Sludge – Page 5 – Wonderbox Metal

Mastiff – For All the Dead Dreams (Review)

This is the latest EP from UK hardcore/sludge metallers Mastiff.

A new Mastiff release is always something to pay attention to. Since 2019’s Plague I’ve thoroughly enjoyed betting beaten around the head by their brutal heaviness. On 2021’s Leave Me the Ashes of the Earth and last year’s Deprecipice they only seemed to get heavier and nastier. Which brings us to For All the Dead Dreams, which delivers seventeen minutes of punishment for us to soak up. Continue reading “Mastiff – For All the Dead Dreams (Review)”

Conjurer – Unself (Review)

This is the third album from UK sludge/post-metallers Conjurer.

Each Conjurer album so far has been a notable one. From their 2018 debut Mire, to 2022’s Páthos, the band have show an ability to craft quality heavy music, while also progressing their sound between releases. Unself contains 45 minutes of new music from this talented act, I have been very keen to hear it. So, what does it bring us? Continue reading “Conjurer – Unself (Review)”

Void of Sleep – The Abyss into Which We All Have to Stare (Review)

This is the fourth album from Italian progressive doom/sludge metallers Void of Sleep.

It feels like an age has passed since 2020’s sterling record Metaphora, so it’s great that Void of Sleep grace us with their progressive doom/sludge metal once more. Containing 52 minutes of new material, The Abyss into Which We All Have to Stare is an album to spend some quality time with, unlocking its multitude of secrets. Continue reading “Void of Sleep – The Abyss into Which We All Have to Stare (Review)”

Abraham – Idsungwüssä (Review)

This is the fifth album from Swiss post-hardcore/metal band Abraham.

Idsungwüssä is the 60-minute follow up to 2022’s Débris de Mondes Perdus. A mix of post-metal, hardcore, and sludge, Abraham’s new record is sure to find firm fans amongst devotees to bands like. Blessings, Coilguns, Converge, Cult of Luna, Inter Arma, Neurosis, The Ocean, Sumac, etc. Continue reading “Abraham – Idsungwüssä (Review)”

Tithe – Communion in Anguish (Review)

Tithe are a death metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Tithe’s previous record – 2023’s Inverse Rapture – was a hybrid extreme metal album that was difficult to pin down genre-wise, although that didn’t stop it from being a satisfying and enjoyable listen. Communion in Anguish focuses Tithe’s sound, pushing up the lethal aggression and dark atmosphere to new heights. Continue reading “Tithe – Communion in Anguish (Review)”

Zatokrev – …Bring Mirrors to the Surface (Review)

Zatokrev are a doom/sludge/post-metal band from Switzerland and this is their fifth album.

I was very, very excited to see this one appear. Rather shockingly, it’s been a whole decade since 2015’s Silk Spiders Underwater…, so it’s great to finally have the 65-minute …Bring Mirrors to the Surface. Zatokrev are one of the greatest doom/sludge/post-metal bands in existence, yet are criminally unknown. They’ve now signed to the fantastic Pelagic Records, wo hopefully this will allow them to get the exposure they deserve. Continue reading “Zatokrev – …Bring Mirrors to the Surface (Review)”

Phosphorus – Frail Grasp of Broken Hands (Review)

Phosphorus are a German post-black metal band and this is their debut album.

I came across this randomly as a recommendation on a forum, and I’m glad I checked it out. Phosphorus play a hybrid style, bringing us 37 minutes of compelling material on Frail Grasp of Broken Hands. Continue reading “Phosphorus – Frail Grasp of Broken Hands (Review)”

Malevich – Under a Gilded Sun (Review)

Malevich are a screamo/sludge metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Under a Gilded Sun is the 39-minute follow up to 2019’s Our Hollow, and reveals a band that have spend their time wisely between albums. Malevich have impressed with this latest collection of songs. Continue reading “Malevich – Under a Gilded Sun (Review)”

Blessings – Blodsträngen (Review)

This is the third album from Blessings, a Swedish post-hardcore band.

Four years after Biskopskniven made it’s way onto my 2021 end of year list, Blessings are back, with the 41-minute Blodsträngen. Once again we’re gifted with an amalgam of hardcore, noise rock, post-metal, and sludge, giving rise to a post-hardcore experience that’s remarkable. Continue reading “Blessings – Blodsträngen (Review)”

Shock Narcotic – My Flesh Is Afraid but I Am Not (Review)

This is the second album from Shock Narcotic, a grindcore band from the US.

Following on from 2019’s I Have Seen the Future and It Doesn’t Work, My Flesh Is Afraid but I Am Not contains 23 minutes of new material, (27 minutes with the bonus Meathook Seed cover). Featuring current and ex-members of bands such as The Dillinger Escape Plan and Child Bite, I’ve previously described Shock Narcotic roughly as a cross between Napalm Death and Pig Destroyer, and as the band now feature the drummer of Pig Destroyer in their ranks, the comparison is even more apt. Continue reading “Shock Narcotic – My Flesh Is Afraid but I Am Not (Review)”