Abrams are a psychedelic rock band from the US and this is their fourth album.
Abrams’ sound is an interesting one. The band fuse a few different genres and styles – psychedelic, alternative, stoner, sludge, grunge, and post-metal – into music that drips with gorgeous singing and emotive guitars. Continue reading “Abrams – In the Dark (Review)”
Cave In are a US post-hardcore/rock band and this is their seventh album.
Following on from 2019’s Final Transmission, Heavy Pendulum is somewhat of a different beast to their last album. Whereas Final Transmission was short, (31 minutes), fragile, and emotive, reflective of the effects of tragedy and loss, Heavy Pendulum is long, (71 minutes), has greater range, (though still emotive), and more reflective of the band’s varied discography as a whole. Continue reading “Cave In – Heavy Pendulum (Review)”
Blue Heron are a heavy rock band from the US and this is their debut album.
I quite enjoyed Blue Heron’s brief two-track debut EP that they released last year, so when Ephemeral appeared I thought I’d take the time to see how they were coming along. In fact, Black Blood of the Earth from that release makes a reappearance on Ephemeral. Continue reading “Blue Heron – Ephemeral (Review)”
This is the second album from UK doom band Famyne.
II: The Ground Below offers a modern take on the traditional doom metal sound. Across 45 minutes Famyne incorporate a few elements from other subgenres into their sound, complementing their core style well. Continue reading “Famyne – II: The Ground Below (Review)”
CHRMR are a metal band from the US and this is their second album.
CHRMR contain members of Contrarian and Sulaco, but are a different proposition to both of those more extreme bands. Low in the Glow offers a much more accessible proposition, focusing on short songs with catchy melodies and good choruses. Continue reading “CHRMR – Low in the Glow (Review)”
This is the second album by US heavy rockers The Age of Truth.
Are you after some fluid grooves and engrossing riffs? Do you want good tunes delivered with an assured attitude? Looking for a band that are able to kick out the jams, but also have enough range and depth to keep bringing you back to them? Well, The Age of Truth have you covered. Continue reading “The Age of Truth – Resolute (Review)”
This is the debut album from The Progressive Souls Collective, an international progressive rock/metal supergroup of sorts.
Here we have 63 minutes of music that features current and ex-members of a range of bands, all brought together by a central figure. I picked this album to listen to initially due to the striking album art, but never thought it Continue reading “The Progressive Souls Collective – Sonic Birth (Review)”
This is the latest EP from US stoner rock band Lo-Pan.
Their 2014 album Colossus made a very favourable impression on me. As with Colossus, In Tensions is instant-gratification personified. The tracks are bright, have high-impact and are imbued Continue reading “Lo-Pan – In Tensions (Review)”
This is a split release between three modern death metal/deathcore bands, featuring one original song and one cover song from each artist. Thy Art Is Murder are from Australia, and The Acacia Strain and Fit for an Autopsy are from the US.
Thy Art Is Murder contribute the song They Will Know Another and a cover of Rammstein’s Du Hast, for a total of 9 minutes of music.
They Will Know Another showcases the familiar roars of the band’s vocalist alongside mid-paced Continue reading “Thy Art Is Murder/The Acacia Strain/Fit for an Autopsy – The Depression Sessions – Split (Review)”
Lo-Pan are from the US and this is their fourth album of Stoner Rock.
Bursting straight out of the speakers with the kind of direct, fat riffing that lets you immediately know where their priorities lie, Lo-Pan make a noticeable entrance.
The lazy, melodic vocals recall the early 90’s where there was an embarrassment of lean, hungry vocalists filling the airwaves with choice melodies. Lo-Pan’s singer reminds me of these times and his voice is like liquid honey.
Like a joyous cross between Soundgarden and Torche; Lo-Pan give me a big happy smile and make me want to stomp around to their colossal riffs whilst grinning like a maniac.
The songs on Colossus are instant gratification and sound like they’re very much written with a live audience in mind. As such they’re high energy, catchy and have an easy rolling attitude about them.
Lo-Pan are surely the latest incarnation of the Stoner Rock gods, sent from on high to teach us lesser mortals to rock the fuck out.
So let’s do it.
Wonderbox Metal 