Album Reviews

Cosmic Putrefaction is a solo band founded by the Italian multi-instrumentalist Gabriele Gramaglia. For his third album 'Crepuscular Dirge for the Blessed Ones( the sole composer has recruited drummer Giulio Galati (Hideous Divinity), and vocalist Riccardo Nioin (Vertebra Atlantis). Featuring seven tracks that fall somewhere between the atmospheric and technical death metal, Cosmic Putrefaction captivates great scale and dexterity which is handled by Gabriele Gramaglia. The range and the depth of experience in employing atmospheric elements allow the songs to meander through the solid riffing.
Read More >

Lovecraftian death metal act Inanna has finally returned after a decade of silence. The third full-length album 'Void of Unending Depths' delivers stunning musicianship from the Chilean quartet. Since its formation in 2000 Inanna has sprawled in the horrific sphere of the Chthulu mythos, with the cosmological themes that give their music a kind of complexity. The remarkable songwriting and craftsmanship position them as a top-tier band. The anticipated third album showcases their opulent and superb skills in writing catchy melodies.
Read More >

Swiss black metal innovators AARA return with theIr fourth album 'Triade II: Hemera' out via Debemur Morti Productions on May 13th, 2022. In the realm of atmospheric black metal the trio of Berg (all instruments), Flus (vocals, lyrics) and, J. (drums) have become pioneers in their craft, introducing both sublime melodies and neoclassical elements. The new album is based on the Gothic novel 'Melmoth the Wanderer' written by Charles Robert Maturin in 1820. Most notably the theme of the album has a molasses like charm in creating vast landscapes.
Read More >

This band has been tipped for big things and quite frankly after listening to this, their debut album, it is easy to see why. This is the best album I have listened to in a long while. A huge slab of sleazy garage grunge which is just sublime. It is full of swagger, bravado, confidence and great, great tunes. The Mysterines are vocalist and guitarist Lia Metcalfe, bassist George Favager, guitarist Callum Thompson and drummer Paul Crilly. Singer Lia possesses a terrific soulful, gritty singing voice that adds so much to these tracks. She stamps her presence all over this album.
Read More >

With their thirteenth studio album and debut for Napalm Records, Gothenburg's finest export of darkness for 25 years, Evergrey, delivers a follow-up to 'Escape of the Phoenix', their last album which was a bit underexposed due to the pandemic that hit the world. 'A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament)' takes you on a journey through progressive heaviness, accentuated with melancholy inspired lyrics.

Read More >

Ignite starts strong and very punk rock with the first song on their self titled album ‘Anti-Complicity Anthem’. An energetic song that shows you Ignite’s new energy right from the start. According to bass player Brett Rasmussen, the energy that new singer Eli Santana brought to the studio was contagious.


Read More >

Hailing from Kalix, Norrbotten in Sweden Kvaen is a solo black/pagan/Viking metal band helmed by one Jakob Björnfot (all instruments). Like its predecessor 'The Funeral Pyre' the band’s sophomore full-length album 'The Great Below' achieves great songwriting standards in terms of delivery and musical execution. Although this time Jakob presents highly volatile elements extracted from different genres like Viking/pagan and speed metal, the songs are simultaneously melodic and fierce. The guitars are abrasive and driven by fiery bursts of percussion, they're determined by their robust formula.
Read More >

Hailing from North-Rhine Westphalia German black metal outfit Sumerian Tombs formed in 2019 as a solo project. The style of the band was developed from the demos 'As Summer Thrones at Night' and 'Conjuration - Awakening'. Sumerian Tombs found its muse in ancient Sumerian themes and mythology. The self-titled album amends the rawness of the music that was offered previously. The German quintet offers a parallel style of melodic black metal where they have redefined themselves as a vampiric black metal band.
Read More >

German black metal collective Chaos Invocation takes the left-hand path on the fourth album 'Devil, Stone & Man'. During their 18 years career the songwriting talent has grown strong and deep. Though they had already received plaudits from the fans of the genre, the sheer strength of the guitar department is now more focused than on the previous album 'Reaping Seasons, Bloodshed Beyond'. The majority of the songs fall under the category of the modern standard of black metal. The guitars give way to plenty of hooks and the vocals are excellent.
Read More >

The pioneers of the eight string era are back with another killer album, their ninth is called 'Immutable'. Meshuggah stills stands out of the masses with their immense extreme tech-metal sound that takes you on a journey of complex rhythms, dissonant guitar leads, spheric moments, a train full of musical experiences.
Read More >