This is the fifth album from US post-metal band A Storm of Light.
Here we have 51 minutes of music that mixes metal, post-metal, punk, doom, quasi-industrial, and progressive metal. That’s right, it’s quite a mix, but the band pull it off remarkably well. Continue reading
Un are a Doom band from the US. This is their second album.
This is the much-awaited follow up to 2015’s colossal The Tomb of All Things, which made it into my end of year list – in second place too, no less. Continue reading
This is the second album from one man black metal band Dödsrit.
Here we have 44 minutes of expansive atmospheric black metal with elements of crust. Such a simple description, but one that hides the dark splendour of what you’ll find on this release. Continue reading
Skullcave are a progressive doom band from Australia and this is their debut album.
I was drawn to this album by the enigmatic album cover, and then reeled in by the description of the music – “an ambitious, qualitative blend of thick doom, dreamy instrumentals and layered vocals.” Continue reading
This is the debut album from Jesus Piece, a hardcore band from the US.
Only Self opens up a world of expressive violence with 29 minutes of aggressive hardcore tinged with experimental elements. Continue reading
This is the debut album from Khôrada, a progressive/doom/post-metal band from the US.
Featuring most of the members of the much-missed Agalloch coupled with the singer of Giant Squid, this album contains 55 minutes of contemplative, intelligently-composed music.
Now here’s an album with real emotive power. The music can be loosely termed as progressive post-metal, but there’s a multitude of different styles skilfully incorporated into this release. Continue reading
Kalaallit Nunaat and Au Revoir are both one man Italian black metal bands.
Kalaallit Nunaat’s side of the split lasts 21 minutes and is divided into two tracks. The music is a mix of raw aggression in the traditional Scandinavian second wave style, and Cascadian atmospheric majesty along the lines of Wolves in the Throne Room, in spirit at least. Continue reading
Will Haven are a post-hardcore/sludge band from the US and this is their sixth album.
Will Haven specialise in playing music that effortlessly combines huge crushing riffs and punishing intensity with a compellingly emotive foundation to create highly evocative and engaging soundscapes. Continue reading
Dvne are a progressive metal/doom/sludge band from the UK and this is their debut album.
Here we have a little over 60 minutes of music from a talented UK band that have only just properly come to my attention, despite a friend of mine telling me to check them out when this album was originally released in 2017. It’s definitely my loss, as Asheran is ambitious and huge in all of the best ways. Continue reading
Doomed is a one man death/doom metal band from Germany, and this is his sixth album.
I have to say I’m a huge fan of Doomed. Our Ruin Silhouettes, Wrath Monolith, and Anna are all stunning examples of how to write and play death/doom; in my experience it’s all too easy for death/doom bands to fall back on the staples of the style and take the easy route when it comes to their music. The artist behind Doomed, however, has a knack for producing music that takes all of the strengths of the style, while avoiding all of its lazy weaknesses, resulting in music that truly adds things that you just don’t really hear other bands do. Continue reading
