ALBUM REVIEWS

RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS

  • MESHUGGAH – Immutable

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022 BAND URL: https://www.meshuggah.net/ At the risk of committing a cardinal reviewer’s sin I’ll get right to the point: “Immutable” towers above both “Violent Sleep Of Reason” and “Kolossus”, easily the best thing since “Obzen”, plus it’s their heaviest and most crushing offering to date. It could be because the entire Swedish quintet…

  • RUST N’ RAGE – One for the Road

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/rustnrageofficial The promising Finnish outfit Rust N’ Rage released their debut album just a few weeks ago and there is reason to rejoice if hook-laden, well-written hard rock with plenty of drive and energy to it is what your mind and body crave. Consisting of eleven tunes that all encompass the…

  • STRANGE HORIZON – Beyond the Strange Horizon

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: Beyond The Strange Horizon | Strange Horizon (bandcamp.com) Yes, this is just what the good doctor ordered; a thoroughly convincing and energetic stoner rock/doom metal opus that pays tribute to the days of yore when fuzzy riffs ruled the roost and records were heavy as fuck while simultaneously looking to the…

  • KORNMO – Svartisen (Remaster 2022)

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: Svartisen | Kornmo (bandcamp.com) What a lovely surprise this one was! The Norwegian symphonic prog rockers Kornmo originally released this melodically gorgeous and evocative opus of theirs back in 2017, but as far as I know the idea of re-mixing and re-mastering the record was something that had been lingering in…

  • THE TRONOSONIC EXPERIENCE – The Shadow Vol. 1

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/tronosonic/ How on earth this one snuck right by me back in March is beyond me, but the most important thing is that I recently got my hands on this psychedelic-looking digipak by the Norwegian jazz/prog/avant-garde noisemakers The Tronosonic Experience. Let me tell you right here and now that “The Shadow…

  • MAJOR PARKINSON – A NIGHT AT THE LIBRARY

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022BAND URL: https://majorparkinson.bandcamp.com/album/a-night-at-the-library How does one even begin to describe or portray Major Parkinson’s brand and style of music? Honestly, I have no idea. Progressive in nature and forward-thinking but endowed with the sensibilities of singer/songwriter music, the band’s outputs have been nothing short of dramatic, theatrical, and riveting. Recorded during the pandemic,…

  • LARSEN AND THE COLOURED DREAMS – Bucket List

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022BAND URL: https://larsenthecoloureddreams.bandcamp.com/releases Spearheaded by Kjell B. Larsen from renowned prog rockers Ruphus and backed by a talented cast of musicians, this brand-new Norwegian outfit using the psychedelic moniker Larsen and the Coloured Dreams has released a rather pleasant and occasionally soothing record in the shape of “Bucket List” The musical blueprint is…

  • ASKARA – Lights of Night

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/Askaraband/ This sophomore full-length album by Swiss dark metallers Askara is about to see the light of day via Fastball Music, and I must say that this one turned out to be a rather interesting musical encounter in that their brand of morose metal possesses a strangely romantic aura that I…

  • ONCE HUMAN – Scar Weaver

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://www.ear-music.net/oncehuman/ The third record by Once Human came out a couple of months and recently found its way to my pile of promo CDs, so let us briefly discuss what the US metallers have in store for us this time around. Once Human’s fiery musical cocktail consists of melodic death metal,…

  • BREIDABLIK – Alduorka

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://breidablik.bandcamp.com/album/alduorka I must admit that previous to getting my filthy paws on this deeply evocative 2022 opus by Breidablik titled “Alduorka”, I was only familiar with the album named “Nhoohr” (2019) by this excellent experimental synth/ambient/electronic music ensemble, but judging by the quality of these two LPs, I think it is…

  • BJØRN RIIS – Everything to Everyone

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://bjornriis.bandcamp.com/album/everything-to-everyone The renowned musical genius that is Bjørn Riis never ceases to amaze me regardless of whether we are talking about his inspired work with Norwegian prog rockers Airbag or his stunning solo outputs. His latest work is the hauntingly beautiful “Everything to Everyone” where everything that made his past LPs…

  • FIND ME – Lightning in a Bottle

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/FindMeBandOfficial/ I was quite enamored with the previous output by Find Me and found that one rather memorable and enjoyable and so this new album of theirs was something that I had been looking forward to. Luckily, they do not disappoint this time either. Musically, these guys dabble in melodic rock…

  • THANATEROS – On Fragile Wings

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://thanateros.bandcamp.com/ The German folk-inspired metal outfit known as Thanateros released this twelve-track effort of theirs just a few weeks ago via Echozone and despite not being what one would deem an immersive experience or an enthralling listen, it does have its merits and some rather interesting ideas to it. In truth,…

  • UTFLOD – Undergang

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: Undergang | Utflod (bandcamp.com) Thanks to a very cool dude named Ronnie, I got my hands on this superb 4-track EP titled “Undergang” by the Norwegian outfit known as Utflod, and I am forever grateful to him for making sure this musical hand grenade ended up in my mailbox. The quintet…

  • FROSTMOON ECLIPSE – Rustworn

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://smarturl.it/rustworn This sparkling new EP by the Italian black metallers Frostmoon Eclipse is a deeply atmospheric gem, and it is fabulous to see that their uniquely evocative brand of contemplative, pitch-black melancholy remains intact. I was thoroughly impressed with “Worse Weather to Come” (2019) and “Rustworn”, which contains two new songs…

  • MECCA – 20 Years

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022BAND URL: Mecca – Startside | Facebook Mecca is one of those outfits that I have heard and read about previously but never actually listened to until now, and I must say that this collection containing the group’s three studio albums is quite impressive and oozes class and professionalism. We are essentially talking…

  • GIRISH AND THE CHRONICLES – Hail to the Heroes

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022BAND URL: https://www.girishandthechronicles.com/ The Indian hard rockers Girish and the Chronicles have made quite a name for themselves in the scene these past few years, and judging by the quality of this incredibly driven and energetic offering of theirs, it is easy to see why people are freaking out about this talented group.…

  • SUNRUNNER – Sacred Arts of Navigation

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: Sacred Arts Of Navigation | Sunrunner | Fastball-Music (bandcamp.com) I was intrigued by the album artwork and the song titles to “Sacred Arts of Navigation” by the US quartet known as Sunrunner and very much looking forward to immersing myself in the 11-track opus, but sadly, their particular mixture of prog…

  • DEGREED – Are You Ready

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: degreed (degreedmusic.com) The latest output by Swedish hard rockers Degreed sounds absolutely massive in every sense of the word and if you desire passionate vocals, an incredibly tight and powerful rhythm section, and thunderous choruses that will blow you away, look no further than “Are You Ready”. Listening to these barnstormers…

  • MOLUCHTAS – Telos Terminus

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/telos-terminus Eight menacing and twisted black/death metal hymns with trance-inducing qualities and inhuman vocals are what we have here, and this compilation, which contains two different EPs, by the Belgian entity known as Moluchtas is a delightfully nihilistic piece of work. With its pitch-black atmosphere and semi-repetitive riffs that cast a…

  • ADDIKTIO – Anthem For The Year 2020

    RELEASE YEAR: 2021 BAND URL: https://addiktio.bandcamp.com/ Recently I have grown fond of instrumental music, partially because there’s zero chance of asinine lyrics, partially because without lyrics one is more able to focus on the music. One of the bands which really ignited the taste is the Nowegian trio Addiktio who have released their second album,…

  • TEN – Here Be Monsters

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: HOME | TEN Official Receiving a promotional copy of an album by TEN is always a treat, and their latest effort, “Here Be Monsters”, is a gorgeous slab of well-crafted hard rock with a poetic quality and an enchanting atmosphere to it. Warm and heartfelt vocals infuse the compositions with passion…

  • PHRENELITH – Chimaera

    RELEASE YEAR: 2021 BAND URL: https://phrenelith.bandcamp.com/ Now, these Danish deathmetallers took me completely by surprise with their catchy but grim brand of extreme death bordering on thrash in the vein of ancient Sepultura, Morbid Angel, Malevolent Creation and Asphyx, a high level of proficiency in songwriting and execution barely on their second album in the…

  • CITY OF LIGHTS – Before the Sun Sets

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/cityoflightsbanduk/ City of Lights recently released this 12-track debut offering of theirs via Frontiers Records, and what immediately becomes apparent when spinning the disc is that these guys are massive fans of melodic hard rock’s glory days. There is a lot to like about this one; the crisp and punchy production…

  • REDEMPTOR – Agonia

    RELEASE YEAR: 2021 BAND URL: https://redemptorpl.bandcamp.com/ It seems that with the increasing sectarian influence in the Polish government new extreme metal bands arise to join the Satanic Trinity of Vader, Behemoth and Azarath in defiance. Crakow’s Redemptor may not have such obvious leanings as the aforementioned, why, their philosophy may even be purposely shrouded in…

  • SOULCARRION – Infernal Agony

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/infernal-agony How does a pummeling and punishing 30-minute death metal record filled with gnarly riffs and hellish atmospheres sound? The Polish duo Soulcarrion deliver quality in spades here and “Infernal Agony” must be one of the darkest and most intense underground releases that I have gotten my filthy paws on recently.…

  • PHALANX INFERNO/MELEK-THA – Order of Eternal Indifference

    RELEASE YEAR: 2021  BAND URL: https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/order-of-eternal-indifference Although this split album by the US horde Phalanx Inferno and the French entity Melek-Tha is not brand spanking new as such (it was released back in early December), it is such an interesting one that we need to churn out a few sentences about its many merits. I love…

  • NAPALM DEATH – Resentment Is Always Seismic – A Final Throw Of Throes

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022 BAND URL: http://www.napalmdeath.org I know that Napalm Death’s last full-length, “Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism”²⁰²⁰ received a perfect score here and that ET was not the only mag to award it but, in my opinion, the album was not as good as the experimental predecessor, “Apex Predator -Easy Meat”²⁰¹⁵…

  • CORRUPTER – Descent into Madness

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: Descent Into Madness | CORRUPTER | ???? ?? ??? ??????????? (bandcamp.com) From the fiery pits of the French metal underground comes the 2-man outfit Corrupter, and this skilled duo shows great promise and potential here. “Descent into Madness” is a rather short and concise affair that encapsulates much of what I…

  • TYRANNOSAURUS NEBULOUS – Tyrant Lizard King

    RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://www.tyrannosaurusnebulous.com/ The good people over at Stampede Press mailed a promo copy of this twelve-track sonic assault my way and I am forever grateful to them for doing so. Apart from being visually impressive with respect to the artwork, there was something about the cool song titles that drew me in…