Uniform – American Standard (Review)

Uniform - American StandardUniform are an industrial band from the US and this is their fifth album.

Ever since discovering Uniform on their 2018 album The Long Walk I’ve looked forward to every subsequent release. Whether it’s their collaborations with The Body in 2019, (Everything That Dies Someday Comes Back), or Boris in 2023, (Bright New Disease), or their most recent full length in 2020 Shame, Uniform always produce music that’s worth exploring. All of which is to say that American Standard is hotly anticipated. Continue reading “Uniform – American Standard (Review)”

Lust Hag/Reaping Fields – Prayers Unanswered – Split (Review)

Lust Hag Reaping Fields - Prayers Unanswered - SplitThis is a split between two US black metal bands, Lust Hag and Reaping Fields.

NEW LUST HAG! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! I dunno what it is with Lust Hag, but I just can’t get enough. Actually, I know exactly what it is – it’s just absolutely killer black metal. This is a split though, and Reaping Fields, as we’ll see, are a revelation. Continue reading “Lust Hag/Reaping Fields – Prayers Unanswered – Split (Review)”

Orange Goblin – Science, Not Fiction (Review)

Orange Goblin - Science, Not FictionThis is the tenth album from UK stoner/heavy metal band Orange Goblin.

A new Orange Goblin album is a notable event. 2014’s Back from the Abyss was a top drawer record, followed by 2018’s enjoyable The Wolf Bites Back. Six years later, we get Science, Not Fiction, which brings us 53 minutes, (with bonus track), of new material. Continue reading “Orange Goblin – Science, Not Fiction (Review)”

Conifère – L’Imp​ô​t du Sang (Review)

Conifère - L'Imp​ô​t du SangThis is the debut album from Canadian black metallers Conifère.

L’Imp​ô​t du Sang offers up 31 minutes of old-school black metal. Conifère’s music takes the tried-and-tested classic formula and runs with it, producing a corker of an album that sounds far more vibrant and engaging than many that play the style. Continue reading “Conifère – L’Imp​ô​t du Sang (Review)”

Skelethal – Within Corrosive Continuums (Review)

Skelethal - Within Corrosive ContinuumsSkelethal are a French death metal band and this is their third album.

Skelethal play classic death metal and unleash 40 minutes of carnage across Within Corrosive Continuums. Built upon a sturdy foundation of old-school Swedish death metal, the music is forged from iron and molten lava. Continue reading “Skelethal – Within Corrosive Continuums (Review)”

Julie Christmas – Ridiculous and Full of Blood (Review)

Julie Christmas - Ridiculous and Full of BloodThis is the second solo album from the iconic Julie Christmas, who plays a vert individual brand of rock/metal.

A new solo album from one of the best artists in the business, a mere 14 years after her last one? Someone who has one of the most individual and simply fantastic singing voices ever, and has given us some classic albums from bands like Battle of Mice and Made out of Babies? An artist who even managed to elevate the pretty much untouchable Cult of Luna to unexpectedly higher levels of excellence on Mariner? New songs from her? Sign me up without hesitation. Continue reading “Julie Christmas – Ridiculous and Full of Blood (Review)”

Beaten to Death – Sunrise over Rigor Mortis (Review)

Beaten to Death - Sunrise over Rigor MortisBeaten to Death are a Norwegian grindcore band and this is their sixth album.

Beaten to Death are a well-regarded grindcore band that I’ve never listened to before now, but I’ve heard good things about for years. Branded as progressive/melodic grindcore, and stated as suitable for fans of Fuck the Facts, Gridlink, and Discordance Axis by the promo blurb, I knew I had to check this out. Continue reading “Beaten to Death – Sunrise over Rigor Mortis (Review)”

Thou – Umbilical (Review)

Thou - UmbilicalThou are a sludge/doom band from the US and this is their sixth album.

Following on from 2018’s immense Magus, Umbilical contains 49 minutes of new music from the very well-regarded Thou. Umbilical takes a different route to heaviness than its predecessor, but is no less effective in achieving its goals. Continue reading “Thou – Umbilical (Review)”

Sulaco – Black Cloud (Review)

Sulaco - Black CloudThis is the latest EP from US deathgrinders Sulaco.

I’ve enjoyed following Sulaco over the years – 2011’s Build & Burn, 2018’s The Prize, and 2020’s The Privilege – so Black Cloud is most welcome here at Wonderbox Metal. Containing two songs, and with a duration of 8 minutes, there may not be much material here, but this is about quality, not quantity. Continue reading “Sulaco – Black Cloud (Review)”

Crawl – Altar of Disgust (Review)

Crawl - Altar of DisgustCrawl are a death metal band from Sweden and this is their second album.

I thoroughly enjoyed 2018’s Rituals, so was pleased when Crawl’s split with Feral appeared last year. They’re now back again with Altar of Disgust, which delivers 31 minutes of crust-driven Swedeath heaviness. Continue reading “Crawl – Altar of Disgust (Review)”