Fleshworks arrives with an album cover reminiscent of NIN’s art-style, and singles that sound even more commercial than Pupil Slicer’s sophomore album, Blossom. As someone who spun The Fragile on repeat for the entirety of their teenage years, the question sitting at the top of Croque’s mind then is: can Davies and co handle the commercial sound as well as a heroin-fueled Trent Reznor?
Read more
Amorphis – Borderland Review
Being a metalhead of the generation that recognizes “Black Winter Day” within seconds, Anti-Peat has always had an interest in what Amorphis are doing. But when they enter the progressive borderlands of taste, will they still make him feel the deathly chills?
Read more
Heathen Heretic – Whispers From The Abyss Review
Subconsciously, I wanted to see whether this was a band that shoved together elements that sounded cool without thought, or whether there was a more deliberate philosophy at work. The other part of hitting play on Whispers from the Abyss is that Heathen Heretic are touted as playing blackened melodic death metal, and as the resident melodeath hating melodeath lover, I can’t help myself from searching for a whisper of something good in that abyss.
Read more
Tormentor Tyrant – Excessive Escalation of Cruelty Review
I would describe Tormentor Tyrant as a more restless Deicide that are more willing to fly off their mid-paced rails into red rage swings for your face. In short, expect Excessive Escalation of Cruelty to hit with the exact vibe that its album cover screams with its red dead rage as several faces of death metal history blend together.
Read more
Urfeind – Dauþalaikaz Review
Today on the chopping block: Urfeind, with third album Dauþalaikaz. Urfeind are new to me, yet I try to approach any new thing with an open mind, and I can appreciate a good slab of pagan black metal, so long as it’s done correctly. Is this my new obsession, or is Dauþalaikaz yet another of the countless black metal albums not worthy of your time and attention?
Read more
Ephialtes – Melas Oneiros Review
Most of us started something new during the Covid pandemic. Polish scene veteran Quazarre (Devilish Impressions, Asgaard, Crionics) started another band and called it Ephialtes after the Ancient Greek word for nightmare. He then doubled down on it by calling the debut album Melas Oneiros, which means black dream, or nightmare. It’s not everyday someone is so considerate as to make their thematic inspirations so clear.
Read more
Wraithfyre – Of Fell Peaks and Haunted Chasms Review
One look at the giant purple tower on the cover of Wraithfyre’s Of Fell Peaks and Haunted Chasms was enough to let Peat know that this had to be frostbitten 90s melodic black metal and it had to be solid – an icy touch enough to peak your interest too, perhaps.
Read more
Liminal Shroud – Visions of Collapse Review
Peat counts himself an atmoblack fan but at the same time, believes there are a lot of bands that prove the haters right. It’s a tough style to get right. That’s why the intro of Liminal Shroud’s Visions of Collapse filled him with hope and fear at the same time. As the curtain falls, what will your vision be?
Read more
Vesperian Sorrow – Awaken The Greylight Review
At its best, the symphonic black metal subgenre produces moments of sublime awe. At its worst, it offers a different brand of experiences never to be repeated. Since Awaken The Greylight is Vesperian Sorrow’s fifth album, Anti-Peat has his doubts. Awaken the Peat-light.
Read moreUnlock the Crypts
Crypts of the Unknown: Incubator – McGillroy the Housefly
