Dead Cross – II (Review)

Dead Cross - IIThis is the second album from Dead Cross, a hardcore band from the US.

Following on from 2017’s well-received Dead Cross, II hits like an adrenaline shot. Stitching together a carefully smashed up collection of hardcore, thrash and other miscellaneous styles, Dead Cross once again deliver a charismatic and characterful platter of punky tunes. Continue reading “Dead Cross – II (Review)”

Birds in Row – Gris Klein (Review)

Birds in Row - Gris KleinBirds in Row are a French post-hardcore band and this is their third album.

Gris Klein is the 43-minute follow-up to 2018’s We Already Lost the World, and it has been more than worth the wait. Continue reading “Birds in Row – Gris Klein (Review)”

Escuela Grind – Memory Theater (Review)

Escuela Grind - Memory TheaterEscuela Grind are a grindcore band from the US and this is their second album.

I love me some grindcore, but what Escuela Grind give us is actually more interesting than just that. This is grindcore by way of huge metallic hardcore groove. Memory Theater takes the strengths of both worlds to produce a monstrous collection of tracks that cut a swathe through the opposition. Continue reading “Escuela Grind – Memory Theater (Review)”

Might – Abyss (Review)

Might - AbyssThis is the second album from German doom band Might.

Might play an atypical form of doom metal with elements of post-rock, sludge, punk, grunge, and noise rock. Abyss is an unusually varied album, and operates in a lot of genres and styles, sometimes all at once. Continue reading “Might – Abyss (Review)”

Hilning – Råtijinn (Review)

Hilning - RåtijinnThis is the debut album from Hilning, a solo black metal act from Sweden.

Brought to us by a member of Afgrund and Besvärjelsen, Råtijinn contains 48 minutes of frosted black metal ferocity. Hilning’s music merges the old-school cold and dark approach with epic folk-tinged melodies. Continue reading “Hilning – Råtijinn (Review)”

Dub War – Westgate under Fire (Review)

Dub War - Westgate under FireDub War are a metal band from the UK and this is their third album.

Combining metal, punk, hip hop, and reggae influences into their groundbreaking style, I had a lot of time for Dub War in the 90s. As such, it’s an unexpected treat to have some new material from them. Westgate Under Fire gives us 48 minutes of multifaceted musical mayhem. Continue reading “Dub War – Westgate under Fire (Review)”

Chat Pile – God’s Country (Review)

Chat Pile - God's CountryThis is the debut album from Chat Pile, a noise/sludge rock band from the US.

God’s Country is a 42-minute cry of anxiety, despair, and pain, which manifests as noise and sludge rock coalesced into nine emotive tracks. Other elements such as industrial, punk, and grunge have also made it into Chat Pile’s shapeshifting sound, resulting in a charismatic journey into impassioned desperation and energetic angst. Continue reading “Chat Pile – God’s Country (Review)”