Author Andrew Doherty
Zushakon are a two man black metal band from Singapore. Influenced themselves by the likes of Mayhem, Darkthrone and Bathory, they describe the music scene in their country as “safe and sterile”. I’d say that’s the country, not the music…. Continue Reading →
Even without reading up on Broken Edge, I’d guessed they were formed in the late 80s or early 90s. Such is their metal style. This EP follows three album releases from the Frenchmen, who quote Pantera and Machine Head and… Continue Reading →
It was in early 2003 that I saw Mors Principium Est’s “Inhumanity” album advertised in a magazine. I can’t remember the exact description but no doubt melodic death metal from Finland came into it. As an enthusiast for Finnish metal… Continue Reading →
The band’s name gives a clue. “Lure of Ephemeral Beauty” is indeed eclectic in style. It is also strange. After a brief film track introduction, the album proceeds with a deliberately raw 90s style black metal riff, accompanied by high-pitched… Continue Reading →
This album unashamedly announces itself on the sleeve as “opera metal”, which brings to mind a number of possibilities, among them Nightwish, Therion and Diablo Swing Orchestra. This is a band comprising an operatic singer as you’d expect, a cellist,… Continue Reading →
The native land in question here is Tatarstan, a republic about a thousand kilometres east of Moscow. Pictures emerge through the music of fields and traditional costumes. Gentle metal supports atmospheric folk and interesting harmonies from the trio of female… Continue Reading →
Diagonal released a self-titled album in 2008. Then after a gap and line-up changes, the new Diagonal emerged. This Brighton-based prog band is responsible for “The Second Mechanism” and let me tell you, it is as full of ideas and… Continue Reading →
Crumbling buildings, devastation, rain: the scene is set. The picture on the sleeve serves as backdrop to the spooky and sad world that Australian band Wither portray. Steadiness, a constant but discreet whistling and croakings are central to this essentially… Continue Reading →
With a portfolio of three albums, one of them under their previous name of Fuoco Fatuo, I would expect a certain proficiency and direction from the Sicilian band Eversin. “Tears on the Face of God” indeed is a work born… Continue Reading →
Wallachia is one Lars Stavdal, a Norwegian, and a number of supporting musicians. The band has been mostly active since 1995, since when there have been two albums. “Shunya”, advertised as a gloomy and personal work of atmospheric and symphonic… Continue Reading →
I’ve had good experiences with Hungarian black metal bands in the past. Thy Catafalque and Nefarious immediately come to mind. Here’s another one in Kolp. The concept of “The Outside” is to take us to a void, a place where… Continue Reading →
It is easy to understand when hearing this album why Gloria Morti should have shared the stage with the likes of Behemoth and Zyklon. The music on “Lateral Constraint”, their fourth album, bears similarities to these bands. Not noteworthy for… Continue Reading →