Author Andrew Doherty
I’m not especially a fan of TesseracT or Meshuggah, who are quoted as a reference point for this band from Norway. I suppose it’s handy to have a reference point to attract potential interest, but what counts is the creativity… Continue Reading →
The epic diction and chorus give the immediate impression of mediaeval scenes and heroic deeds. This isn’t a false impression as everything about this work from Finland’s Crimfall suggests bombast and grandiosity. Crimfall use a number of tools to shape… Continue Reading →
Watching Leprous is a highly visual experience – sharp movements, strong colours a heavily orchestrated, almost military in delivery. The music has always been at the original end of the progressive metal spectrum, and has become more knife-sharp in line… Continue Reading →
I very much appreciated Der Weg einer Freiheit’s previous release “Stellar” (2015), which had atmospheric power, intensity and fluidity, so I had high hopes for this one, the band’s fourth album. “A human can never become an animal”, philosophises a… Continue Reading →
We’re warned to prepare for a 32 minute descent to a bottomless pit. Having reviewed this Belarusian band’s 2016 demo “Staražytnaje licha”, I can believe that. Ominous gothic chimes set us on the evil path – nothing exceptional to be… Continue Reading →
The band name and album title give no doubt that this is a blackened death death work. The band in question is from Turkey and this is their first full album release following an EP “Perversion Feeds Our Force” in… Continue Reading →
This band from Sweden started out in 2005 with the intriguingly titled demo “What do You Think of the Old God, We Call Him Judas?”, since then a further two demos and three albums of black ambience including this one… Continue Reading →
A Polish guy called Mariusz Kumala has created a progressive psychedelic rock project depicting musical space travel. “madeinside” is its latest incarnation. “madeinside” is indeed like a journey through the clouds. Echoing, synthesised voices, cosmic interventions and other wordliness are… Continue Reading →
“Dark. Loud. Stuttgart” is what’s written about End of Green. I’m not sure what image I’m supposed to have of Stuttgart other than a picture of urban Germany. I’m not entirely convinced about the “loud” part either as what I… Continue Reading →
Just the mention of Norwegian black metal sends shivers down the spine, and in many respects Gravdal’s third album has many of the classic aspects – withering, spiteful riffs, and a cold and lingeringly deathly air. The title track opens… Continue Reading →
My interest was aroused immediately when a melodic beat, accompanied by a strange and deep chorus, blended into an explosion of heaviness. The rumbling beat and progressive post metal thunder continue. From this opening it would seem that Norwegian band… Continue Reading →
Advertised as “Russian Turbo Polka from Vienna”, Russkaja’s unusual brand of music had passed me by until now. They cannot be serious? Actually, I don’t think they are. The opener “Hey Road” is a jolly mix of ska and mariachi,… Continue Reading →