Monthly Overview – the Best of June 2020

No preamble this month, let’s just get right down to it… Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of June 2020”

Vile Creature – Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! (Review)

Vile Creature - Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm!Vile Creature are a Canadian doom band and this is their third album.

2018’s Cast of Static and Smoke was a notable album, both musically and as a conceptual work that was fleshed out by a short story. Vile Creature have now returned, and what they have unleashed on the world is a superlative piece of heavy art. Continue reading “Vile Creature – Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! (Review)”

Abhasa – १ (Review)

Abhasa - १Abhasa are a atmospheric black metal/dark ambient band from the US, and this is their debut album. It’s actually a remastered version of the original album that came out last year, (which I haven’t heard).

Abhasa’s mysterious and esoteric blend of post-black metal, sludge, and dark ambient is a ritualistic journey into bleak atmosphere. This is 50 minutes of dark mood music, combining blackened soundscapes with minimal ambience. Continue reading “Abhasa – १ (Review)”

-(16)- – Dream Squasher (Review)

16 - Dream Squasher-(16)- are a sludge metal band from the US and this is their eighth album.

Apart from 2017’s split with Fistula, I’m unfamiliar with -(16)- and their work, although I’ve been aware of their existence for decades. Due to their pedigree, and the fact that the press blurb recommends them for Continue reading “-(16)- – Dream Squasher (Review)”

Xibalba – Años en Infierno (Review)

Xibalba - Años en InfiernoXibalba are a death metal/hardcore band from the US and this is their fourth album.

Prepare to be crushed! Both 2015’s Tierra y Libertad and 2017’s Diablo, Con Amor…Adios. did precisely this, and now Años en Infierno has arrived to do the same – crush. CRUSH!!!!! Continue reading “Xibalba – Años en Infierno (Review)”

Bait – Revelation of the Pure (Review)

Bait - Revelation of the PureBait are a German blackened hardcore band and this is their debut album.

Featuring a member of Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Bait play post-black metal with hardcore bite. Offering 45 minutes of aggressive darkness, Revelation of the Pure is a worthy listen. Continue reading “Bait – Revelation of the Pure (Review)”

Ashtar – Kaikuja (Review)

Ashtar - KaikujaAshtar are from Switzerland and play blackened doom. This is their second album.

It’s been five years since we were graced with Ashtar’s presence; Ilmasaari was a very notable and satisfying record, and Kaijuka even more so. Continue reading “Ashtar – Kaikuja (Review)”

Forming the Void – Reverie (Review)

Forming the Void - ReverieThis is the fourth album from progressive stoner/sludge doom metallers Forming the Void.

I enjoy Forming the Void’s work; 2018’s split with Pyreship and Rift were both quality releases, but on Reverie, the band have produced something quite wonderful. Continue reading “Forming the Void – Reverie (Review)”