Void of Sleep – The Abyss into Which We All Have to Stare (Review)

Void of Sleep - The Abyss into Which We All Have to StareThis is the fourth album from Italian progressive doom/sludge metallers Void of Sleep.

It feels like an age has passed since 2020’s sterling record Metaphora, so it’s great that Void of Sleep grace us with their progressive doom/sludge metal once more. Containing 52 minutes of new material, The Abyss into Which We All Have to Stare is an album to spend some quality time with, unlocking its multitude of secrets. Continue reading “Void of Sleep – The Abyss into Which We All Have to Stare (Review)”

An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City (Review)

An Abstract Illusion - The Sleeping CityThis is the third album from Swedish atmospheric death metal band An Abstract Illusion.

Now here’s a very highly anticipated album. The Sleeping City is An Abstract Illusion’s follow up to their highly acclaimed 2022 album Woe, which was so good it made it onto my year end list. Yes, expectations are high for this record, but there’s also trepidation too – how can An Abstract Illusion possibly meet the high standards they have now set for themselves? Continue reading “An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City (Review)”

Between the Buried and Me – The Blue Nowhere (Review)

Between the Buried and Me - The Blue NowhereThis is the eleventh album from Between the Buried and Me, a progressive metal band.

Every Between the Buried and Me release is An Important Event in my world. I’ve reviewed a handful, (Coma EclipticComa Ecliptic: LiveAutomata IAutomata II), but nowhere their full discography. I’m very pleased to add one more to the pile now though, with The Blue Nowhere, which brings us 71 minutes of new material to obsess over. Continue reading “Between the Buried and Me – The Blue Nowhere (Review)”

Esoterica – Ether Metal (Review)

Esoterica - Ether MetalThis is the fifth album by UK progressive metal band Esoterica.

Ether Metal contains 48 minutes of contemporary, electronically enriched progressive metal/rock. The first time I came across Esoterica was at this year’s Mangata Festival – although I didn’t catch them live, they seemed like a band I wouldn’t mind checking out. My tolerance for this sort of music is quite low though compared to other styles, as most bands playing it I find are just bland and bad. So, do Esoterica have what it takes to be worth listening to? Continue reading “Esoterica – Ether Metal (Review)”

Turian – Blood Quantum Blues (Review)

Turian - Blood Quantum BluesThis is the fourth album from US metallic hardcore band Turian.

Blood Quantum Blues contains 38 minutes of music that mixes together punk, metal, and hardcore, with electronics and progressive elements thrown in for extra flavour and texture. Turian have produced an album that rages and snarls, but does so with skill and ability. Continue reading “Turian – Blood Quantum Blues (Review)”