Wolvhammer – Wonderbox Metal

Abigail Williams – A Void Within Existence (Review)

This is the sixth album from US black metal band Abigail Williams.

Brought to us by current/ex-members of bands such as Aborted, Changeling, Chrome Waves, Fear Factory, The Faceless, Lord Mantis, Nachtmystium, Vale of Pnath, and Wolvhammer, a lot of experience and skills has gone into A Void Within Existence. In fact, due to the members, I’m amazed I’ve never listened to Abigail Williams prior to this new album. I’ve heard the name many times, but this is my first exposure to their brand of black metal. Continue reading “Abigail Williams – A Void Within Existence (Review)”

Axioma – Sepsis (Review)

Axioma are a post-black/sludge metal band from the US and this is their second album.

I first met Axioma back in 2016 on their debut EP Opia, which seems like an age ago. Well, since then they haven’t been idle, and their second album Sepsis came out earlier this year. Let’s dive in. Continue reading “Axioma – Sepsis (Review)”

Black Anvil – Regenesis (Review)

This is the fifth album from US black metal band Black Anvil.

2014’s Hail Death and 2017’s As Was were both enjoyable records that made an impact. The latter took the band in increasingly atmospheric and progressive directions, so what does the 50-minute Regenesis offer? Continue reading “Black Anvil – Regenesis (Review)”

Agnes Vein – Deathcall (Review)

This is the third album from Greek blackened doom band Agnes Vein.

Deathcall actually came out at the end of 2021, but I believe it recently had a vinyl release so it seemed as good a time as any to catch up with what they’re doing these days – the last, (and only), time I have encountered them previously was on 2016’s split with Sadhus “The Smoking Community”. Continue reading “Agnes Vein – Deathcall (Review)”

Shaidar Logoth – Chapter III: The Void God (Review)

This is the third album from Shaidar Logoth, a black metal band from the US.

Here we have 48 minutes of atmospheric black metal, a mixture of the beautiful and the harsh. Although you may think that these two things oppose each other, Shaidar Logoth ably show that this does not have to be the case. Parts of Continue reading “Shaidar Logoth – Chapter III: The Void God (Review)”

Mantar – The Modern Art of Setting Ablaze (Review)

This is the third album from Mantar, a German black metal band.

I’m a latecomer to Mantar’s work, but I can tell you that if you’re looking for filthy, ugly blackened metallic punk that’s still catchy as fuck, then they stand head and shoulders above most of their peers. Continue reading “Mantar – The Modern Art of Setting Ablaze (Review)”

Skeletonwitch – Devouring Radiant Light (Review)

This is the sixth album from Skeletonwitch, a blackened metal band from the US.

Well, this is not what I was expecting to hear from Skeletonwitch. I confess that I’ve only ever really heard a small amount of the band’s prior material, and what I did hear was kind of a thrash/melodic metal affair, from what I recall. I approached this Continue reading “Skeletonwitch – Devouring Radiant Light (Review)”

Monthly Overview – the Best of May 2018

So, every month I say something along the lines of “this month has been a strong month for metal, blah, blah, blah…”, but May really has been a ridiculously strong month for metal! I really have struggled to keep this list down to manageable levels this time, and removed a few potential entries simply to keep the numbers down, (I’m not happy about this). So anyway, in no particular order, I give you my top picks for May 2018… Continue reading “Monthly Overview – the Best of May 2018”

Wolvhammer – The Monuments of Ash & Bone (Review)

This is the fourth album from US black metallers Wolvhammer.

This is the much-awaited follow-up to 2014’s Clawing into Black Sun, which was one of my favourite releases of that year. To say I’ve been looking forward to this album is an understatement. Continue reading “Wolvhammer – The Monuments of Ash & Bone (Review)”

Voidthrone – Kur (Review)

This is the second album from Voidthrone, a US black metal band.

This is the follow up to the very enjoyable Spiritual War Tactics, which showcased the band’s keen ability when it came to dark, dissonant black metal that also employed doom and death metal elements very well. Of this album I said Continue reading “Voidthrone – Kur (Review)”