Author Andrew Doherty
Italians Uncontrollable Urge have a good hour to treat us to their “chaotic plot of genres” in which the audience is transported “a parallel dimension where irony mitigates all drama and anger that dominate their music”. Talk of such potential… Continue Reading →
If you’re from Gothenburg, Sweden, and you play Melodic Death Metal, there’s a lot to live up to. In the face of such high expectations, I hoped for either a new slant on the subject or an energy-sapping performance on… Continue Reading →
This one man black metal outfit that is Exsequor is very clear about his music and purpose. He reveals that he is interested in Medieval history and his influences are Bathory, Satyricon, Primordial and Emperor. I actually sensed the strains… Continue Reading →
With an unusual sounding band name comes an unusual album. I’d seen this second album from the French band described as “melodic death metal” but this is much more than that. There’s a bit of everything here. The sound is… Continue Reading →
Iceland’s Kontinuum are an interesting band, starting in 2001 as an experimental metal project mixing doom, punk and dark atmospheric metal. The project expanded in 2010, and with the additional of a musician from a hardcore band and the recognition… Continue Reading →
In my boggling mind, I imagined “Deterministic Nonperiodic Flow” to have something industrial, futuristic and perhaps bordering on the apocalyptic about it. Well, extreme metal it is from the French band with elements of the above. What I did hear… Continue Reading →
Linear Sphere set themselves the ambitious task of tracing mankind’s journey through the ages. Ambitious is a good way to describe “Manvantara”, the band’s carefully constructed second album. The opener “Origin” is much more than a scene setter and musically… Continue Reading →
The sound of Diablo Swing Orchestra is unique. Comprising a panoply of styles including swing jazz, classical, mariachi, metal and much more, they then combine them to create a host of moods but above all entertainment and fun. Coinciding with… Continue Reading →
If you’re a Satanic black metal band and you’re been churning out furious atmospheres for years, then even artistic creativity doesn’t allow you to experiment with another philosophy or music which would suit “Songs of Praise”. Well don’t worry. Besatt,… Continue Reading →
This is a 20 minute-long demo, so there’s not a lot of time to spread atmospheric nastiness. Hegerøth set about their evil business without ado. Whistling sounds accompany furious dark beats and of course rasping vocals. Not sounding so original?… Continue Reading →
Hail the kings of thrash metal! 20 years on, here’s the German band’s 9th album. The epicentre of Dew Scented is Leif Jensen, who I first met in 2005 during their tour with Mercenary and Nevermore. A great guy and… Continue Reading →
This album is firmly entrenched in the tradition of melodic death metal from Sweden. The fast and aggressive constancy in the opening sections reminded me more than a hint of At the Gates, In Flames and through its persistence, Amon… Continue Reading →