Progressive metal – Page 5

Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2024

Yes, it’s list season once more, so gather round and witness some of the best metal that 2024 had to offer!

2024 was a fantastic year for metal, and that’s an understatement. I thought 2023 was one of the weaker years for metal releases, overall. As such, putting last year’s list together, although challenging as it always is, was relatively effortless compared to this one. I don’t think I’ve agonised over placings more any other year. In the end, similar to last year, I just decided that enough was enough and I needed to just stop needlessly obsessing. Continue reading “Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2024”

Múr – Múr (Review)

This is the debut album from Icelandic progressive/post-metal band Múr.

Across 54 minutes Múr have crafted a multifaceted record that takes liberally from the progressive and post-metal styles, resulting in a journey that’s very satisfying. Múr should appeal to fans of bands such as Ihsahn, Gojira, Alcest, Devin Townsend, Iotunn, Opeth, The Ocean, and Enslaved, as it touches all of these bands and more in different places over the course of the album. Importantly though, Múr never sound like they’re plagiarising, and instead have managed to forge a personality of their own remarkably quickly. Continue reading “Múr – Múr (Review)”

Damnation Festival 2024 – BEC Arena, Manchester – 02/11/24 (Live Review)

Another year, another Damnation Festival. As always, the organisers are to be commended for putting on one of the UK’s premier metal festivals. I’ve been coming here most years for almost two decades now, and I’ve never yet had a bad day.

There are three stages. Two smaller stages that clash with each other, and a main stage that clashes with nothing. Continue reading “Damnation Festival 2024 – BEC Arena, Manchester – 02/11/24 (Live Review)”

Iotunn – Kinship (Review)

Iotunn are a progressive metal band from Denmark, and this is their second album.

Now here’s one that’s been greatly anticipated. It’s an absolute travesty that Iotunn’s 2021 debut Access All Worlds didn’t end up on that year’s end of year list. How it didn’t I’ll never know, as it would easily have been in the top 5 or 10. Entirely my mistake, as it’s a fantastic record. All of which is to say that Kinship has a lot of expectation riding on it. Continue reading “Iotunn – Kinship (Review)”

Mother of Millions – Magna Mater (Review)

Mother of Millions are a Greek progressive metal band and this is their fourth album.

Magna Mater contains 43 minutes of progressive metal. As my first encounter with Mother of Millions this is an extremely strong one. Let’s dig into this impressive, powerful record. Continue reading “Mother of Millions – Magna Mater (Review)”

Lowen – Do Not Go to War with the Demons of Mazandaran (Review)

This is the second album from UK metal band Lowen.

Do Not Go to War with the Demons of Mazandaran contains 37 minutes of progressive metal. The promo blurb describes Lowen as “Crushing progressive doom steeped in the history of the ancient middle-east and the empty vistas of space.”, which is a great introduction to the band’s work, although I’d argue that the doom aspect of the music is not a huge one. Continue reading “Lowen – Do Not Go to War with the Demons of Mazandaran (Review)”

Crimson Veil – Hex (Review)

Crimson Veil are a progressive metal band from the UK and this is their debut album.

Across 56 minutes Hex offers up a hybrid style that’s interesting and absorbing. Crimson Veil have made a very favourable impression with their first album, one that I urge you to take the time to explore. Continue reading “Crimson Veil – Hex (Review)”

Oceans of Slumber – Where Gods Fear to Speak (Review)

This is the sixth album from US progressive metallers Oceans of Slumber.

After releasing two very well-received albums of progressive metal in 2018’s The Banished Heart and 2020’s self titled album, Oceans of Slumber surprised many by adopting more of a hard rock approach on 2022’s Starlight and Ash. Although ultimately I naturally prefer their heavier more metallic material, it was still an accomplished album worthy of anyone’s time. With new record Where Gods Fear to Speak now on the horizon, what do Oceans of Slumber bring us in 2024? Let’s find out. Continue reading “Oceans of Slumber – Where Gods Fear to Speak (Review)”

Black Sites – The Promised Land? (Review)

Black Sites are a heavy/progressive metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.

The Promised Land? is the 44-minute follow up to 2021’s enjoyable Untrue. That record was a strong one, narrowly missing on on my end of year list. I’m interested to see how The Promised Land? fares by the end of the year, as it’s arguably even stronger than its predecessor. Continue reading “Black Sites – The Promised Land? (Review)”

A Swarm of the Sun – An Empire (Review)

This is the fourth album from Swedish post-metal band A Swarm of the Sun.

An Empire offers up a daunting 71 minutes of music to explore. It’s a lot to absorb, but is worth the time investment, as the dark soundscapes that A Swarm of the Sun create are utterly captivating. Continue reading “A Swarm of the Sun – An Empire (Review)”