Isolert – Wounds of Desolation (Review)

Isolert - Wounds of DesolationThis 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 CultTowards 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)”

Marrow of Man – Ancient Hymns of Apocalypse (Review)

Marrow of Man - Ancient Hymns of ApocalypseThis is the debut album from Marrow of Man, a one-man black metal band from the Netherlands.

Ancient Hymns of Apocalypse contains 46 minutes of black metal, with some thrash metal elements added in for extra brutality. The promo blurb says that the primary influences of this act are Dissection, Bathory, Evilfeast, Darkthrone, Odium, and Lunar Spells, so that will give you a starting point for the Marrow of Man sound. Continue reading “Marrow of Man – Ancient Hymns of Apocalypse (Review)”

Black Sites – The Promised Land? (Review)

Black Sites - The Promised LandBlack Sites are a heavy/progressive metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.

The Promised Land? is the 44-minute follow up to 2021’s enjoyable Untrue. That record was a strong one, narrowly missing on on my end of year list. I’m interested to see how The Promised Land? fares by the end of the year, as it’s arguably even stronger than its predecessor. Continue reading “Black Sites – The Promised Land? (Review)”

To the Grave – Everyone’s a Murderer (Review)

To the Grave - Everyone's a MurdererTo the Grave are an Australian deathcore band and this is their third album.

Quickly following on from 2023’s Director’s Cuts, To the Grave are back with the 35-minute Everyone’s a Murderer. I wasn’t expecting to hear more new material so soon from them, but I’m not complaining. Continue reading “To the Grave – Everyone’s a Murderer (Review)”

Nile – The Underworld Awaits Us All (Review)

Nile - The Underworld Awaits Us AllNile are a US death metal band and this is their tenth album.

It has been a long five years since 2019’s Vile Nilotic Rites, which itself came four years after 2015’s What Should Not Be Unearthed. Suffice to say, Nile albums don’t come along very often, which makes The Underworld Awaits Us All a big deal in death metal circles. Continue reading “Nile – The Underworld Awaits Us All (Review)”

Oxygen Destroyer – Guardian of the Universe (Review)

Oxygen Destroyer - Guardian of the UniverseOxygen Destroyer are a death/thrash metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Guardian of the Universe is the 33-minute follow up to 2021’s enjoyable Sinister Monstrosities Spawned by the Unfathomable Ignorance of Humankind, and once again features an explosive cocktail of nasty extremity. Continue reading “Oxygen Destroyer – Guardian of the Universe (Review)”

Wraithfyre – Of Fell Peaks and Haunted Chasms (Review)

Wraithfyre - Of Fell Peaks and Haunted ChasmsThis is the debut album from Wraithfyre, a UK solo black metal band.

On Of Fell Peaks and Haunted Chasms the artist behind Wraithfyre delivers 37 minutes of old-school symphonic black metal. It’s good stuff, and has clearly been created by somebody that knows the style well. Continue reading “Wraithfyre – Of Fell Peaks and Haunted Chasms (Review)”

Summoning the Lich – Under the Reviled Throne (Review)

Summoning the Lich - Under the Reviled ThroneSummoning the Lich are a death metal band from the US and this is their second album.

Summoning the Lich throw a few different influences into a brutally tasty death metal blender, and shake it with great force. The end result is Under the Reviled Throne, which serves up 40 minutes of music that takes the melodic and technical death metal styles and soaks them in fantasy-soaked flavourings. Continue reading “Summoning the Lich – Under the Reviled Throne (Review)”

Category 7 – Category 7 (Review)

Category 7 - Category 7Category 7 are a metal band form the US and this is their debut album.

Brought to us by current/ex-members of Anthrax, Armored Saint, Exodus, Machine Head, Overkill, and Shadows Fall, Category 7 has a lot of experience wrapped up in its 52 minutes. Unleashing a storming collection of 90s-inspired thrash metal songs with a touch of classic heavy metal, this is a charismatic record that’s easy to like. Continue reading “Category 7 – Category 7 (Review)”

Against Evil – Give ’em Hell (Review)

Against Evil - Give 'em HellAgainst Evil are an Indian heavy metal band and this is their third album.

Against Evil play energy-filled heavy metal, and they play it very well. There are power and thrash metal influences at play here, particularly the latter, but essentially this is glorious fast-paced old-school heavy metal, delivered with contemporary passion and skill. Continue reading “Against Evil – Give ’em Hell (Review)”