Underdark are a post-black metal band from the UK and this is their third album.
2021’s Our Bodies Burned Bright on Re-Entry favourably introduced us to Underdark, and 2023’s Managed Decline crystalised their talents nicely. The potential of a band like Underdark is huge, which brings us to 43-minute new platter O Come Forth Annihilation. Will the Underdark upward trajectory continue? That’s the question. Continue reading “Underdark – O Come Forth Annihilation (Review)”
Sea Bastard are a sludge/doom band from the UK and this is their third album.
Oh, Sea Bastard, where have you been? It’s been a decade since their last release, and even longer since 2013’s colossal full length Scabrous. Something new from this superlative crew is long overdue. And here it is – unlooked for, unexpected, yet very welcome. Continue reading “Sea Bastard – Cyclopean (Review)”
Boss Keloid are a progressive rock/metal band from the UK and this is their fifth album.
If Herb Your Enthusiasm, Melted on the Inch, and Family the Smiling Thrush weren’t enough to convince you of the merits of Boss Keloid’s individual take on sludgy music, then you’ve simply been missing out. Well, now we have Float & Aperture, a record that you didn’t know you needed, but you clearly do. Continue reading “Boss Keloid – Float & Aperture (Review)”
Rorcal are a Swiss post-black/doom metal band and this is their seventh album.
Rorcal are a shapeshifting band that are more than worthy of your attention, (here, here, here, here, here). In other words, when they release something, it always rewards investigation. So what grim shape does Mahre take? Continue reading “Rorcal – Mahre (Review)”
This is the second album by UK extreme metal band Burner.
Burner bring us 48 minutes of material to abandon all hope to on No One Is Coming to Save Us. Playing a hybrid style that’s as effective as it is unexpectedly multifaceted, Burner’s new record is a real powerhouse. Continue reading “Burner – No One Is Coming to Save Us (Review)”
This is the fourth album by Swedish doom/sludge metal band Kongh.
Dissolved in Time contains three sprawling tracks that total 39 minutes. Kongh’s style mixes sludge, doom, and post-metal, delivering a record that makes a good impression. Continue reading “Kongh – Dissolved in Time (Review)”
This is the fourth album by UK sludge metallers Remote Viewing.
Fusing doomy sludge heaviness with noise rock urgency and dynamics, Remote Viewing are here to cause damage and drag you down into the filth. Launching 40 minutes of material right at your uncaring face, State Violence will not be ignored. Continue reading “Remote Viewing – State Violence (Review)”
Kōya are a post-hardcore band from Denmark and this is their debut album.
Pendula consists of 38 minutes of material that is impressively wrought, especially for a first record. Kōya bring a few different influences together well, and the result is an album as devastating as it is well-rendered. Continue reading “Kōya – Pendula (Review)”
ArcTanGent is the UK’s premier outdoor alternative music festival, and it’s a great pleasure to have so many great bands here over one weekend, from all over the world.
It’s this writer’s first time at the festival, even if it’s only for the Friday and the Saturday, and it turns out to be an extremely enjoyable and rewarding couple of days. The festival’s organisation, layout, lineup, and everything else have clearly been thought about closely and iterated upon over time. The end result is a festival experience that’s one of the best out there. Continue reading “ArcTanGent Festival 2026 – Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin, 21/08/26-22/08/26 (Live Review)”
This is the third album from UK doom/sludge band Kulk.
Now here’s an intriguing release. On the surface of it, Choosing to Die is a 26-minute doomsludge album ostensibly in the vein of many others. Look more closely though, and you’ll find a record far broader in scope and ambition. Kulk take a style that’s been done to death and infuse it with fresh vitality. Continue reading “Kulk – Choosing to Die (Review)”
