Post-Metal – Wonderbox Metal

Cult of Luna – In the Shadow of Your Shadow (Review)

Cult of Luna are a Swedish post-metal band and this is their tenth album, (including the flawless Mariner).

It feels like longer than 4 years since The Long Road North graced us with its presence, but the wait for a follow up is now over. In the Shadow of Your Shadow brings us another titanic 71 minutes of material from Grade A legendary multifaceted post-metal act Cult of Luna, and it’s a record that you absolutely should not miss. Continue reading “Cult of Luna – In the Shadow of Your Shadow (Review)”

Cursebinder – Psychohazard (Review)

This is the second album from Polish post-black metal band Cursebinder.

Psychohazard is the 53-minute follow up to 2023’s well-received Drifting. Cursebinder’s return is a welcome one as they bring their vision of blackened extremity to life across eight engaging tracks. Continue reading “Cursebinder – Psychohazard (Review)”

Hippotraktor – Annihilist (Review)

This is the third album from Belgian progressive metal band Hippotraktor.

Roll up, roll up! Come one, come all! Have you had your fill of 2024’s Stasis, and crave something new? Sure you have, and Annihilist is here to satisfy your needs! Seven songs, 38 minutes; get it while it’s hot! Continue reading “Hippotraktor – Annihilist (Review)”

Shy, Low – Purity Spiral (Review)

This is the fourth album from US post-rock band Shy, Low.

Existing somewhere between post-rock and post-metal, Shy, Low’s music is a thoroughly immersive affair. Purity Spiral spends 47 minutes engaged in comprehensive instrumental worldbuilding, to remarkable effect. Continue reading “Shy, Low – Purity Spiral (Review)”

The Ocean – Solaris (Review)

This is the eleventh album from German progressive metal band The Ocean.

After 2023’s Holocene, The Ocean have returned a changed band, with a new drummer, two new guitarists, and two new vocalists. Bringing us 72 minutes of new material, Solaris is big, bold, and vast in scale and ambition. Continue reading “The Ocean – Solaris (Review)”

Kongh – Dissolved in Time (Review)

This is the fourth album by Swedish doom/sludge metal band Kongh.

Dissolved in Time contains three sprawling tracks that total 39 minutes. Kongh’s style mixes sludge, doom, and post-metal, delivering a record that makes a good impression. Continue reading “Kongh – Dissolved in Time (Review)”

Kōya – Pendula (Review)

Kōya are a post-hardcore band from Denmark and this is their debut album.

Pendula consists of 38 minutes of material that is impressively wrought, especially for a first record. Kōya bring a few different influences together well, and the result is an album as devastating as it is well-rendered. Continue reading “Kōya – Pendula (Review)”

ArcTanGent Festival 2026 – Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin, 21/08/26-22/08/26 (Live Review)

ArcTanGent is the UK’s premier outdoor alternative music festival, and it’s a great pleasure to have so many great bands here over one weekend, from all over the world.

It’s this writer’s first time at the festival, even if it’s only for the Friday and the Saturday, and it turns out to be an extremely enjoyable and rewarding couple of days. The festival’s organisation, layout, lineup, and everything else have clearly been thought about closely and iterated upon over time. The end result is a festival experience that’s one of the best out there. Continue reading “ArcTanGent Festival 2026 – Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin, 21/08/26-22/08/26 (Live Review)”

Russian Circles – Nine (Review)

Russian Circles are an instrumental post-rock/metal band from the US. This is their ninth album.

Russian Circles can do no wrong. Sorry, but them’s the rules. More seriously, coming off the back of 2022’s fantastic Gnostic, Nine has big shoes to fill, but fill them it does. Across 39 minutes of new material, Russian Circles showcase their considerable talents in no uncertain terms. Continue reading “Russian Circles – Nine (Review)”

Din of Celestial Birds – Takeoffs & Landings (Review)

This is the second album from UK post-rock band Din of Celestial Birds.

The three-guitar, (and synths), post-rock approach of Din of Celestial Birds is back, with the 41-minute Takeoffs & Landings. 2023’s The Night Is for Dreamers made a decent splash in post-rock waters, so Takeoffs & Landings comes with a certain amount of expectation. Continue reading “Din of Celestial Birds – Takeoffs & Landings (Review)”