I’ve never seen Alcest before, so this was a great opportunity to remedy that, especially as the wonderful Svalbard were also playing. Doodseskader too, but I don’t really know them. Continue reading “Alcest/Svalbard/Doodseskader – Academy 2, Manchester – 12/12/24 (Live Review)”
This is the second album from UK doomgaze band Sugar Horse.
The Grand Scheme of Things contains an hour of idiosyncratic and expressive music. The style overall can be thought of as doomgaze, although it has a variety of ingredients, including indie, shoegaze, sludge, doom, drone, and post-rock/metal. Continue reading “Sugar Horse – The Grand Scheme of Things (Review)”
This is the debut album from French modern metal band Vestige.
To give a flavour of the sort of hybrid style that Vestige play, the promo blurb states that Janis is for fans of Deftones, Alcest, Loathe, and Sylvaine. In practice, this means a modern metal blend of post-metal and black/shoegaze. This results in songs that are highly atmospheric, yet also song-focused. Continue reading “Vestige – Janis (Review)”
Vuur & Zijde are a blackened post metal band from the Netherlands and this is their debut album.
Brought to us by current and ex-members of bands such as Freja, Laster, Silver Knife, Terzij de Horde, Witte Wieven, and more, Boezem contains 46 minutes of idiosyncratic and enjoyable music. Continue reading “Vuur & Zijde – Boezem (Review)”
This is the seventh album from French post-black metallers Alcest.
Les Chants de l’Aurore contains 44 minutes of new music from the legendary Alcest. This is a band that many people hold a special place in their heart for, and a new album is a big deal in certain circles. So the question is, have Alcest delivered or disappointed? Continue reading “Alcest – Les Chants de l’Aurore (Review)”
This 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)”
Solar Temple and Dead Neanderthals are both from the Netherlands. The former plays black metal, (and contains members of Fluisteraars and Dool), and the latter is an experimental act.
Embers Beget the Divine documents the live show that the Continue reading “Solar Temple & Dead Neanderthals – Embers Beget the Divine (Review)”
This is the third album from French black metal act Jours Pâles.
Jours Pâles’ debut album Éclosion was a surprise hit of 2021 for me, and while 2022 follow up Tensions was a worthy successor, it was released too late in the year to impact upon list season. So, now we have 46 minutes of new material to work through on Dissolution, how have Jours Pâles fared this time around? Continue reading “Jours Pâles – Dissolution (Review)”
This is the fourth album from US blackened post-hardcore band Glassing.
2019’s Spotted Horse caused people to pay attention to what Glassing had to offer, but it was 2021’s Twin Dream that really impressed. From the Other Side of the Mirror offers 42 minutes of new material, and its as good as you would hope for. Continue reading “Glassing – From the Other Side of the Mirror (Review)”
A Burial at Sea are a post-rock band from Ireland and this is their second album.
Close to Home contains 43 minutes of exquisitely rendered post-rock. Boasting contributions from shoegaze, jazz, and progressive rock, this is a non-standard album for lovers of broad soundscapes and brass-enriched musical vistas. It’s mostly instrumental, and paints wonderfully textured pictures with sound.
Wonderbox Metal 