Drouth – Excerpts from a Dread Liturgy (Review)

Drouth - Excerpts from a Dread LiturgyThis is the second album from Drouth, a black/death metal band from the US.

This is sinister black metal that has had its delivery deepened by death metal’s gnarled bite. It’s a sinister and menacing 40 minutes, but a richly textured one also, ripe with atmosphere and expressive feeling. Continue reading “Drouth – Excerpts from a Dread Liturgy (Review)”

Dim Lords – A Paler You (Review)

Dim Lords - A Paler YouThis is the second release by Dim Lords, an anonymous black metal band.

2018’s Last World, Dead Universe was an unpleasant amalgamation of twisted black metal and vicious punk. A Paler You gives us another six tracks of unrelenting vileness to dive into; 20 minutes of aural violence. Continue reading “Dim Lords – A Paler You (Review)”

Daggers – Neon Noir Erotica (Review)

Daggers - Neon Noir EroticaDaggers are a French hardcore band and this is their fourth album.

Daggers’ music is a mix of punk, hardcore, and noise rock, all of which comes together into 35 minutes of engaging, individual music. Continue reading “Daggers – Neon Noir Erotica (Review)”

Blacklab – Abyss (Review)

Blacklab - AbyssThis is the second album from Japanese doom band Blacklab.

Taking a jagged, almost experimental approach to doom, Blacklab’s music is a curious fusion of Black Sabbath, Boris, and The Stooges. This is dark, raw, and peppered with hardcore and noise rock influences. Continue reading “Blacklab – Abyss (Review)”

Eye Flys – Tub of Lard (Review)

Eye Flys - Tub of LardThis is the debut album from US hardcore band Eye Flys.

Featuring a guitarist of Full of Hell, this is 25 minutes of stocky heaviness and charismatic hostility. Elements of hardcore, punk, sludge, and noise rock collide on Tub of Lard, leading to an enjoyable take on heavy music. Reference points for Continue reading “Eye Flys – Tub of Lard (Review)”

Cardinals Folly – Defying the Righteous Way (Review)

Cardinals Folly - Defying the Righteous WayCardinals Folly are a Finnish doom metal band and this is their fifth album.

I have a definite soft spot for Cardinals Folly, and I’d recommend the likes of Our Cult Continues! and Deranged Pagan Sons to anyone who enjoys charismatic doom metal with larger-than-life vocals. Defying the Righteous Way is the band’s latest chapter, and it’s damn good one, worthy of inclusion in the Cardinals Folly saga. Continue reading “Cardinals Folly – Defying the Righteous Way (Review)”

Blissful Stream – When the Wolves Start to Circle (Review)

Blissful Stream - When the Wolves Start to CircleThis is the debut album from one-man Swedish doom metal band Blissful Stream.

It seems like an age since Blissful Stream first appeared in 2016 with Ascending Demons, which impressed with its lo-fi rocky take on doom metal. The next two years saw a release every year, (Devil’s Night to All Souls – Split with Lightsabres, and Dead Religious), and then a quiet 2019. This was apparently due to the artist building up to his fist full length, which we are now lucky enough to have in 2020. Continue reading “Blissful Stream – When the Wolves Start to Circle (Review)”

Year of the Cobra – Ash and Dust (Review)

Year of the Cobra - Ash and DustThis is the second album from US doomsters Year of the Cobra.

I always enjoy Year of the Cobra’s work. Both …in the Shadows Below and Burn Your Dead were characterful displays of doom metal, played with skill and talent. As such, I’m pleased by the band’s return on Ash and Dust; 41 minutes of guitar-free doom anthems. Continue reading “Year of the Cobra – Ash and Dust (Review)”

Y-Incision/Treasonist – Mechanical Perdition – Split (Review)

Y-Incision Treasonist - Mechanical Perdition - SplitBoth hailing from the US, Y-Incision and Treasonist each play variants of grindcore.

Y-Incision open the split with 10 minutes of material – 6 songs, one of which is a Treasonist cover. Continue reading “Y-Incision/Treasonist – Mechanical Perdition – Split (Review)”

Strigoi – Abandon All Faith (Review)

Strigoi - Abandon All FaithThis is the debut album from UK death metal band Strigoi.

Brought to us from the guitarist of Paradise Lost, rising out of the ashes of his Vallenfyre project, he’s joined on Srigoi by members of both bands, (one of which is also an ex-member of Extreme Noise Terror), giving us 44 minutes of engaging and individual death metal. Continue reading “Strigoi – Abandon All Faith (Review)”