Slomatics – Atomicult (Review)

Slomatics - AtomicultSlomatics are a doom metal band from the UK and this is their eighth album.

Ever since hearing 2016’s amazing Future Echo Returns, I’ve been a huge fan of Slomatics, (also, if you haven’t already, check out Canyons and Strontium Fields, as well as these splits – here and here). Slomatics are one of the best doom bands around in my humble opinion, which means I’ve been really looking forward to Atomicult. Continue reading “Slomatics – Atomicult (Review)”

Old Horn Tooth – Mourning Light (Review)

Old Horn Tooth - Mourning LightOld Horn Tooth are a doom metal band from the UK and this is their second album.

Mourning Light is massive, in more ways than one. There are four tracks, but each one is a doom monster, and the record’s total duration is 68 minutes. Old Horn Tooth aren’t messing around here, so strap in and prepare yourself for an avalanche of crushing doom. Continue reading “Old Horn Tooth – Mourning Light (Review)”

Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2023

Welcome to my annual attempt to make sense of the ridiculous amount of good metal albums out there, awaiting discovery by intrepid metal explorers.

2023’s best of list has been one of the more difficult ones to put together, placing-wise, which is one of the reasons that I’m posting it later than I usually do. Even more so than normal many of the slots are interchangeable, and I especially struggled with positions two-nine – if such a thing were possible, they all deserve to be higher! In the end I decided to stop overthinking it and go with my gut, but the usual caveat of these lists being very subjective and subject to change depending on mood, feelings, etc. is larger than normal here.

There are some notable acts missing form the below. Not because they’re not worthy of inclusion, but because there are only so many spaces to be had. In fact, I almost ended up limiting this list to 20, rather than the now-customary 30, as I found it really difficult to know who to include and who not to. In the end I went with the standard 30 so that I could promote a few extra bands, as they absolutely all deserve it.

As for the top position, I wasn’t expecting it to be filled by a band I’d never heard before, playing a style that I don’t listen to as much as I used to. However, I suppose after last year, I shouldn’t have been too surprised.

I do hope you enjoy this list and find some new music to obsess over. Like always, thanks for your support if you have ever visited this site before, and here’s to a great 2024 for as many of us as possible. Continue reading “Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2023”

Slomatics – Strontium Fields (Review)

Slomatics - Strontium FieldsSlomatics are a doom metal band from the UK and this is their seventh album.

They’re heavy, they’re doomy, they’re Slomatics. This is a band that I really, really like. Haven’t heard them? As well as this new record, make sure you check out Future Echo Returns, Canyons, and their splits with Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard/MWWB and Yanomamo. Continue reading “Slomatics – Strontium Fields (Review)”

Label Roundup: Majestic Mountain Records – Bogwife, Redscale, Jointhugger, & Grand Cadaver (Reviews)

Wonderbox Metal gets sent a lot of new music, (which is great), but there’s no way that everything can get covered unfortunately, (which is not so great). This new column hopes to redress this balance, if only slightly, by taking a look at a handful of releases that a record label has recently sent out that might have otherwise slipped through the cracks.

This time we’ll take a look at some releases from Majestic Mountain Records, which is a record label that I’ve only really just discovered via the wonderful Kal-El. I know nothing about the label, but I like what I’m hearing, so let’s delve into some of what they have to offer below… Continue reading “Label Roundup: Majestic Mountain Records – Bogwife, Redscale, Jointhugger, & Grand Cadaver (Reviews)”

Vokonis – Odyssey (Review)

Vokonis - OdysseyThis is the fourth album from Vokonis, a progressive doom metal band from Sweden.

Vokonis’ style mixes together progressive metal with stoner and doom metal, resulting in a colourful and enjoyable collection of tracks. While Mastodon is the obvious reference point, it’s also an inadequate one for Odyssey, as there’s a lot more at play here than simply Mastodon worship. I can also hear elements of bands as diverse as Sleep, Slomatics, Elder, Perihelion Ship, Rush, Khemmis, Alice in Chains, Witchkiss, Monolord, and Black Crown Initiate, to name but a few. Continue reading “Vokonis – Odyssey (Review)”

Spelljammer – Abyssal Trip (Review)

Spelljammer - Abyssal TripSpelljammer are a Swedish doom metal band and this is their second album.

Spelljammer play a form of doom that incorporates elements of stoner metal, sludge, and psychedelic/progressive rock into its makeup. This is then shaped into 43 minutes of satisfying and enjoyable doom, nay, DOOOOM, that really hits the spot. Continue reading “Spelljammer – Abyssal Trip (Review)”