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)”
Feather Mountain are a progressive metal band from Denmark and this is their second album.
To Exit a Maelstrom contains 45 minutes of modern progressive metal that incorporates elements of alternative and progressive rock. There’s also a djent influence, but it’s not an overbearing one. Continue reading “Feather Mountain – To Exit a Maelstrom (Review)”
This is the second album from Spiralist, a solo post-metal act from Portugal.
Eternal Recurrence is an interesting album that’s hard to easily pin down when it comes to genre. Post-metal is probably the most obvious tag, but then there’s also a blackened aspect to parts of it. It has a pretty blatant progressive side too, sometimes, very 70s sci-fi in feel. There are also elements of doom and industrial that can be heard in places. I’m going to stick to the post-metal appellation and be done with it, but just know that the artist behind Spiralist cares not for producing easily categorised music. Continue reading “Spiralist – Eternal Recurrence (Review)”
This is the third album from Greyhaven, a hardcore band from the US.
Greyhaven play a form of modern post-hardcore that takes influence from a range of places. On the one hand they clearly follow the Every Time I Die template of hardcore, with raucous heaviness mixed with emotive cleanly-sung sections. On the other hand though, they also follow a sort of progressive post-hardcore Continue reading “Greyhaven – This Bright and Beautiful World (Review)”
This is the second album from Greek progressive metal band Playgrounded.
Playgrounded’s progressive metal is skilfully combined with electronic elements to produce music that’s affecting and engaging. As a starting point for what you’ll encounter here, the promo blurb’s statement that this is for fans of bands such as Karnivool, Katatonia, Nine Inch Nails, Deftones, Moderat, The Ocean, Vola, Leprous, and Skyharbor is a pretty decent one. Continue reading “Playgrounded – The Death of Death (Review)”
Adliga are a post-metal/doom band from Belarus and this is their debut album.
Adliga play a doom-laden brand of post-metal, and on Vobrazy they deliver 41 minutes of captivating material. Their music reminds me of a mix of Obscure Sphinx, Katatonia, Madder Mortem, The Ocean, and Cult of Luna, although these are only rough reference points. Continue reading “Adliga – Vobrazy (Review)”
This is the seventh album from Impure Wilhelmina, a Swiss post-metal band.
The music takes progressive post-metal/rock, post-hardcore, and indie/alt-rock, throws in a healthy amount of goth influences, and even has a blackened veneer in places. Continue reading “Impure Wilhelmina – Antidote (Review)”
This is my first livestream show from a band, and what a great band to start off with. The Ocean are masters of their progressive metal trade, and tonight they’re flexing their musical muscles by playing their 2018 album Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic in its entirety. Continue reading “The Ocean Collective – Phanerzoic I Livestream – Club 100 Bremen – 25/03/21 (Live Review)”
Dvne are a progressive sludge metal band from the UK and this is their second album.
Etemen Ænka is the 67-minute follow up to 2017’s immensely enjoyable Asheran, and a release I’ve been greatly anticipating. If you’re a fan of bands such as Sorxe, Mastodon, The Ocean, Isis, Minsk, Inter Arma, and Neurosis, then Etemen Ænka is an album for you. Maybe even THE album for you. Continue reading “Dvne – Etemen Ænka (Review)”
Lam are an international alternative metal band and this is their debut EP.
Featuring the very capable singer of Herod, (ex-The Ocean), Lam are a relatively new band that nonetheless appear to be fully formed already and ready to challenge listener’s everywhere. There’s only 11 minutes of material here, but it makes a good impression. Continue reading “Lam – Liber K (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 