music scene, (Lazarus Blackstar, Medulla Nocte, Murder One, Barrabus, Bedwetter, to name but a few), he also undertakes some lesser known forays into the land of electronic music. Continue reading “Paul Catten – Themes and Variations Vol. 2 (Review)”

Wolves in the Throne Room – Celestite (Review)

Wolves in the Throne Room are from the US and play Cascadian Black Metal, at least they do normally.

Celestite is different. Stylistically still rooted in the Black Metal genre, the band have stripped out the drums and vocals and instead created five atmospheric soundscapes to captivate and entrance the listener.

Synth-based exploration and orchestrated Blackened sonics give this the air of an extended film soundtrack. This is cinematic music with grand musical vistas and sweeping arcs of ambitious beauty.

In the wrong hands this could easily sound trite or just plain dull, but Wolves in the Throne Room prove that they can take the atmospheric build-and-release dynamics that they honed so perfectly on their Black Metal work and transfer this intact to the compositions on Celestite.

This is an album crafted with lofty aims and I’m pleased to say that it works. Each track successfully conjures the majesty of celestial imagery and awe-inspiring wonder at the breathtaking scenery that nature can deliver. The album cover is truly appropriate at putting across just what the music feels like.

This may be an experiment for the band compared to their usual work but it’s a roaring success. The ideal accompaniment to watching the night sky.

The World State – Flier (Review)

Danish band The World State have released their first EP Flier.

Orchestral sounds and touches of Rock and Metal collide in this ambitious release.

The ex-Sirenia singer shows that she still has an amazing voice and her vocals here are exquisite.

The tracks have lots of ideas and effects to hold attention. Ambience and subtlety are used effectively as well as heavier and more intense sections.

Well written songs with a great sense of dynamics and pace pound or slink their way out of the speakers and it’s clear that this is a very talented band.

Each song captures a different mood but all of them are involved and have a playful experimental edge that sounds fresh and exciting. There are three main songs and one piano instrumental.

After listening to this over and over I can’t get enough of it. It’s simply wonderful, that’s all there is to say about it.

At under 20 minutes across 4 tracks this EP is brief but effective. A full album of this would be most welcome!