Author Andrew Doherty
Blackened death from Barnsley is what this 29 minute demo is. Now if I were to think of blackened death, I’d immediately conjure up visions of Behemoth. Judging by the first track “Come Force in the Name ov Daemons”, Soulphernus… Continue Reading →
Here’s a band which needs no introduction. Suffice to say that this is their twelfth album, and it was recorded in Wales. Mr Åkerfeldt seems pretty happy with it, describing it as “fresh and old, both progressive and rehashed, heavy… Continue Reading →
I was impressed with From the Vastland’s 2013 album “Kamarikan”, since then there’s been one further release prior to this one. What impressed me was the intensity of the black metal which this one man maelstrom from Iran generated. The… Continue Reading →
This atmospheric black metal album draws inspiration from nature and the English countryside, and specifically West Yorkshire whence Hryre come. I use the word “whence” because this is the kind of word that Hryre would use. There’s no plain Yorkshire… Continue Reading →
Eight tracks about inner conflict: that’s what this debut album from The Holeum is. “Eight hard-hitting tracks” would perhaps be a better description. “Chemical Ghosts” is strong, moody, atmospheric, spooky and a drum beat which conveys the message that any… Continue Reading →
Finland’s cult black-death metal band Serpent Ascending have been going for eight years, and now release their first album. The band seems to revolve around one individual, who has played with a number of other bands most of whom I’ve… Continue Reading →
Barishi as a band were completely new to me before I listened to this album, their second full release. In case you’re like me and didn’t know about them, they’re from the USA, and describe their style as “gritty progressive… Continue Reading →
An eastern drone, and the sound of the sitar and tabla precede a whispered chant. The drum steps up in tribal fashion. Now this is different. Monkey3 in fact are from Switzerland and describe “Astra Symmetry” as our “magic carpet… Continue Reading →
Defy the Ocean’s publicity describes this EP as “expertly weaved layers of rock with atmospheric waves of melancholy”. There are elements in “Elderflower” of post-rock and progressive patterns but what Defy the Ocean seem to be adept at most of… Continue Reading →
To me, the name Crowhurst has the aura of a sinister-sounding public school. In fact this band from Los Angeles specialise in experimental black industrial noise. Their lead member has been likened to a 70’s Miles Davis, which as an… Continue Reading →
This young band from Germany specialise in 1970s hard rock. On the face of it seems a strange direction to take, but what was clear from the outset is that Motorowl know to craft a powerful groove-laden song. Yes, the… Continue Reading →
This is a very interesting oddity. I thought I owned everything by Soilwork but I hadn’t taken account of the extra tracks, which were added to the Japanese release of “Stabbing the Drama” (2005), “Sworn to a Great Divide” (2007),… Continue Reading →