Vorbid – A Swan by the Edge of Mandala (Review)

Vorbid - A Swan by the Edge of MandalaThis is the second album from Norwegian progressive metal band Vorbid.

A Swan by the Edge of Mandala offers a rich and colourful 59 minutes of progressive metal for listeners to get lost in. It’s an absorbing and enjoyable album, full of slick riffs, emotive melodies, and engaging songcraft. Continue reading “Vorbid – A Swan by the Edge of Mandala (Review)”

Parius – The Signal Heard Throughout Space (Review)

Parius - The Signal Heard Throughout SpaceThis is the third album from US progressive metal band Parius.

The Signal Heard Throughout Space is a 61-minute sci-fi “conceptual rock opera”. Blending progressive metal with technical and 70s progressive influences, the album offers a Continue reading “Parius – The Signal Heard Throughout Space (Review)”

Monthly Overview – the Best of September 2022

September was a particularly difficult month to have to limit my choice of key metal albums to just five. As such, I’m going to skip over both An Abstract Illusion’s Woe and Gaerea’s Mirage; both are great records and are getting abundant, richly-deserved praise elsewhere, allowing me to focus on lesser-known releases. Even with this though, I still struggled with having to omit so many other worthy albums… Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of September 2022”

Warforged – The Grove | Sundial (Review)

Warforged - The Grove SundialWarforged are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Warforged bring us a death metal hybrid that mixes technical, progressive, experimental, and atmospheric elements into a 46-minute ever-changing monster. Continue reading “Warforged – The Grove | Sundial (Review)”

An Abstract Illusion – Woe (Review)

An Abstract Illusion - WoeThis is the second album from Swedish atmospheric death metal band An Abstract Illusion.

An Abstract Illusion play an electronically enriched form of atmospheric death metal, replete with black and progressive metal elements. Woe is a 60-minute journey into the band’s accomplished realm. Continue reading “An Abstract Illusion – Woe (Review)”

Into the Heat – Out of the Shade UK & EU Tour – The Ocean/LLNN/Playgrounded – Manchester Club Academy, 03/09/22 (Live Review)

Into the Heat - Out of the Shade UK & EU Tour - The Ocean LLNN Playgrounded

Although I managed to see The Ocean’s livestream show and I enjoyed it very much, I’ve been looking forward to catching them in the flesh once again. So here we are, back in Manchester, back with The Ocean, (and friends). Continue reading “Into the Heat – Out of the Shade UK & EU Tour – The Ocean/LLNN/Playgrounded – Manchester Club Academy, 03/09/22 (Live Review)”