Verminous Serpent – The Malign Covenant (Review)

Verminous Serpent - The Malign CovenantVerminous Serpent are a black metal band from Ireland and this is their debut album.

Featuring members of Primordial, Dread Sovereign, Slidhr, and Malthusian, Verminous Serpent supply us with 40 minutes of malevolent black metal on The Malign Covenant. Continue reading “Verminous Serpent – The Malign Covenant (Review)”

Jordfäst – Av Stoft (Review)

Jordfäst - Av StoftThis is the second album from Swedish black metallers Jordfäst.

Av Stoft contains just two tracks, the first of which lasts 16 minutes, and the next 17 minutes. During these two lengthy songs we are taken on an epic, windswept journey into Jordfäst’s world.

If you think of bands such as Skagos, Ulver, Primordial, Wolves in the Throne Room, Bathory, and Skogen, (the singer of which guests here), you’ll have a rough idea of what Av Stoft contains. Continue reading “Jordfäst – Av Stoft (Review)”

Malthusian/Suffering Hour – Time’s Withering Shadow – Split (Review)

Malthusian Suffering Hour - Time's Withering Shadow - SplitMalthusian are from Ireland and Suffering Hour are from the US. Both play blackened death metal, and they have teamed up for this split release.

Malthusian start us off and offer up two tracks, with a total duration of 20 minutes. Continue reading “Malthusian/Suffering Hour – Time’s Withering Shadow – Split (Review)”

Corr Mhóna – Abhainn (Review)

Corr Mhóna - AbhainnThis is the second album from Irish black metal band Corr Mhóna.

Abhainn is a 56-minute progressive black metal album that also contains a healthy amount of doom and folk influences. It’s ambitious and bold, but also very striking and well-realised. The band have clearly put a lot into this work, and it shows; Abhainn is Continue reading “Corr Mhóna – Abhainn (Review)”

Dread Sovereign – Alchemical Warfare (Review)

Dread Sovereign - Alchemical WarfareThis is the third album from Irish doom metal band Dread Sovereign.

I really like Dread Sovereign’s work, (see 2014’s All Hell’s Martyrs and 2017 For Doom the Bell Tolls), so listening to Alchemical Warfare was a must. Across 52 minutes the band kick out some of their best jams, so trust me when I say that if you’re at all into this style then you should make Alchemical Warfare a priority. Continue reading “Dread Sovereign – Alchemical Warfare (Review)”

Ram – The Throne Within (Review)

Ram - The Throne WithinThis is the sixth album from Swedish heavy metallers Ram.

Since 2015’s Svbversvm, and then 2017’s Rod, I have been a huge fan of Ram. Very few heavy metal bands from the last decade or so do it for me quite like Ram. They are, quite simply, just so damn good at what they do. Continue reading “Ram – The Throne Within (Review)”

Primordial – Exile Amongst the Ruins (Review)

PrimordialPrimordial are an Irish heavy metal band and this is their ninth album.

It doesn’t seem like 2014 that the very enjoyable Where Greater Men Have Fallen album came out, but apparently it was. Blimey. Continue reading “Primordial – Exile Amongst the Ruins (Review)”

Blissful Stream/Lightsabres – Devil’s Night to All Souls – Split (Review)

Blissful Stream LightsabresThis is a split between two Swedish one man bands; the doom metal of Blissful Stream and the dark rock of Lightsabres.

Blissful Stream are up first, with the first new material from the project since 2016’s Ascending Demons. Continue reading “Blissful Stream/Lightsabres – Devil’s Night to All Souls – Split (Review)”

The Thirteenth Sun – Stardust (Review)

The Thirteenth SunThis is the debut album from Romanian progressive metal band The Thirteenth Sun.

This is a mix of the progressive versions of both metal and rock, one that manages to do justice to both.

The album has a professional, well-rounded production that shows off the band’s skills. Theirs is a strong, full-bodied sound that allows them the freedom to make the most of their music.

Continue reading “The Thirteenth Sun – Stardust (Review)”