rock/metal albums
Album Review: Venom Prison – Erebos
Venom Prison began as a collaboration between Russian-born vocalist Larissa Stupar and guitarist Ash Gray with the line-up rounded out by guitarist Ben Thomas, bassist Mike Jefferies and drummer Joe Bills. They have carved an uncompromising space for themselves over the course of two full-length albums, “Animus” (2016) and “Samsara” (2019) with 2020’s “Primeval” reinvigorating …
Album Review: Warrior Soul – Out On Bail
Ok. For those new to the party (sorry, ‘work event’), back in the late ’80s and early ’90s there was Warrior Soul, and a trio of quite frankly stunning records – 1990’s ‘Last Decade Dead Century’, 1991’s Drugs, God, And The New Republic’, and 1992’s ‘Salutations From The Ghetto Nation’. How many rock bands can …
Album Review: Boris – W
In July 2020, Tokyo experimental metal trio Boris released ‘NO’, their fastest, loudest, heaviest album for several years, one that eschewed the drone metal elements of much of their recent material and re-embraced the hardcore punk influences of their early work. The album was hard, fast, and unsubtle, made for rip-roaring countryside driving music, and …
Album Review: Matt Baber & Richard Wileman – Baber Wileman
Richard Wileman’s 2020 album, ‘Arcana’ was a melodic yet unnerving gothic treat, with a Hammer Horror, Wicker Man vibe. This new offering continues in a similar vein, a collaboration with Matt Baber of Sanguine Hum. They had previously worked together in 2011, on a track (Mondo Profondo 1) for Wileman’s earlier incarnation, Karda Estra. This …
Album Review: Converge and Chelsea Wolfe – Bloodmoon: I
One of 2021’s most satisfying post-metal albums.
Album Review: Khemmis – Deceiver
Heavy doom metal masters Khemmis have released their fourth full length studio album, ‘Deceiver’, via Nuclear Blast Recordswhich has been nearly three years in the making. With a title that reflects the internal struggles that many of us battle in our daily lives, Deceiver is a ferociously honest and appetisingly raw piece of musical artistry. …
Album Review: Bleed Again – Resurgence
Brighton metalcorers Bleed Again have now unleashed their sophomore album, ‘Resurgence’ as they now embark on a new era complete with a solidified line-up. In true style for these guys, first track ‘Prevail’, explodes with a monstrous riff and superb screaming vocals. What a way to start the album off. An album of blistering guitar …
Album Review: Apollo Stands – Interstellar
Norwich metal band Apollo Stands have released another album of their unique brand of British metal that takes influences from a wide range of genres. The huge cinematic opening that is first track ‘Void’ sets the album up nicely as something different from the usual mould of metal acts. The track leads into ‘Insolarous’ which …
Album Review: Steve Conte – Bronx Cheer
The children of musical parents have a mixed blessing when it comes to career springboards; some find the understanding and support (and potentially the genetic passing on of whatever ‘talent’ actually is) a huge help. Others, it seems, find a famous parent a millstone that’s difficult to escape from. For Steve Conte, and brother John, …
Album Review: Kulk – We Spare Nothing
Kulk’s new album ‘We Spare Nothing’ comes a year after the release of their dense and fuzzed out debut ‘here lies kulk’ and sees the band elevating their monolithic brand of doom and sludge. The album is available through Hominid Sounds on vinyl and digital. The band comments: “It’s a journey, we felt like a …