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 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 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)”
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 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)”
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 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)”
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)”
This is the third album from Canadian progressive metal band Anciients.
I haven’t heard Anciients since their 2013 album Heart of Oak, and it’s been a long eight years since their last release, (2016’s Voice of the Void, which I completely missed out on), so I’ve some cathing up to do. I really like their debut though, so was looking forward to the 59 minuets of Beyond the Reach of the Sun. The band have a new lineup, but they still don’t let me down. Continue reading “Anciients – Beyond the Reach of the Sun (Review)”
Sur Austru are an atmospheric black/folk metal band from Romania and this is their third album.
Datura Străhiarelor is the 54-minute follow up to 2019’s Meteahna Timpurilor and 2021’s Obârșie. Sur Austru’s path is not a well-trodden one, and on this new album the band have travelled further into the wilderness, to great effect. Continue reading “Sur Austru – Datura Străhiarelor (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 