Vak – The Islands (Review)

Vak - The IslandsThis is the third album from Swedish sludge metal band Vak.

The Islands contains 50 minutes of progressive sludge metal. Taking in parts of doom, sludge, stoner, psychedelic, and progressive rock, Vak build musical structures that are unusual and impressive. Continue reading “Vak – The Islands (Review)”

Moon Coven – Sun King (Review)

Moon Coven - Sun KingThis is the third album from Swedish rock band Moon Coven.

Moon Coven play a mix of psychedelic rock and stoner doom that has a touch of the progressive about it too. Across 46 minutes Sun King blends these styles into a warm, personable album of good tunes and good vibes. Continue reading “Moon Coven – Sun King (Review)”

Oblivion Protocol – The Fall of the Shires (Review)

Oblivion Protocol - The Fall of the ShiresThis is the debut album from international progressive rock band Oblivion Protocol.

The Fall of the Shires is an interesting record in that it’s a sequel to Threshold’s 2017’s album Legends of the Shires, born from a desire by Oblivion Protocol founder/vocalist/keyboardist Richard West, (also keyboardist in Threshold), to continue that album’s themes and worldbuilding. Continue reading “Oblivion Protocol – The Fall of the Shires (Review)”

Thunder Horse – After the Fall (Review)

Thunder Horse - After the FallThis is the third album from US doom metal band Thunder Horse.

After the Fall contains 40 minutes of quality doom. Spliced with elements of classic heavy metal, stoner, and hard rock, alongside splashes of psychedelia and progressive rock, Thunder Horse have crafted an album that’s worth spending some quality time with. Continue reading “Thunder Horse – After the Fall (Review)”

Weite – Assemblage (Review)

Weite - AssemblageThis is the debut album from Weite, an international rock band.

Featuring members of Elder and High Fighter, Weite play a charismatic mix of 70s psychedelic, progressive, and experimental rock, with jazz elements. Assemblage is an instrumental record, and spends 39 minutes taking the listener on an expansive worldbuilding journey. Continue reading “Weite – Assemblage (Review)”

Dead Quiet – IV (Review)

Dead Quiet - IVThis is the fourth album from Canadian progressive metal/rock band Dead Quiet.

Dead Quiet have an expressive and individual sound that sits somewhere between metal and rock. Combining stoner, heavy, and progressive influences into well-written songs with no small amount of charisma and personality, IV is 45 minutes very well-spent. Continue reading “Dead Quiet – IV (Review)”

Another Black Autumn – Resplendent Apparitions at the Dawn (Review)

Another Black Autumn - Resplendent Apparitions at the DawnThis is the debut album from US black metal band Another Black Autumn.

Containing members of Canis Dirus and Crown of Asteria, Another Black Autumn play atmospheric black metal. Across 31 minutes the band demonstrate a keen ability at producing black metal that doesn’t always do what you expect it to do. Continue reading “Another Black Autumn – Resplendent Apparitions at the Dawn (Review)”

The Anchoret – It All Began with Loneliness (Review)

The Anchoret - It All Began with LonelinessThe Anchoret are a Canadian progressive metal band and this is their debut album.

The Anchoret play a multifaceted brand of progressive metal that takes in aspects of progressive rock and a touch of extreme metal. This has resulted in an album that has plenty of impactful content to instantly appeal, but can also draw the listener back in over time. For a very rough starting point, think a combination of parts of bands such as Karnivool, Between the Buried and Me, Sermon, David Bowie, Dream Theater, Opeth, Queen, The Ocean, Dawnwalker, Ihsahn, and Rush. Continue reading “The Anchoret – It All Began with Loneliness (Review)”

AVKRVST – The Approbation (Review)

AVKRVST - The ApprobationAVKRVST are a Norwegian progressive rock/metal band and this is their debut album.

The Approbation is a 49-minute exploration of progressive rock and metal, played professionally and delivered with a contemporary sheen. Continue reading “AVKRVST – The Approbation (Review)”