Håndgemeng – Ultraritual (Review)

Håndgemeng - UltraritualThis is the debut album from Norwegian stoner/sludge metal band Håndgemeng.

Ultraritual provides us with 42 minutes of stoner/sludge metal that has a hardcore edge. Taking a high energy approach to riff-focused heavy music, yet varied within this, Ultraritual is a melting pot of influences that come together well. Continue reading “Håndgemeng – Ultraritual (Review)”

Hail the Void – Memento Mori (Review)

Hail the Void - Memento MoriHail the Void are a doom/stoner metal band from Canada and this is their second album.

Memento Mori is a doom metal record that pays homage to the classic style, while delivering an experience that 2023 should be pleased to host. Continue reading “Hail the Void – Memento Mori (Review)”

Veilcaste – Precipice (Review)

Veilcaste - PrecipiceVeilcaste are a doom metal band from the US, and this is either their third album, (or first, depending on your perspective – they released two albums under the name Conjurer, before changing to Veilcaste).

After Veilcaste’s Split with Tusk from last year, I’ve been interested to hear more from this band. With that in mind it’s time for Precipice, which contains 41 minutes of material, including one of the songs from the aforementioned split, (Dust & Bone). Continue reading “Veilcaste – Precipice (Review)”

Daevar – Delirious Rites (Review)

Daevar - Delirious RitesThis is the debut album from German doom metal band Daevar.

With a promo blurb that states this is for fans of bands like Windhand, Monolord, Black Sabbath, Sleep, and Paradise LostDelirious Rites delivers 33 minutes of hypnotic gloom for the listener to get lost in. Continue reading “Daevar – Delirious Rites (Review)”

Black Royal – Earthbound (Review)

Black Royal - Earthbound (Review)This is the third album from Finnish sludge metal band Black Royal.

We’ve met Black Royal before, on their 2016 EP The Summoning Pt.2, as well as their previous album Firebride, which made quite an impact. With a duration of 48 minutes Earthbound delivers meaty songs full of nutrient-dense tastiness. Continue reading “Black Royal – Earthbound (Review)”

Moths – Space Force (Review)

Moths - Space ForceThis is the debut album from Moths, a progressive doom band from Puerto Rico.

Moths paint from a rich and diverse palette and play a form of music that takes influence from a range of places. In essence it’s a mix of stoner, doom, psychedelic, and progressive metal, which has then been expanded to include elements of space rock, 70s progressive rock, and jazz. It’s quite the experience, and Space Force contains 28 minutes of characterful material. Continue reading “Moths – Space Force (Review)”

Infinity Ritual – Infinity Ritual (Review)

Infinity Ritual - Infinity RitualThis is the debut EP from New Zealand metal band Infinity Ritual.

Infinity Ritual play a groovy metallic brand of doom and stoner, and this EP features four tracks of material with a total duration of 23 minutes. Continue reading “Infinity Ritual – Infinity Ritual (Review)”

Outright – Keep You Warm (Review)

Outright - Keep You WarmThis is the second album from metallic hardcore band Outright.

Described in the promo blurb as a mix of Walls of Jericho and Slayer, this is as good an introduction as any to Outright’s sound, (I’d also throw in a bit of Capra too, as a more recent reference point). Continue reading “Outright – Keep You Warm (Review)”

Behold! The Monolith – From the Fathomless Deep (Review)

Behold! The Monolith - From the Fathomless DeepThis is the fourth album from US doom/sludge metallers Behold! The Monolith.

It seems like an age ago that it came out, but 2015’s Architects of the Void stood out from the crowds that year, (and made it into my year end list), and I had wondered if we’d ever hear from the band again. They’ve now reappeared though, and with a new singer to boot, to bring us 46 minutes of new material. Continue reading “Behold! The Monolith – From the Fathomless Deep (Review)”

Druids – Shadow Work (Review)

Druids - Shadow WorkThis is the fourth album from progressive/stoner metal band Druids.

After very much enjoying 2016’s Cycles of Mobeum, 2017’s Spirit Compass, and 2019’s Monument, I knew I wanted to check out Shadow Work as soon as it saw the light of day. Continue reading “Druids – Shadow Work (Review)”