This is the third album from US progressive metallers The Gorge.
Mechanical Fiction contains 45 minutes of modern, heavy music. The Gorge are an interesting band, in that they are ostensibly a band you’d give the tags of progressive metal and technical metal too, but they also incorporate avant-garde and jazz elements into their style, as well as having an underpinning hardcore/sludge influence that’s formative. Continue reading “The Gorge – Mechanical Fiction (Review)”
This is the fifth album from the US heavy metal band Spirit Adrift.
I’ve always enjoyed what Spirit Adrift offer, (check out Chained to Oblivion, Curse of Conception, Divided by Darkness, and Enlightened in Eternity), so new album Ghost at the Gallows is most welcome. Continue reading “Spirit Adrift – Ghost at the Gallows (Review)”
This is the fifth album from US death metallers Horrendous.
Horrendous’ trajectory through their last three albums – 2014’s Ecdysis, 2015’s Anareta, and 2018’s Idol – has been an enjoyable one to experience, but it’s been a while since we’ve heard from them. As such, it’s great to finally have Ontological Mysterium, which contains 38 minutes of new material. Continue reading “Horrendous – Ontological Mysterium (Review)”
This is the debut album from international progressive rock band Oblivion Protocol.
The Fall of the Shires is an interesting record in that it’s a sequel to Threshold’s 2017’s album Legends of the Shires, born from a desire by Oblivion Protocol founder/vocalist/keyboardist Richard West, (also keyboardist in Threshold), to continue that album’s themes and worldbuilding. Continue reading “Oblivion Protocol – The Fall of the Shires (Review)”
Somnuri are a sludge metal band from the US. and this is their third album.
Following on from 2021’s enjoyable Nefarious Wave comes Desiderium, a 38-minute feast of multi-genre sludge metal. On this new album Somnuri showcase their evolving sound, one that heightens the heaviness and aggression, while still retaining the key aspects of who they were before. Continue reading “Somnuri – Desiderium (Review)”
Rannoch are a progressive death metal band from the UK and this is their third album.
Conflagrations offers a 52-minute journey into multifaceted music that falls somewhere between progressive death metal foundations and more ambitious extreme progressive metal proclivities. Bolstered by the percussive skills of the drummer of Ne Obliviscaris, Rannoch are a skilled band that have a clear vision for their brand of extreme music. Continue reading “Rannoch – Conflagrations (Review)”
This is the third album from US one-man post-metal band Breaths.
Having really enjoyed 2022’s Though Life Has Turned out Nothing Like I Imagined, It Is Far Better Than I Could Have Dreamt, I knew I wanted to check out what Flotuit had to offer. This new album might have a much shorter title, but has a lot longer duration at 65 minutes. Has this extra time been well spent? Continue reading “Breaths – Floruit (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Canadian progressive metal/rock band Dead Quiet.
Dead Quiet have an expressive and individual sound that sits somewhere between metal and rock. Combining stoner, heavy, and progressive influences into well-written songs with no small amount of charisma and personality, IV is 45 minutes very well-spent. Continue reading “Dead Quiet – IV (Review)”
The Anchoret are a Canadian progressive metal band and this is their debut album.
The Anchoret play a multifaceted brand of progressive metal that takes in aspects of progressive rock and a touch of extreme metal. This has resulted in an album that has plenty of impactful content to instantly appeal, but can also draw the listener back in over time. For a very rough starting point, think a combination of parts of bands such as Karnivool, Between the Buried and Me, Sermon, David Bowie, Dream Theater, Opeth, Queen, The Ocean, Dawnwalker, Ihsahn, and Rush. Continue reading “The Anchoret – It All Began with Loneliness (Review)”
AVKRVST are a Norwegian progressive rock/metal band and this is their debut album.
The Approbation is a 49-minute exploration of progressive rock and metal, played professionally and delivered with a contemporary sheen. Continue reading “AVKRVST – The Approbation (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 