This is the sixth album from US death metallers Arkaik.
Back now with a new lineup, (featuring current and ex-members of Singularity, Alterbeast, Dessiderium, and Nullingroots), Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts boasts 48 minutes of new material. Both 2015’s Lucid Dawn and 2017’s Nemethia were very likeable records, so Arkaik’s new one carries a certain level of expectation. Spoiler alert – it’s been exceeded. Continue reading “Arkaik – Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts (Review)”
Hath are a progressive blackened death metal band from the US, and this is their second album.
This is the follow up to 2019’s very well-received Of Rot and Ruin. On All That Was Promised Hath, (who feature current and ex-members of Cognitive and Dystrophy), return with 52 minutes of new material. Continue reading “Hath – All That Was Promised (Review)”
Allegaeon are a death metal band from the US and this is their sixth album.
There’s something about Allegaeon’s music that’s very satisfying and moreish. The band have discovered a blending of technicality, progressive flourish, and melodic might that simply works, and works well. Both 2016’s Proponent for Sentience and 2019’s Apoptosis were both great records, ably showcasing Allegaeon’s style of music. Now, in 2022, what does Damnum hold for us? Continue reading “Allegaeon – Damnum (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Swedish death/doom metallers Soliloquium.
It’s always a pleasure to hear new Soliloquium. Betwen 2018’s Contemplations and 2020’s Things We Leave Behind the band have quickly amassed an enviable discography, and now we have Soulsearching to add to this impressive list. Continue reading “Soliloquium – Soulsearching (Review)”
Abysmal Dawn are a death metal band from the US and this is their latest EP.
Abysmal Dawn are always worth checking out, in my humble opinion. Their brand of modern death metal is heavyweight and satisfying, and their latest EP offers 19 minutes of meaty aggression to satisfy fans of the style. Continue reading “Abysmal Dawn – Nightmare Frontier (Review)”
Aethereus are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.
Leiden is a 55-minute death metal monstrosity that blends technical, progressive, and dissonant elements together into a very impressive package. The band’s Facebook page describes them as for fans of Obscura, Beyond Creation, and Gorguts, and that’s a good starting place from which to approach Leiden. Continue reading “Aethereus – Leiden (Review)”
This is the latest EP from French death metallers Barús.
I enjoyed 2015’s self-titled EP, as well as 2018’s Drowned, so when it appeared Fanges was always destined for my playlists. Although billed as an EP, there’s actually an album’s worth of material for some bands here – 34-minutes spread out over two large tracks. Barús play atmospheric death metal with progressive and dissonant elements, and on Fanges they range wider and more freely than they have done before. Continue reading “Barús – Fanges (Review)”
Yes, it’s that time of year again! 2021 gave us some very, very good metal, and I feel honoured to have been able to have listened to as much of it as I have done. There are some notable absences, (for me at least), from the below list, but there’s just not enough time or space for everything, dammit!
2020 was a very blackened year for me; I listened to a lot of black metal, and the list for that year reflected that. At the start of 2021 I decided I’d consciously try to ensure I cast my net a bit wider again, reconnecting more deeply with some of many other styles of metal that I enjoy. 2021’s list reflects this. However, I’ve still ended up with much more of a black metal presence in the list than I was initially expecting. What can I say? I’m a sucker for all of the myriad blackened flavours of the style. However, there’s also a lot of other stuff here that I hope you’ll dig into and enjoy too. I felt that there was a notable absence of grindcore in 2021, as well as some of the more extreme styles of doom. What do you think?
I hope you enjoy perusing some of my favourite records from this year, and I hope you find something new to tickle your fancy. What’s your number one this year? Continue reading “Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2021”
This is the fourth album from Dessiderium, a solo progressive death metal act from the US.
Brought to us by a member of Arkaik and Nullingroots, Aria contains 63 minutes of progressive death metal.
Aria consists of five long and Continue reading “Dessiderium – Aria (Review)”
Obscura are a progressive/technical/melodic death metal band from Germany and this is their sixth album.
Following up on 2018’s Diluvium, 2021’s A Valediction contains 52 minutes of new material. The band have opted for a of a change of direction on their latest album, but despite this it’s still a version of the band so many know and love. Continue reading “Obscura – A Valediction (Review)”
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