The Ocean – Page 3 – Wonderbox Metal

The Anchoret – It All Began with Loneliness (Review)

The Anchoret are a Canadian progressive metal band and this is their debut album.

The Anchoret play a multifaceted brand of progressive metal that takes in aspects of progressive rock and a touch of extreme metal. This has resulted in an album that has plenty of impactful content to instantly appeal, but can also draw the listener back in over time. For a very rough starting point, think a combination of parts of bands such as Karnivool, Between the Buried and Me, Sermon, David Bowie, Dream Theater, Opeth, Queen, The Ocean, Dawnwalker, Ihsahn, and Rush. Continue reading “The Anchoret – It All Began with Loneliness (Review)”

The Ocean – Holocene (Review)

This is the tenth album from German progressive metal band The Ocean.

After the colossally good Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic and Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic from 2018 and 2020 respectively, can The Ocean continue their run of stellar records with new outing Holocene? Continue reading “The Ocean – Holocene (Review)”

Moonreich – Amer (Review)

This is the fifth album from Moonreich, a French black metal band.

Moonreich’s aggressive brand of modern black metal is always good to hear. Following on from 2018’s Fugue and 2019’s Wormgod, Amer contains 43 minutes of new material from this enjoyable band. Continue reading “Moonreich – Amer (Review)”

Nightmarer – Deformity Adrift (Review)

Nightmarer are an international death metal band and this is their second album.

Featuring current and ex-members of Alluvial, Convulsing, Gigan, The Ocean, and War from a Harlots Mouth, you know that Nightmarer have a lot of diverse experience to offer. In this instance, they collectively offer us 32 minutes of discordant death metal in the warped and disjointed shape of Deformity Adrift. Continue reading “Nightmarer – Deformity Adrift (Review)”

Herod – The Iconoclast (Review)

Herod are a progressive/post-metal band from Switzerland and this is their third album.

The Iconoclast is the follow up to 2019’s Sombre Dessein and contains 51 minutes of new material. Continue reading “Herod – The Iconoclast (Review)”

Psychonaut – Violate Consensus Reality (Review)

Psychonaut are a Belgian post-metal band and this is their second album.

Having enjoyed Psychonaut’s 2021 Emerald – split with Sâver, I’ve been looking forward to seeing what the band could do with a longer release. So now we have it – Violate Consensus Reality contains 53 minutes of material for the listener to explore. Continue reading “Psychonaut – Violate Consensus Reality (Review)”

Earthrise – Until We Rest Beneath the Winter Way (Review)

This is the second album from US post-metal band Earthrise.

Until We Rest Beneath the Winter Way is a 72-minute journey into ambitious, spacefaring post-metal territories. Taking in elements of progressive metal and rock, Earthrise craft heavy music with emotive atmosphere and engaging texture. Continue reading “Earthrise – Until We Rest Beneath the Winter Way (Review)”

Everest Queen – Murmurations (Review)

This is the second album from Everest Queen, a sludge metal band from the UK.

I’ve enjoyed following Everest Queen, from their initial self-titled EP in 2016 to their debut album Dead Eden in 2019, so to have a new album appear in the wild is a fine thing. Murmurations boasts 44 minutes of new music, so let’s get stuck in. Continue reading “Everest Queen – Murmurations (Review)”

Ahasver – Causa Sui (Review)

This is the debut album from French progressive metal band Ahasver.

Ahasver is made up of members of bands such as Eryn Non Dae, Drawers, and Gorod, among others. Causa Sui contains 42 minutes of music that’s a good deal more individual than most you might encounter. Continue reading “Ahasver – Causa Sui (Review)”

Into the Heat – Out of the Shade UK & EU Tour – The Ocean/LLNN/Playgrounded – Manchester Club Academy, 03/09/22 (Live Review)

Although I managed to see The Ocean’s livestream show and I enjoyed it very much, I’ve been looking forward to catching them in the flesh once again. So here we are, back in Manchester, back with The Ocean, (and friends). Continue reading “Into the Heat – Out of the Shade UK & EU Tour – The Ocean/LLNN/Playgrounded – Manchester Club Academy, 03/09/22 (Live Review)”