The final part of the Biolume trilogy is nigh, and A Fullmoon Madness is a maddeningly exhaustive venture totalling just over two hours. Is this significant length worth your time to soak in the astral laments and cosmic invocations, or is this an ouroboric cycle of exhaustion? Madness would be not reading more before hitting play.
Read moreMourn the Light / High Priest / Ice Howl / Archdruid – Split Review
Ah, the split. The underappreciated release that can highlight potential up-and-comers, or showcase multiple bands that don’t bring anything interesting to the table. Sometimes, a split gets released and reveals the best of a band’s material. So where does this four-way split land? Pick your player.
Read moreConvocation – No Dawn for the Caliginous Night Review
My expectations were very high for this album, as they would be for any follow up in this band’s catalog. And yet again Convocation prove to be one of the best bands in the current Funeral Doom scene. So how exactly did this album leave Cosmo moonstruck?
Read morePlague Rider – Intensities Review
Watts’ vocal performance on Intensities sickens me in the best way; his unhinged, demented rasps on key tracks cementing some of my favorite album moments. Henderson also has a phenomenal performance: being extraordinarily technical yet never too much. Will these sounds absquatulate from Cosmo’s desiring ears?
Read moreLower 13 – Deception Review
For better or worse, Deception sounds like it stepped out of the time capsule of Monster Energy-era Metalcore from 2005-2008. For what it’s worth, the production on this album as well as the talent of the band members is present though. Don’t chug and drive.
Read moreXoth – Exogalactic Review
The year is now 2023, and in the year of the purple castle, Xoth have erected one of their own in Exogalactic. Will this cosmic reign make all other castles turn lavender with envy?
Read moreTardigrade Inferno – Burn the Circus Review
There are moments of clarity on Burn the Circus that show hints of potential. “Clockwork God”, for example, is an early highlight. Keyboards that sound like circus organs are used heavily, and it works, along with the frankly great riffs present. When Tardigrade Inferno lean into riffwriting, it shows their penchant for writing groovy, fun riffs. But in the end, will we find Cosmo nailed to the Ferris Wheel?
Read moreSühnopfer – Nous sommes d’hier Review
Sühnopfer’s love of baroque themes makes itself known immediately in opening track “DSFR” with its classical guitar intro. These classical guitar motifs pop up throughout the course of the album, and they’re always a joy when they appear. Possibly unsavory baroque riffs.
Read moreVertebra Atlantis – A Dialogue with the Eeriest Sublime Review
This year, Gramaglia has released the follow-up Vertebra Atlantis album, A Dialogue With the Eeriest Sublime. Combining harsh, gnarled riffs and hypnotic dreamscapes, this specific blend of Progressive Death Metal may just be his magnum opus. This album is not afraid to show some real backbone, so make sure you don’t leave it at the bottom of the ocean.
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