Author Andrew Doherty
There used to be a brewery in Mannheim, Germany, and there probably still is. When I was over there some years ago, I had the chance to visit the brewery but missed it. I’m still annoyed after all these years…. Continue Reading →
Anything to do with Abbey ov Thelema interests me. The duo that comprise this band are part of Nevaloth, another black metal band from Slovakia. I like the simplicity of the description of this album: “a conceptual work concerning the… Continue Reading →
Four monstrous instrumental stories are laid before us. Gloomy and minimalist, this is doomy post-metal of a Cult of Luna kind. It’s all in the way that it’s done. “Onomatopeia” is handled with breathtaking sensitivity, moving quietly ambiently through dark… Continue Reading →
It’s taken eight years for Empire Auriga to follow up their debut album “Auriga Dying”. Listening to “Ascending the Solar Throne”, I can only imagine that the band spent the intervening time staring wistfully into voids. Metal blizzards swirl around…. Continue Reading →
Formed in 2010, this Italian band set about their debut album by dazzling us with a number of styles. Within the first two minutes, I’d heard an intense death-thrash riff, a strong progressive thread, death vocals, a moody jazz guitar… Continue Reading →
This collective of extreme metal musicians is ostensibly based in Germany, where “Empire of Pain” was recorded. Indeed, the venue was an abandoned SS complex. The principal force behind Dynasty of Darkness is Morbid XIII of Synergy of Souls. On… Continue Reading →
Poland has a rich history of blackened death metal bands. Devilish Impressions was formed in 2000, since when they have been enhancing the genre with atmospheric and symphonic elements. As a follow-up to the band’s third album “Simulacra” in… Continue Reading →
The story goes that this album arose from a desire to avoid the torpor of summer. I don’t know how true that is but it’s now summer and here is Bad Tripes’s second album. Reminding me of fellow French group… Continue Reading →
The greeting is horrible screams and impressive artwork and lyrics which would be entirely in place on any Grindethic album. The emerging and lasting sound is in fact that of Vader, Cannibal Corpse, Carnifex or any other brutal death metal… Continue Reading →
Finnish bands often do melody very well, and this debut album from Star Insight, who have been around since 2005, is no exception. As this driving force of an album got going, I quickly realised that “Messera” is an amalgam… Continue Reading →
This nine track mini album comprises four meaty chunks of death/doom, a long Persian style interlude and four “Temples” full of dreamy spiritual sitar-led sounds. This is from a German band with a healthy back catalogue and a still healthier… Continue Reading →
I’m not sure why light should come “fröm” below unless the band is trying to be Swedish or something, but as Enola come fröm France, this theory does not höld water. Ridiculous. Even my PC thinks I’m being ridiculous and… Continue Reading →