The Haunted – Wonderbox Metal

Damnation Festival 2025 – BEC Arena, Manchester – 08/11/25-09/11/25 (Live Review)

Another year, another Damnation Festival. Has it really been 20 years? I went to the very first one waaaaay back in 2005, and a love affair was born. It has been great to watch it become one of the world’s best festivals. Kudos to the organisers for their continued passion and ability.

This edition is therefore the festival’s twentieth year and sees Damnation bigger and arguably better than ever before. It’s across two days now, and the lineup is strong in both depth and breadth. From veteran classics to newborn sensations, the festival has it all. Continue reading “Damnation Festival 2025 – BEC Arena, Manchester – 08/11/25-09/11/25 (Live Review)”

The Haunted – Songs of Last Resort (Review)

The Haunted are a Swedish thrash metal band and this is their tenth album.

The first album from The Haunted since 2017’s Strength in Numbers is a big deal, at least around these parts. Containing 41 minutes of blistering high-octane thrash, The Haunted have returned, big style. Continue reading “The Haunted – Songs of Last Resort (Review)”

Employed to Serve – Fallen Star (Review)

This is the fifth album from UK metallers Employed to Serve.

With every release Employed to Serve just seem to be getting better. This culminated in 2021’s Conquering, a record that made it onto my best of list of that year. Which is why expectation is high for the band’s latest 48-minute record Fallen Star. Continue reading “Employed to Serve – Fallen Star (Review)”

Witchery – Nightside (Review)

This is the eighth album from Swedish blackened thrash metal band Witchery.

Witchery always tend to release an enjoyable record, (such as 2016’s In His Infernal Majesty’s Service and 2017’s I Am Legion), and their latest one continues this trend. Five years since their last album, Nightside, (which features members of bands such as The Haunted, and Lik), is a 36-minute concept album. Continue reading “Witchery – Nightside (Review)”

Soul Remnants – Raising the Sacrificial Dagger (Review)

Soul Remnants are a death metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.

Following on from 2013’s Black and Blood and 2017’s Ouroboros, Soul Remnants have now returned with their longest album to date – 50 minutes of new material. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, a mix of old The Haunted and Hypocrisy, (with the occasional dash of Kataklysm and Amon Amarth), is a decent enough starting point to gain an initial idea of how their music roughly sounds, (although this is by no means a comprehensive description). Continue reading “Soul Remnants – Raising the Sacrificial Dagger (Review)”

Act of Denial – Negative (Review)

This is the debut album from Act of Denial, an international melodic death metal band.

Featuring current and ex-members of bands such as Death, Decapitated, Ephel Duath, Septic Flesh, and Testament, as well as the superlative singer of Soilwork/The Night Flight Orchestra, I was eagerly awaiting this release to see what kind of punch it packed. Continue reading “Act of Denial – Negative (Review)”

Dark Divinity – Messianic (Review)

Dark Divinity are a melodic death metal band from New Zealand, and this is their debut EP.

The promo blurn tells us that “Following in the footsteps of genre originators At the Gates, The Haunted & Dissection, the band also take cues from death/black metal acts such as Immortal, Morbid Angel & Death.” Bold words, but backed up by 18 minutes of music that cuts like a serrated knife, you’ll find no complaint from me. Continue reading “Dark Divinity – Messianic (Review)”

Defiatory – Hades Rising (Review)

This is the second album from this Swedish thrash metal band.

Defiatory’s debut album Extinct was a notably enjoyable thrash attack, ably mixing together older influences into a modern take on aggressive thrash metal. Continue reading “Defiatory – Hades Rising (Review)”

Witchery – I Am Legion (Review)

This is the seventh album from Swedish blackened thrash metal band Witchery.

Hot on the heels of last year’s In His Infernal Majesty’s Service, this Swedish supergroup, (Arch Enemy, The Haunted, among others), have returned suprisingly quickly with another collection of sharp, vicious tunes. Continue reading “Witchery – I Am Legion (Review)”

Death Rattle – Volition (Review)

Death Rattle are a metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Death Rattle play heavy music that’s a combination of thrash and groove metal. Think of a mix of The Haunted, Lamb of God, and Dew Scented, with a hint of Gojira, for a good idea of where they’re coming from. Continue reading “Death Rattle – Volition (Review)”