Gränslandet – Denationalization (Review)

Gränslandet - DenationalizationGränslandet are a hardcore/sludge band from Sweden. This is their second album.

I liked 2016’s Solidium, so it’s good to have the band return to the fray with Denationalization. On their new record the band offer up 37 minutes of crusty hardcore mixed with doomy sludge. Continue reading “Gränslandet – Denationalization (Review)”

Immortal Bird – Thrive on Neglect (Review)

Immortal Bird - Thrive on NeglectImmortal Bird are a blackened deathgrind band from the US. This is their second album.

Finally we have the follow up to 2015’s Empress/Abscess, which was one of the more notable releases of that year for me. Ahh, it’s nice to hear the band’s atypical intensity back. It sounds better than ever too, with a well-rounded production that is fuller and warmer than in the past. Continue reading “Immortal Bird – Thrive on Neglect (Review)”

Monthly Overview – the Best of June 2019

Phew. After the metallic overload of the past couple of months, June was a bit calmer. Having said that, I have a great selection of releases for you to salivate over, and I still had to cut a few for the sake of brevity that are definitely worthy of inclusion. Anyway, it’s on with the show! Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of June 2019”

Murk Rider – Exile of Shadows (Review)

Murk Rider - Exile of ShadowsThis is the debut album from US black metal band Murk Rider.

Three enormous songs, with a combined duration of 82 minutes? Okay, I’ll bite.

An album of depth, both musically and thematically, Exile of Shadows is black metal in only one of its aspects, albeit a primary one. The band also occasionally incorporate apocalyptic sludge and stoner doom into their melting pot, as well as strands of classic heavy and speed metal. This curious, (yet effective), mixture means that Continue reading “Murk Rider – Exile of Shadows (Review)”

This Gift Is a Curse – A Throne of Ash (Review)

This Gift Is a Curse - A Throne of AshThis Gift Is a Curse are a blackened sludge band from Sweden and this is their third album.

Here we have 45 minutes of hateful extremity that combines black metal, sludge, and hardcore. It’s violent, world-ending music that’s wreathed in both aggression and atmosphere most foul. Continue reading “This Gift Is a Curse – A Throne of Ash (Review)”

Wolf Blood – II (Review)

Wolf Blood - IIWolf Blood are a US doom metal band and this is their second album.

2014’s Wolf Blood made a great impression on me, but it would be another four years before we heard from them again. Then, last year’s Tsunami/Home appeared. It may have been short, but it was mighty. Well, I’m very pleased to say that there’s no four-year Continue reading “Wolf Blood – II (Review)”

Call of the Void – Buried in Light (Review)

Call of the Void - Buried in LightCall of the Void are a US hardcore/grindcore band and this is their third album.

I’ve been a fan of Call of the Void since their 2015 album Ageless, which was then firmly cemented by their last EP AYFKM. Continue reading “Call of the Void – Buried in Light (Review)”

Nibiru – Salbrox (Review)

Nibiru - SalbroxThis is the fifth album from Italian doom band Nibiru.

This is occult, ritualistic doom, drawing elements of black metal, sludge, drone, noise, and psychedelia into itself and crushing it down into a super dense material that’s used to fashion the imposing tracks on Salbrox. Continue reading “Nibiru – Salbrox (Review)”