This is the eleventh album from US experimental band Kayo Dot.
The tag experimental is frequently not a very useful one, but then Kayo Dot aren’t a band that invite easy categorisation. Every Rock, Every Half-Truth under Reason contains 66 minutes of music, and a range of styles and influences have gone into its creation. Continue reading “Kayo Dot – Every Rock, Every Half-Truth under Reason (Review)”
This is the debut album from UK alternative rock band Love Is Noise.
Across 47 minutes Love Is Noise take the listener on a journey though emotion, as portrayed by the band’s charismatic blend of alternative rock, shoegaze, nu-metal, indie rock, dream pop. To Live in a Different Way is an interesting record that brings a lot to the table, and fuses it together in ways that hit more than they miss. Continue reading “Love Is Noise – To Live in a Different Way (Review)”
This is the sixth album from Austrian post-black metallers Harakiri for the Sky.
Harakiri for the Sky always seem to deliver albums that are lengthy, but rewarding. 2016’s III: Trauma, 2018’s Arson, and 2021’s Mӕre were all notable records in this regard. Now, with the arrival of Scorched Earth, have Harakiri for the Sky continued this trend of quality album releases? Continue reading “Harakiri for the Sky – Scorched Earth (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 second album from Greek post-metal band Unverkalt.
How to get my attention: start a promo email by stating something is for fans of Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas and Made out of Babies. The downside of this though is that the music then has a lot to live up to. So, across the 47 minutes of material on A Lump of Death: A Chaos of Dead Lovers, do Unverkalt impress, or disappoint? Continue reading “Unverkalt – A Lump of Death: A Chaos of Dead Lovers (Review)”
This is the second album from UK mathcore band Pupil Slicer.
With a sci-fi theme and a range of different influences, Blossom is a 46-minute journey into Pupil Slicer’s absorbingly intense world. The promo blurb states bands such as Nine Inch Nails, Deafheaven, Radiohead, and Botch as prime influences, and this should set the scene for what is a broad and compelling work. Continue reading “Pupil Slicer – Blossom (Review)”
This is the second album from US progressive metal/rock band OK Goodnight.
The Fox and the Bird contains 52 minutes of modern progressive metal that brings together a variety of influences into a multifaceted whole. A foundation of progressive metal and rock is enriched with elements of pop, jazz, and indie to create music that’s charismatic and highly textured. Continue reading “OK Goodnight – The Fox and the Bird (Review)”
This is the fourth album from progressive/stoner metal band Druids.
After very much enjoying 2016’s Cycles of Mobeum, 2017’s Spirit Compass, and 2019’s Monument, I knew I wanted to check out Shadow Work as soon as it saw the light of day. Continue reading “Druids – Shadow Work (Review)”
This is the debut album from Chinese progressive rock band OU.
OU have a very striking and unusual sound. Dynamic, vibrant, and atypical, One is an album made for those looking for something a bit different from their music. Continue reading “OU – One (Review)”
This is the fifth album from German black metal band Der Weg Einer Freiheit.
Following on from 2017’s Finisterre, Noktvrn is an album that finds Der Weg Einer Freiheit at the height of their powers. Containing 48 minutes of progressive and atmospheric post-black metal, Der Weg Einer Freiheit sound darkly vibrant and full of expressive might. Continue reading “Der Weg Einer Freiheit – Noktvrn (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 