This is the debut album from Natt, a Norwegian progressive/post-rock/doom band.
Natt contains just three songs, with 45 minutes of music. They’re an instrumental duo, although they’re joined on this recording by session musicians on bass and drums/percussion, (the latter from Enslaved). I’m not normally drawn to instrumental music, but one look at the strangely disturbing album artwork made me want to hear this work, and I’m so glad it did. Continue reading “Natt – Natt (Review)”
This is the ninth album from French doom band Monolithe.
Monolithe are a band that I have really enjoyed over the years, and you can pick up pretty much anything they have released and be transported into a world of doom delights. (this, this, this, this, this, this or this, for example). Kosmodrom is as epic and ambitious as anything the band have previously attempted, and the album is a 67-minute journey into conceptual spacefaring territories.
This is the second album from Canadian/US death/doom metallers Dream Unending.
Song of Salvation contains 44 minutes of atmospheric death/doom metal. The band features two members, who are in bands such as Outer Heaven, Sumerlands, Tomb Mold, and Vestal Claret, and between them they create an immersive tapestry of slow, mood-focused doom that’s as compelling and well-realised as it is enjoyable. Continue reading “Dream Unending – Song of Salvation (Review)”
This is the second album from Everest Queen, a sludge metal band from the UK.
I’ve enjoyed following Everest Queen, from their initial self-titled EP in 2016 to their debut album Dead Eden in 2019, so to have a new album appear in the wild is a fine thing. Murmurations boasts 44 minutes of new music, so let’s get stuck in. Continue reading “Everest Queen – Murmurations (Review)”
This is the fifth album from US progressive doom band Dreadnought.
Dreadnought play a brand of progressive doom, with black, folk, jazz, classical, and post-metal elements all embedded into it. It’s a heady mix, but the band have more than enough talent and skill to pull it off. Continue reading “Dreadnought – The Endless (Review)”
This is the debut album from Moths, a progressive doom band from Puerto Rico.
Moths paint from a rich and diverse palette and play a form of music that takes influence from a range of places. In essence it’s a mix of stoner, doom, psychedelic, and progressive metal, which has then been expanded to include elements of space rock, 70s progressive rock, and jazz. It’s quite the experience, and Space Force contains 28 minutes of characterful material. Continue reading “Moths – Space Force (Review)”
This is the second album from Italian death/doom band Assumption.
Following on from 2014’s The Three Appearances and 2018’s Absconditus, Hadean Tides contains 56 minutes of new material from Assumption. Continue reading “Assumption – Hadean Tides (Review)”
Formerly known as Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard, MWWB are a Welsh doom metal band and this is their fourth album.
I do enjoy MWWB’s work, (Y Proffwyd Dwyll, the band’s split with Slomatics, and Yn Ol I Annwn are all highly recommended), so was pleased when The Harvest manifested itself to me. Continue reading “MWWB – The Harvest (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”
Fragment Soul are a Greek progressive doom band, and this is their debut album.
Axiom of Choice is a richly expressive work, which focuses on building atmosphere and emotion across four highly engaging songs, lasting 42 minutes in total. There’s no real heaviness or metal here, so don’t be misled by any of the genre tags or band references; this is slow, ethereal, gentle, and filled with feeling. It’s an album of depth and expansive ambience that, if you’re a fan of the style, should firmly root itself into your music collection. Continue reading “Fragment Soul – Axiom of Choice (Review)”
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