News, Reviews & Interviews

TRACK STREAM: Mosara – Majestik

This is, I would say, first and foremost stoner doom, and it has a side order of prog mixed in as well, but it also carries that aura of sludge metal (or maybe Sludge Metal is more apt).

Cryptosis – Bionic Swarm

Band - Cryptosis Album - Bionic Swarm Country of Origin - The Netherlands Genre - Progressive Thrash Metal Release Date - March 26, 2021 Label - Century Media Records Author - Hayduke X Bionic Swarm is the perfect name for this album for a couple of reasons....

Omination – NGR

A rich sonic palette paints a deep experiential listen, full of strife and anguish. Though incredibly beautiful, NGR is also stunningly dark, and subtly horrifying.

Gonemage – Mystical Extraction

The album is sometimes spastic, and rarely sits still long, even in the slower parts. And yet it all flows so well together.

Lóstregos – Onde Calan Os Corazóns Ruxen As Pedras

I’m in awe of this album. It has grabbed me viscerally and thoroughly.

Darkgem – Luminous Hag

There is vibrant energy and a sense of immediacy to these tracks, probably due to the purpose of the composition.

Myrkgand – Old Mystical Tales

Dynamic pacing, well thought out composition, a strong vocal performance, and earworm riffing all contribute to making this an album well worth hearing.

Caïna – Take Me Away From All This Death

Through a kaleidoscopic filter of electronic doom and mayhem, he explores the dark side of life.

Capra – In Transmission

In Transmission is perhaps the most immediate album I’ve heard all year. I feel like I’m front row at a show and only years spent developing self control have saved my couch from being turned into kindling in a living room mosh session.

Creeping Fear – Hategod Triumph

Only thirty-six minutes long, you still feel spent when the last note fades, such is the might of this album.

Zebulon Kosted – Die Groot Korkodil Pieter Willem Botha

The reality is that it draws you into a trance with it’s droning rhythms, building tension and beauty slowly, Ghafur revealing more of this monster with each bile filled invective.

INTERVIEW: Gomgoma

Don’t do drugs. Do Bataille, instead.

Ossaert – Pelgrimsoord

So what’s the verdict? Simply put, while it languishes a bit in some places (mostly the latter half of track 3 and track 4), Pelgrimsoord seems to take the sound of Bedenhuis and capitalize on it by inserting a handful of really cool extras.

LABEL FEATURE: Sentient Ruin Laboratories

I can count on any Sentient Ruin release to be well crafted, challenging in some way, and aesthetically interesting.

TRACK STREAM: Necrogod – Bringers of Blasphemy

This entity is death metal in its purest form, angry and hungry, eager to feed.

Ringarë – Thrall of Winter’s Majesty

Thrall of Winter’s Majesty represents a unique entry in its collection of work: it is not a representation of the future of RINGARË, but is purely conceptual in its form and a reflection of times long gone.

Wrekan – Gevurah

There is really a lot going on here, yet the eight tracks remain (mostly) within the confines of Raw Black Metal as a distinct subgenre.

Varanak – Relics of Mourning

I press play, I am transported to some warm, dark, dangerous, and welcoming place, and then some indeterminate time later, I come slowly back to this world.

Void Angel – Winds From Paradise

This release has real riffs, played well, and yet retains that rugged feeling through production choices.

Bog Wizard VS Dust Lord – Four Tales of the Strange

I think the only important thing left to say, is roll for initiative!

Grab – The Inevitable Filth of Mankind

The righteous hatred of humanity is strong, but restrained, methodical in its obliterating power.

Lamb of God – Lamb of God (Deluxe Edition)

So, the whole album, plus a few extras, all delivered with such energy and professionalism that one would almost think these guy’s had been doing this for a while…