Thrash metal – Page 3 – Wonderbox Metal

Sarcator – Swarming Angels & Flies (Review)

Sarcator are a Swedish thrash metal band and this is their third album.

Sarcator play a black/death-influenced style of thrash metal, and Swarming Angels & Flies contains 44 minutes of material. Think of a blend of early-period old-school metal in the form of bands such as Kreator, Sarcófago, Sodom, and Morbid Angel, and then blend this with more contemporary acts like Hellripper, Devastator, and Midnight, and you’ll be on the right lines. You can throw in some other refences too at various points, but ultimately, despite the ancient style that underpins this album, it’s remarkably fun and fresh sounding. Continue reading “Sarcator – Swarming Angels & Flies (Review)”

Deathcontrol – The Endless Echo of His Own Litany (Review)

This is the debut album of Spanish grindcore band Deathcontrol.

Featuring an ex-member of Machetazo, Deathcontrol play a mix of old-school grindcore and experimental noisecore. The Endless Echo of His Own Litany contains 17 minutes of material, divided between the two styles; six grind songs, five noisecore tracks. Continue reading “Deathcontrol – The Endless Echo of His Own Litany (Review)”

Damnation Festival 2024 – BEC Arena, Manchester – 02/11/24 (Live Review)

Another year, another Damnation Festival. As always, the organisers are to be commended for putting on one of the UK’s premier metal festivals. I’ve been coming here most years for almost two decades now, and I’ve never yet had a bad day.

There are three stages. Two smaller stages that clash with each other, and a main stage that clashes with nothing. Continue reading “Damnation Festival 2024 – BEC Arena, Manchester – 02/11/24 (Live Review)”

Maul – In the Jaws of Bereavement (Review)

This is the second album from US death metal band Maul.

I confess I had unreasonably high expectations for this one going in. I really enjoyed 2022’s Seraphic Punishment, in that deeply satisfying way that only quality death metal can give you. Now that the 39 minutes of In the Jaws of Bereavement has arrived with the force of a gigantic hammer, have my expectations been met? Continue reading “Maul – In the Jaws of Bereavement (Review)”

Ripped to Shreds – Sanshi (Review)

This is the fourth album from US death metallers Ripped to Shreds.

I thoroughly enjoyed 2022’s 劇變 (Jubian), so have been excited to listen to Sanshi. Containing 41 minutes of new material, Ripped to Shreds are on fire on their new record. Continue reading “Ripped to Shreds – Sanshi (Review)”

Undeath – More Insane (Review)

Undeath are a death metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Undeath have built a strong reputation very quickly. 2020’s Lesions of a Different Kind put them on the map, and then It’s Time…to Rise from the Grave saw them conquer and dominate a large portion of it. With that in mind, what do the 34 minutes of More Insane bring us? Continue reading “Undeath – More Insane (Review)”

1349 – The Wolf and the King (Review)

This is the eighth album from Norwegian black metallers 1349.

1349 boast current/ex-members of Gorgoroth, Keep of Kalessin, Mortem, and Satyricon in their ranks, and they provide us with 39 minutes of Norwegian black metal in the form of The Wolf and the King. Continue reading “1349 – The Wolf and the King (Review)”

Temple of Dread – God of the Godless (Review)

This is the fifth album from German death metal band Temple of Dread.

It has been little over a year since Beyond Acheron, so I was not expecting a new Temple of Dread album again so soon at all. God of the Godless comes to us in the form of 42 minutes of new material, and it once again demonstrates why the band are so good at what they do. Continue reading “Temple of Dread – God of the Godless (Review)”

Bewitcher – Spell Shock (Review)

This is the fourth album from US black/speed metal band Bewitcher.

I was taken with Bewitcher’s style of black/speed/thrash metal ever since I first heard 2016’s Bewitcher. After this, the band unleashed a worthy follow up in 2019’s Under the Witching Cross, as well as 2021’s Cursed Be Thy Kingdom, which I missed out on. All of which brings us to Spell Shock, the band’s longest album yet at 40 minutes, (44 if you include the bonus track). Continue reading “Bewitcher – Spell Shock (Review)”

Isolert – Wounds of Desolation (Review)

This is the third album from Greek black metallers Isolert.

Isolert gained my attention with 2015’s Isolated Soul, held it with 2016’s No Hope, No Light…Only Death and 2017’s split with Insanity Cult – Towards the Great Dissolution, and then exceeded all expectations with 2020’s fantastic World in Ruins. The latter ended up in my top three in my end of year list for that year, so to say expectations are high for Wounds of Desolation is an understatement. Continue reading “Isolert – Wounds of Desolation (Review)”