The opener on Liminal Animals sounds like a statement of fatigue in its lyrics: repeated words from previous songs, the nature of sound as “Moving objects / The music they make” all the while distinct eras of Ulver clash in intuitively written songs.
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Stenched – Purulence Gushing from the Coffin Review
From groovy rhythms to never-ending joy in the darkest riffs, Purulence Gushing from the Coffin feels like a celebration of death metal’s rotten core. The pacing of the tracks ensures no moment overstays its welcome, a rare achievement in this style. Praise gushing from the death metal loving bear.
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Mandroïd of Krypton – Cosmic Sarcophagus Review
Part of the joy of being a music reviewer is discovering new bands, because any new band could be your new favorite act. Are Mandroïd of Krypton one of the next greats, or should this sarcophagus be left to drift aimlessly throughout space?
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Moss Upon the Skull – Quest for the Secret Fire Review
Psychedelic death metal, to put it bluntly, lacks a strong definition. Often the genre is aesthetically dependent or rooted in how many Gilmourisms the guitarist deploys per solo. No matter how wet the reverb, nor how boomer the bends, these two approaches miss the fundamental underpinning of psychedelic music. But what if the riffs were really, really dank?
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Sergeant Thunderhoof – The Ghost of Badon Hill Review
If you’re into psychedelic stoner metal and bands with names that sound like they moonlight at medieval jousts, The Ghost of Badon Hill by Sergeant Thunderhoof is for you. With a title as riveting as a wargaming brony, this album promises trippy vibes, and no curveballs about its genre.
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Pillar of Light – Caldera Review
The second a band chooses to use a Lewandowski painting for their cover, they set a certain expectation. Ever since his association with Bell Witch’s seminal funeral doom album, Mirror Reaper, this decision implies a certain confidence in quality. Detroit’s own Pillar of Light should know this. With the quiet-loud formula brought to bear on their debut album, Caldera, they make the case that they earn this monolithic cover through sheer emotional heft. It just might blow your top off.
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Thyrathen – Lakonic Review
“Thyrathen hail from Larissa, the birth place of Achilles, but have elected to honour a different group of the bloody-minded and bloody-handed with their second album, Lakonic. Laconia was home of the Spartans for those who don’t know, and as such, the name suggested I could expect some suitably belligerent, stripped back black metal.” If this is the case, Pete’s ears will rejoice, never to rumble in boredom again… if…
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Ashen Tomb – Ecstatic Death Reign
Some albums grab you by the throat from the first note and refuse to let go until the very end. From the very first moments of Ecstatic Death Reign, Finnish death metal band Ashen Tomb unleash a massive sound that demands attention. And this Bear was ready to study it from the comfort of his forest den.
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Fellowship – The Skies Above Eternity Review
Fellowship’s The Saberlight Chronicles carried the flag high for those hoping to sing and gallop not with challenge but with a smile. And though I’m not typically one to fall for such gallivanting, their underlying talents give me hope in a way that their music does not. But with The Skies Above Eternity boasting both a trimmed runtime and darker narrative promise, can it turn my worm to weenie in its glory?
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Crypts of the Unknown: Capilla Ardiente – The Siege
