WINGLESS – Ascension

RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://wingless.bandcamp.com/ While Nonconform²⁰²¹ (via Selfmadegod Records) was a very good album from this Polish death metal ensemble, my review was hopeful of the follow up to take more risks in order to distinguish Wingless from Behemoths, Azaraths and Vaders of my native land on one hand, and from the way Malevent…

OFFICIUM TRISTE – Hortus Venenum

RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://officiumtriste.com/ Even though I knew what the Dutch atmospheric doom death metal sextet was capable of by the excellent Mors Viri²⁰¹³ and The Death Of Gaia²⁰¹⁹, I never expected their 7th album in 30 years, Hortus Venenum²⁰²⁴, released on September 6th via Transcending Obscurity Records, to be this utterly deep and…

GOLGOTHA – Spreading The Wings Of Hope

RELEASE YEAR: 2024 BAND URL: http://www.golgothaofficial.com/ Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are destructive, greedy wolves. You will recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every healthy tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad…

SWALLOW THE SUN – Shining

RELEASE YEAR: 2024 BAND URL: http://swallowthesun.net/ We’ve last left the Finnish melodic doom death ensemble Swallow The Sun (STS) on their second album dedicated to, and in mourning of, the tragically and too early departed South African singer, Julia Liane “Aleah Starbridge” Stanbridge and her thus brutally ended romantic relationship with Swallow The Sun’s founding…

MARTYRDOOM – As Torment Prevails

RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://martyrdoom.bandcamp.com/ It’s been awhile since I reviewed something from my native Poland, let alone something good, so the 2nd (after Grevious Psychosis²⁰¹⁷) full length from the death metal doomsters Martyrdoom (the most brilliant name since Cryptopsy?), As Torment Prevails²⁰²³ released on October 23rd via Memento Mori, is a great opportunity…

FIRES IN THE DISTANCE – Air Not Meant For Us

RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://firesinthedistance.com/ While (or why) I hadn’t hurried to review the second album, Air Not Meant For Us²⁰²³ from the Connecticuter quartet as soon as it was released on April 28th on Prosthetic Records, it gave me all the more pleasure to realize how excellent it was once I sunk my…

OCEAN OF GRIEF – Pale Existence

RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://oceanofgrief.bandcamp.com/ The progressive doom/death metal sextet Ocean Of Grief consisting of Charalabos Oikonomopoulos (2014-vocals), Filippos Koliopanos (2014-guitars), Aris Nikoleris (2014-keyboards), Giannis Koskinas (2014-bass), Thomas Motsios (2014-drums) and Dimitra Zarkadoula (2015-guitars) provide a slight departure from my recent melodic death metal binge with their second (after “Nightfall’s Lament”²⁰¹⁸ on Rain Without…