Monthly Overview – the Best of September 2022

September was a particularly difficult month to have to limit my choice of key metal albums to just five. As such, I’m going to skip over both An Abstract Illusion’s Woe and Gaerea’s Mirage; both are great records and are getting abundant, richly-deserved praise elsewhere, allowing me to focus on lesser-known releases. Even with this though, I still struggled with having to omit so many other worthy albums… Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of September 2022”

Into the Heat – Out of the Shade UK & EU Tour – The Ocean/LLNN/Playgrounded – Manchester Club Academy, 03/09/22 (Live Review)

Into the Heat - Out of the Shade UK & EU Tour - The Ocean LLNN Playgrounded

Although I managed to see The Ocean’s livestream show and I enjoyed it very much, I’ve been looking forward to catching them in the flesh once again. So here we are, back in Manchester, back with The Ocean, (and friends). Continue reading “Into the Heat – Out of the Shade UK & EU Tour – The Ocean/LLNN/Playgrounded – Manchester Club Academy, 03/09/22 (Live Review)”

Slugcrust – Ecocide (Review)

Slugcrust - EcocideThis is the debut album from US grindcore band Slugcrust.

Containing two members of WVRMEcocide contains 22 minutes of mayhem and carnage, the way they used to make it, but rarely do anymore. Well, Slugcrust do, and they do it very well. Continue reading “Slugcrust – Ecocide (Review)”

Nadja – Labyrinthine (Review)

Nadja - LabyrinthineThis is the latest release from Nadja, a doom/drone duo from Canada.

Nadja are a great band, (make sure you check out the stunning Sv), and they have an astonishing amount of releases under their belt. This latest one is something a little exceptional though, as the normally largely instrumental duo have recruited a different vocalist for each of the colossal four songs that make up this 63-minute album. Continue reading “Nadja – Labyrinthine (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)”

Hexis – Aeternum (Review)

Hexis - AeternumThis is the third album from Hexis, a blackened hardcore band from Denmark.

Hexis mix sludge, post-metal, and hardcore into a blackened concoction of lethal venom, then make you drink it for the 46 minutes that Aeternum takes to unfold. Continue reading “Hexis – Aeternum (Review)”

Morbid Evils – Supernaturals (Review)

Morbid Evils - SupernaturalsThis is the third album from Morbid Evils, a Finnish doom band.

Featuring a member of Rotten SoundSupernaturals contains four tracks, with a total duration of 40 minutes. The promo blurb mentions bands like Primitive Man, Jupiterian, 71TONMAN, Thou, Conan, Grief, and Warcrab, and this certainly sets the scene for the output of Morbid Evils quite well. Continue reading “Morbid Evils – Supernaturals (Review)”