This is the second EP from US black metallers Thirsting Altar.
Following up on 2020’s debut release Ascension, and back with a new, expanded lineup, we have Thirsting Altar with their latest 21-minute EP Reclamation. Continue reading “Thirsting Altar – Reclamation (Review)”
Yersin are from the UK and play crust/metal. This is their second album.
Yersin play a hybrid style that combines grindcore, crust, death metal, black metal, and thrash metal into 25 minutes of sludgy filth and fury. This may be a short album, but it packs a punch. Continue reading “Yersin – The Scythe Is Remorseless (Review)”
Welcome to my annual attempt to make sense of the ridiculous amount of good metal albums out there, awaiting discovery by intrepid metal explorers.
2023’s best of list has been one of the more difficult ones to put together, placing-wise, which is one of the reasons that I’m posting it later than I usually do. Even more so than normal many of the slots are interchangeable, and I especially struggled with positions two-nine – if such a thing were possible, they all deserve to be higher! In the end I decided to stop overthinking it and go with my gut, but the usual caveat of these lists being very subjective and subject to change depending on mood, feelings, etc. is larger than normal here.
There are some notable acts missing form the below. Not because they’re not worthy of inclusion, but because there are only so many spaces to be had. In fact, I almost ended up limiting this list to 20, rather than the now-customary 30, as I found it really difficult to know who to include and who not to. In the end I went with the standard 30 so that I could promote a few extra bands, as they absolutely all deserve it.
As for the top position, I wasn’t expecting it to be filled by a band I’d never heard before, playing a style that I don’t listen to as much as I used to. However, I suppose after last year, I shouldn’t have been too surprised.
I do hope you enjoy this list and find some new music to obsess over. Like always, thanks for your support if you have ever visited this site before, and here’s to a great 2024 for as many of us as possible. Continue reading “Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2023”
This is the second album from Devils Reef, a death metal band from the US.
Following on from 2021’s Chosen by the Sea, The Droste Observer is an evolved form of this death metal predator. Offering up a lean, mean 36 minutes of new material, Devils Reef demonstrate that they are worth being mentioned in the same breath as bands like Revocation, The Black Dahlia Murder, Obscura, Allegaeon, Black Crown Initiate, and the like. Continue reading “Devils Reef – The Droste Observer (Review)”
Inculter are a thrash metal band from Norway and this is their third album.
Many, many, many moons ago thrash metal was one of my favourite genres. However, when compared to other genres these days, thrash just doesn’t hold my attention like it once used to. However, this is where Inculter come in to show people how it’s done. Their classic thrash attack hits the sweet spot between old-school hero worship and contemporary passionate energy. Continue reading “Inculter – Morbid Origin (Review)”
This is the debut album from French avant-garde black metal band Eitrin.
And what do we have here, appearing out of nowhere in a cloud of poisonous fumes? We’re told the following – “The specially commissioned debut album from EITRIN brings together the talents of Vindsval (BLUT AUS NORD), Marion (MÜTTERLEIN) and Dehn Sora (THROANE) to celebrate 20 years of Debemur Morti Productions in fittingly defiant style.” Continue reading “Eitrin – Eitrin (Review)”
Omnivortex are a Finnish death metal band and this is their second album.
Circulate is a 44-minute juggernaut of technical death metal, presented as a emotively textured work that bleeds quality and class. Omnivortex reveal themselves to be a distinct cut above the average, and Circulate is extremely enjoyable and satisfying because of this. Continue reading “Omnivortex – Circulate (Review)”
Thronehammer are an international doom metal band and this is their third album.
Thronehammer’s 2021 album Incantation Rites was an absolutely colossal gem of an album that almost made it to the very top of my year end list. As such, it’s with some trepidation that I approached Kingslayer, as the previous record casts a long shadow. Continue reading “Thronehammer – Kingslayer (Review)”
Bihargam are a black metal band from the US and this is their latest EP.
Following on from 2020’s Ove Tenebrae, Executioner Star contains two new songs and a Soundgarden cover, making for a total duration of a little over 16 minutes. Continue reading “Bihargam – Executioner Star (Review)”
This is the third album from Xoth, a death metal band from the US.
Exogalactic can be thought of as a sci-fi-themed tech death album that’s spliced with black and thrash metal elements. Across 39 minutes Xoth impress with their exuberant delivery, especially as it’s backed up by some serious musical chops. Continue reading “Xoth – Exogalactic (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 