Smiqra – Rɡyaɡ̇dźé! (Review)

Smiqra - Rɡyaɡ̇dźé!This is the debut album by solo Chinese avant-garde extreme metal act Smiqra.

Brought to us by the artist behind the Ὁπλίτης (Hoplites), Smiqra take the more avant-garde aspects of the last Ὁπλίτης release Παραμαινομένη and runs with them. Rgyaɡ̇dźé! is a 42-minute explosion of avant-garde metal that’s dizzying. Continue reading “Smiqra – Rɡyaɡ̇dźé! (Review)”

Kardashev – Alunea (Review)

Kardashev - AluneaThis is the third album from US extreme metal band Kardashev.

Kardashev return, after the acclaimed Liminal Rite from 2022. The self-styled deathgaze band have provided us with 43 minutes of new material on Alunea. Continue reading “Kardashev – Alunea (Review)”

In the Woods… – Otra (Review)

the Woods... - OtraIn the Woods… are a Norwegian progressive metal band and this is their seventh album.

I thoroughly enjoyed 2022’s Diversum, so was pleased when Otra appeared on the horizon. Across 47 minutes In the Woods… deliver a richly engaging album, full of textured and high quality songcraft. Continue reading “In the Woods… – Otra (Review)”

Tómarúm – Beyond Obsidian Euphoria (Review)

Tómarúm - Beyond Obsidian EuphoriaThis is the second album from US black/death metal band Tómarúm.

2022’s Ash in Realms of Stone Icons was a one of the best of the year, so anticipation has been high for the new one from Tómarúm. Will Beyond Obsidian Euphoria‘s 69 minutes have the same impact as its predecessor? Continue reading “Tómarúm – Beyond Obsidian Euphoria (Review)”

Dissocia – To Lift the Veil (Review)

Dissocia - To Lift the VeilDissocia are a Spanish progressive metal band and this is their debut album.

Brought to us by current/ex-members of Aposento, Bizarre, Cancer, Eternal Storm, and Wormed, Dissocia play modern progressive metal, with elements of death metal incorporated into its cinematic whole. Across 41 minutes, To Lift the Veil makes its intentions known in no uncertain terms, and has an impact. Continue reading “Dissocia – To Lift the Veil (Review)”

Aversed – Erasure of Color (Review)

Aversed - Erasure of ColorThis is the second album from US extreme metal band Aversed.

2021’s Impermanent was an enjoyable album that mixed a few different metal styles together to deliver a satisfying result. Four years and a change of singer later, and Aversed are back with the 40-minute Erasure of Color. Continue reading “Aversed – Erasure of Color (Review)”

Dawn of Ouroboros – Bioluminescence (Review)

Dawn of Ouroboros - BioluminescenceThis is the third album from Dawn of Ouroboros, a progressive black/death metal band from the US.

Both 2020’s The Art of Morphology and 2023’s Velvet Incandescence were solid albums from Dawn of Ouroboros, so when I heard about Bioluminescence, it became an anticipated album for 2025. Across 43 minutes Dawn of Ouroboros once again deliver an expressive and charismatic album of hybridised metal styles. Continue reading “Dawn of Ouroboros – Bioluminescence (Review)”

Primrose Path – Ruminations (Review)

Primrose Path - RuminationsThis is the debut album from Australian progressive metal band Primrose Path.

The promo blurb says this is for fans of Opeth, Tesseract, Mastodon, and Gojira, which should give you a starting point for approaching the 43-minute Ruminations. Now here’s an underground gem that likely won’t stay underground for long. Continue reading “Primrose Path – Ruminations (Review)”