ALBUM REVIEW: Je Est Un Autre – Flatworm Mysticism


As one half of the infamous Funeral Doom Metal band Bell Witch, Dylan Desmond is a musician renowned for powerful and contemplative soundscapes and is no stranger for emotive music. Following from the band’s Patreon launch a couple of years ago, Desmond has since been prominently experimenting with Ambient, synth-led music in part made to accompany segments of films (as anyone who has seen Bell Witch live will attest to their use of visual artistry in their performances). A further result of this is this solo output Je Est Un Autre, with a moniker taken from quotes of surrealist poet Arthur Rimbaud which, unsurprisingly, is a deep thought-provoking piece. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: See You Next Tuesday – Relapses


In recent years, it seems there has been a heightened embrace of electronic music within Metal that is becoming increasingly at the forefront. From the likes of Perturbator and HEALTH sitting on Metal and Rock lineups so fluidly with the likes of LLNN capturing dystopian and pounding soundscapes in their John Cxnner project, it is seemingly becoming a more prominent and welcome aspect within the more extreme fringes of Metal. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Lord Dying- Clandestine Transcendence


It was back in 2019 when we last saw a release from Portland, Oregon’s own Lord Dying. The album in question being Mysterium Tremendum proved to show a widening in their sound with an ever increased air and nod to progressive rock alongside their more notable sludge elements, as well as a narrative which includes a large focus on the notion of death, mortality and questions around these.

Four years later, events of the world have hardly made this subject matter any less focused in people’s minds and certainly not in the band, as latest album Clandestine Transcendence (MNRK Heavy) continues with this overarching narrative, as well as a continuation on their ever-expansive song writing. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Saevus Finis – Facilis Descensus Averno


For quite some time now, but arguably in the last few years especially, Transcending Obscurity Records has been one of the most consistently excellent champions for new, exciting and often innovative extreme metal acts, both in quality and in the sheer volume of their releases. Continue reading


EP ALBUM REVIEW: Act Of Entropy- Oupiroullel



Despite the world known adage that you should “never judge a book by its cover”, sometimes cover art is an excellent snapshot that gives a good indication of what is to come. The artwork in the case of Oupiroullel (Centipede Abyss) manages to both indicate what is to come with its frenzied, warped and vivid artwork, whilst somehow doing absolutely nothing to give preparation.
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ALBUM REVIEW: Convocation – No Dawn For The Caliginous Night


Winter is undeniably creeping forward as the nights draw longer and the cold ever sharper. Even aside from this, happenings feel ultimately bleak and the world is increasingly grief-stricken as a result. Perhaps suitably, Convocation makes a welcome return; a band that conjures that sense of foreboding and misery, if in a general sense rather than at specific events.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Sorcerer – Reign Of The Reaper


 

Nearly ten years into their career return, Swedish metallers Sorcerer have proven to be a somewhat underappreciated but certainly formidable presence. Perhaps it is down to their sound which sits on the boundaries of traditional and Doom Metal which has hardly been flavour of the month in recent years. It is a timeless and reliable sound however which has seen them with some strong and sturdy releases since their 2015 return. Therefore, things were hardly likely to dramatically shift with a new album; but if Reign Of The Reaper (Metal Blade Records) does anything, it further cements their status.

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ALBUM REVIEW: OWDWYR – Receptor


 

All the signs are there: this is not going to be the easiest listening experience. From the likely purposefully awkward moniker, the cacophony of guest musicians (mostly drummers) and the self-processed palette of influences that range from Technical Death Metal to Classical; it does seem that Extreme Metaller’s OWDWYR purpose is to intrigue and to baffle in equal measure. The result of this; debut release Receptor (Self-Released) is, as expected, manic and as such, warrants hearing.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Source – Emergence


 

As album titles go, Emergence (Self-Released) is a powerful and meaningful moniker for Progressive Metallers Source at this point in their careers. Firstly, it references the album’s inspiration and, in part, narrative of new realisation and “transformation” of vocalist/guitarist Ben Gleason’s worldview following global pandemic-forced lockdowns and the following readjustment.

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