Post-Hardcore – Wonderbox Metal

Damnation Festival 2025 – BEC Arena, Manchester – 08/11/25-09/11/25 (Live Review)

Another year, another Damnation Festival. Has it really been 20 years? I went to the very first one waaaaay back in 2005, and a love affair was born. It has been great to watch it become one of the world’s best festivals. Kudos to the organisers for their continued passion and ability.

This edition is therefore the festival’s twentieth year and sees Damnation bigger and arguably better than ever before. It’s across two days now, and the lineup is strong in both depth and breadth. From veteran classics to newborn sensations, the festival has it all. Continue reading “Damnation Festival 2025 – BEC Arena, Manchester – 08/11/25-09/11/25 (Live Review)”

Pupil Slicer – Fleshwork (Review)

This is the second album from UK mathcore band Pupil Slicer.

Following on from 2023’s well-received Blossom, Pupil Slicer have returned with the 36-minute Fleshwork. In this review I’ll make the case that this is peak Pupil Slicer so far. Fleshwork is a monster. If a mix of bands such as Converge, Deafheaven, Heriot, Rolo Tomassi, and Svalbard, sounds good, then this is one for you. Continue reading “Pupil Slicer – Fleshwork (Review)”

Abraham – Idsungwüssä (Review)

This is the fifth album from Swiss post-hardcore/metal band Abraham.

Idsungwüssä is the 60-minute follow up to 2022’s Débris de Mondes Perdus. A mix of post-metal, hardcore, and sludge, Abraham’s new record is sure to find firm fans amongst devotees to bands like. Blessings, Coilguns, Converge, Cult of Luna, Inter Arma, Neurosis, The Ocean, Sumac, etc. Continue reading “Abraham – Idsungwüssä (Review)”

Still in Love – Recovery Language (Review)

This is the debut album from UK hardcore band Still in Love.

Containing 23 minutes of metallic hardcore heaviness, Recovery Language is a wrecking ball of a record, although it hits a little different than you may be expecting. Continue reading “Still in Love – Recovery Language (Review)”

Suffocate for Fuck Sake – To Rest in the Trust, That Creates the World (Review)

This is the latest EP by Swedish post-hardcore band Suffocate for Fuck Sake.

This passed me by when it was released earlier in the year, but I’ve finally given it the time it deserves. To Rest in the Trust, That Creates the World contains one track, with a duration of 20 minutes, and it’s a pretty damn special piece. Continue reading “Suffocate for Fuck Sake – To Rest in the Trust, That Creates the World (Review)”

Blessings – Blodsträngen (Review)

This is the third album from Blessings, a Swedish post-hardcore band.

Four years after Biskopskniven made it’s way onto my 2021 end of year list, Blessings are back, with the 41-minute Blodsträngen. Once again we’re gifted with an amalgam of hardcore, noise rock, post-metal, and sludge, giving rise to a post-hardcore experience that’s remarkable. Continue reading “Blessings – Blodsträngen (Review)”

Boneflower – Reveries (Review)

This is the third album from Spanish post-hardcore band Boneflower.

Reveries contains 38 minutes of music; a mix of hardcore, screamo, post-rock, and shoegaze, delivering a post-hardcore record that’s definitely above average for the style. Boneflower have produced an album that manages to walk two different paths simultaneously, and somehow manages to make it work. No mean feat. Continue reading “Boneflower – Reveries (Review)”

The Callous Daoboys – I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven (Review)

This is the third album from US hardcore band The Callous Daoboys.

Full of genre-splicing, creative sounds, and adventurous ideas, I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven is a 57-minute embarrassment of riches. It’s a diverse record, ripe with captivating riffs, reflective introspection, huge breakdowns, pop hooks, and much else. Continue reading “The Callous Daoboys – I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven (Review)”

Oversize – Vital Signs (Review)

This is the debut album from UK rock band Oversize.

Oversize play a mix of alternative rock, post-hardcore, grunge, and shoegaze, and Vital Signs delivers 32 minutes of their personable brand of music. This album takes me back many, many years, yet still offers something worth paying attention to in 2025. Continue reading “Oversize – Vital Signs (Review)”

Hidden Mothers – Erosion / Avulsion (Review)

This is the debut album from UK post-hardcore band Hidden Mothers.

Genre is a funny thing. Post-hardcore, screamo, blackgaze…all are applicable to Hidden Mothers, yet none of them fully encapsulate the 42 minutes of material on Erosion / Avulsion. I suppose something like atmospheric post-hardcore is probably the closest to it, but let’s not quibble over terms. Besides, all that really matters is the music and the impact it has. Continue reading “Hidden Mothers – Erosion / Avulsion (Review)”