Obscure Sphinx are a post-metal band from Poland. This is their latest release.
Oh my, new Obscure Sphinx! We last heard from this exemplary band on 2016’s Epitaphs, which narrowly missed out from breaching the top three in that year’s end of year list. So rejoice, as we now have Emovere to salivate over hungrily. Continue reading “Obscure Sphinx – Emovere (Review)”
Atra Vetosus are an Australian black metal band and this is their third album.
I always enjoy catching up with Atra Vetosus. Periodically they emerge from wherever it is they slumber, unleashing quality black metal as they do so. If you haven’t heard them before, make sure you check out 2018’s Apricity and 2021’s Even the Dawn No Longer Brings Hope, alongside this new record, of course. Especially this new one, actually, as we’ll see. Continue reading “Atra Vetosus – Undying Splendour (Review)”
Yes, it’s list season once more, so gather round and witness some of the best metal that 2024 had to offer!
2024 was a fantastic year for metal, and that’s an understatement. I thought 2023 was one of the weaker years for metal releases, overall. As such, putting last year’s list together, although challenging as it always is, was relatively effortless compared to this one. I don’t think I’ve agonised over placings more any other year. In the end, similar to last year, I just decided that enough was enough and I needed to just stop needlessly obsessing. Continue reading “Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2024”
This is the debut album from US post-metal band Pillar of Light.
Caldera contains 56 minutes of hulking heaviness and shaded darkness. Pillar of Light blend doom, sludge, and post-metal elements into a churning pot and use these choice ingredients to produce something weighty and thick, yet surprisingly tasty. Continue reading “Pillar of Light – Caldera (Review)”
This is the debut album from Icelandic progressive/post-metal band Múr.
Across 54 minutes Múr have crafted a multifaceted record that takes liberally from the progressive and post-metal styles, resulting in a journey that’s very satisfying. Múr should appeal to fans of bands such as Ihsahn, Gojira, Alcest, Devin Townsend, Iotunn, Opeth, The Ocean, and Enslaved, as it touches all of these bands and more in different places over the course of the album. Importantly though, Múr never sound like they’re plagiarising, and instead have managed to forge a personality of their own remarkably quickly. Continue reading “Múr – Múr (Review)”
This is the second album from French black metal solo act Time Lurker.
It has been a long time since Time Lurker’s 2017 self-titled debut, but now we have 34 minutes of new material in the form of Empise. The artist behind Time Lurker is joined on this new album by a vocalist who howls her way through the songs with impassioned intensity. Continue reading “Time Lurker – Emprise (Review)”
This is the second album from UK post-metal band Codespeaker.
Featuring current/ex-members of Dvne and Frontierer, Codespeaker have arrived ready to flatten with all of the considerable weight they can bring to bear. Taking influence from the post-metal giants of Neurosis, Cult of Luna, and Isis, Codespeaker have crafted a 51-minute journey into darkness. I’ll also mention bands such as Bossk, Briqueville, and Hundred Year Old Man as appropriate reference points too. Continue reading “Codespeaker – Scavenger (Review)”
Another year, another Damnation Festival. As always, the organisers are to be commended for putting on one of the UK’s premier metal festivals. I’ve been coming here most years for almost two decades now, and I’ve never yet had a bad day.
There are three stages. Two smaller stages that clash with each other, and a main stage that clashes with nothing. Continue reading “Damnation Festival 2024 – BEC Arena, Manchester – 02/11/24 (Live Review)”
Silhouette are a post-black metal band from France and this is their debut albm.
Les Dires de l’Âme contains 46 minutes of blackened post-metal that takes from the atmospheric and blackgaze styles with skilled ability. It’s an interesting, enjoyable, and well-rounded album that Silhouette have put together. Continue reading “Silhouette – Les Dires de l’Âme (Review)”
This is the second album from Greek experimental/post-metal band Spineless.
Dysphonia is a record that blends a few different influences together. Post-metal, doom, post-rock, electronica, and industrial influences are all used in service of the music’s goals; the crafting of experimental soundscapes that paint striking pictures for the listener to explore. Continue reading “Spineless – Dysphonia (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 