Abhasa 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)- 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 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 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 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)”
In the Company of Serpents are a doom/sludge band from the US and this is their fourth album.
Having thoroughly enjoyed Merging in Light and Ain-Soph Aur, a new 44 minutes of music from In the Company of Serpents is very welcome indeed. Continue reading “In the Company of Serpents – Lux (Review)”
This 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)”
This is the tenth album from Forgotten Tomb, an Italian black/doom/sludge metal band.
2015’s Hurt Yourself and the Ones You Love and 2017’s We Owe You Nothing are both favourites of mine, so it’s great to have some new work from Forgotten Tomb, especially something as well-wrought as Nihilistic Estrangement. Continue reading “Forgotten Tomb – Nihilistic Estrangement (Review)”
This is the second album from Alkymist, a Danish sludge/doom band.
If you have a taste for a heavy, progressive mix of sludge and doom metal, then there’s a lot to enjoy on Sanctuary. Continue reading “Alkymist – Sanctuary (Review)”
This is the debut album from Shatter Brain, an Australian thrash metal band.
Featuring members of Voros and Alkira, Pitchfork Justice contains 40 minutes of bellicose metal. Blending thrash, hardcore, and sludge metal into a strong-tasting and satisfying concoction, this is a very impressive debut album. If you imagine Continue reading “Shatter Brain – Pitchfork Justice (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 