Album Reviews

Imagine what the world would be like if animals would be the leaders of the world, well we have the perfect soundtrack for that provided by the out of this world instrumental trio equally named Animals As Leaders. To continue their further quest to conquer the world they deliver now 'Parrhesia', the first new one since six years. 
Read More >

Finnish newcomers I Am The Night is a supergroup band comprised of Waltteri Väyrynen (Paradise Lost, Abhorrence), Janne Markkanen (ex-Omnium Gatherum, Locust Year), Markus Vanhala (Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum) and Okko Solanterä (Horizon Ignited). The expression of the subtle nuances of bands like Dissection and Emperor are widely showcased in the band’s first-length studio album “While The Gods Are Sleeping”. I Am The Night's song composition infuses catchy rhythm guitars and atmospheric synth passages with each member presenting an immense effort into the album’s seven tracks.
Read More >

Maurice De Jonge is a name you’re bound to encounter rather regularly on these pages. It’s truly amazing how many different projects this Dutch centipede has going on. Equally remarkable is the sheer breadth of his output. From various black metal related initiatives like Golden Ashes or Dodenbezweerder across nineties inspired death doom all the way over to the highly experimental noisescapes of Gnaw Their Tongues.
Read More >

Following the release of their third album 'Ascension' Quebec-based black metal duo, Incandescence has returned with a brand new album titled 'Le coeur de l'homme' now out via Profound Lore Records on April 19th, 2022. Formed in 2013 by the multi-musician Philippe Boucher (Beyond Creation, Chthe'ilist) who aims for a dark and epic sound on the fourth album. With Louis-Paul Gauvreau on vocals, it creates an ominous tapestry opon which the guitars offer a plethora of tremolo-picked riffs.
Read More >

Celestial Season’s release of ‘ The Secret Teachings’ two years ago marked in my opinion the comeback album of the year. Along luminaries as My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, Cathedral or Anathema they played a pivotal role in the nascent death doom scene of the early nineties. Amidst the then burgeoning Dutch death metal scene they were a unique band that could stand shoulder to shoulder with their more splatter obsessed compatriots IN Gorefest or Asphyx, replacing the blood and gore with lovelorn melancholy.

Read More >

As I am partial to a bit of the old Celtic punk, I thought it would be good to give a listen to this new release by Paddy And The Rats, the Celtic Punk Pirates from Hungary! I mean what is there not to love about punks and pirates?
So I had a few drinks, raised the jolly roger and settled in to give the album a listen.
Read More >

It’s been three years since the Finnish death metal act released their last outing, returning now with their 4th album “Succumb To Rot” on April 22nd, 2022 via Dark Descent Records. For fifteen years Corpsessed has stood firm and evolved with every studio album which earned the band a good reputation among the underground acts in Europe. The present lineup includes Jussi-Pekka Manner (drums), Jyri Lustig (guitars), Matti Mäkelä (backing vocals, guitars), Nikko Matilainen (vocals) and Tuomas Kulmala (bass guitar). Before getting into the contents of the music I must say that this is so far the best sounding album after 'Beyond Abysmal Thresholds' from 2019. Production-wise 'Succumb To Rot' is equally brutal, and powerful.
Read More >

Swedish prolific musician Swartadapuz (guitars, bass, and vocals) never ceases to amaze the fans with his most original and outstanding musical works. Since the project Greve released its first full-length album 'Nordarikets strid' in 2019 in which mastermind Swartadapuz quested for an epic symphonic flair. Within the three years, his creative songwriting mind churned out several releases for his other side projects such as Bekëth Nexëhmü, Ars Hmu, Digerdöden, Muvitium and plenty more. The sophomore release 'Föllo af Svavel, Lifvets Dimridå' continues to follow its roots in such an imaginative way. Although this time the central focus is laid upon the melodies, resulting in a grander and sorrowful complexion.
Read More >

From all the past demos and the studio albums of Bekëth Nexëhmü, Swartadapuz (all instruments and vocals) offers a different framework on the fourth full-length album 'De Dunklas Gravrit' where the songs take a grim and sorrowful approach. Nevertheless, by evoking the style of early Burzum the composer succeeded in conjuring up a sad and depressive atmosphere. For many years now Bekëth Nexëhmü perfectly fitted within the spectrum of atmospheric black metal, but unlike many of his side project bands, 'De Dunklas Gravrit' has a particular resemblance to Muvitium.
Read More >

Fifteen, yes you read that correct, the Canadian flagship of weird music named Voivod delivers with 'Synchro Anarchy' their fifteenth album to the world. Making music from their debut album in 1984 until 2022. How many bands can say that. With a new album we never know on which journey they will take us now.
Read More >