Compared to the colorful cosmic trip of 'A Crimson Cosmos', the newest Lake Of Tears album appears dark and gloomy. It seems like a gigantic black hole absorbed all the colors and what remains is a cold and dark universe. It has been rather quiet about Lake Of Tears for the last ten years. 'Illwill'... Continue Reading →
CD review DREAD SOVEREIGN ‘Alchemical Warfare’
It was Primordial singer Nemtheanga who started Dread Sovereign in 2013, a band dedicated to doom-oriented metal. Already in their founding year, a first EP was released with 'Pray to the Devil in Man' which acted as a springboard for the debut album. 'All Hell's Martyrs' is the title of the mentioned first album which... Continue Reading →
CD review CHALICE ‘Trembling Crown’
Chalice is certainly a very common band name. You can find bands with this moniker from heavy metal to metalcore. The Chalice we are talking about here are from Helsinki, Finland and started in 2016. After a demo in 2017 and an EP called 'Silver Cloak' it is now time to present a debut album.... Continue Reading →
CD review AVATARIUM ‘An Evening With Avatarium – Live in Stockholm’
Almost a year ago Swedish metal powerhouse Avatarium played a show in their hometown Stockholm. It was the iconic Nalen that was the scenery for a concert that was supposed to be the kick-start for touring activities in 2020. We all know that the plan never turned into reality but fortunately for Avatarium fans, the... Continue Reading →
CD review ETERNAL CHAMPION ‘Ravening Iron’
No Remorse Records shows again their good sense for stellar heavy metal bands. Eternal Champion inked a deal with the label a few years ago, with a first split album, having been released in 2015. The debut ‘The Armor of Ire’ followed a year later and now the time is right for bringing some more... Continue Reading →
CD review MY DYING BRIDE ‘Macabre Cabaret’
Two releases from My Dying Bride in one year is a rare thing. 2020 with all its weirdness, is such a year and after having unleashed the doom monster ‘The Ghost of Orion’ in March, the year ends with an EP named ‘Macabre Cabaret’. Being a perfect fit into the dark season of autumn and... Continue Reading →
CD review SOULBURN ‘Noa’s D’ark’
Soulburn has roots that go back to the second half of the '90s and originated from the Dutch metal legend Asphyx. In a period of a first decline for Asphyx, Eric Daniels, Bob Bagchus and Wannes Gubbles took off with Soulburn and released a remarkable debut in 1998. Soulburn, in its early years, was plagued... Continue Reading →
THE OBSESSED and the Record Store Day version of ‘Incarnate’
Besides 2020 being a really weird year, doom metal veterans The Obsessed have a good reason for a celebration. The Obsessed face their 40th anniversary in 2020, a moment of reflection on what has been achieved over four decades in metal. Scott 'Wino' Weinrich and bandmates released a compilation called 'Incarnate' in 1999, featuring demos... Continue Reading →
CD review PALLBEARER ‘Forgotten Days’
Snail-pace and giant power can go together very well. Doom metal experts Pallbearer furnish evidence for this fusionwith delivering extremely good heavy metal. Three years after ‘Heartless’ broke through the surface of metal, the quartet delivers with their newest output an eight songs featuring longplayer that reflects Pallbearer with 100% but shows a few deviations.... Continue Reading →
CD review OLD MOTHER HELL ‘Lord of Demise’
Cruz Del Sur has very good scouting skills when it's about discovering new bands with potential, not only but especially when it's about Doom- and Epic Metal. Old Mother Hell is such an oufit that recently signed with the label and the first album is in the starting blocks. Old Mother Hell was founded in... Continue Reading →
CD review SPIRIT ADRIFT ‘Enlightened by Eternity’
The best of the '70s, '80s and '90s, all packaged as a contemporary metal release, that's Spirit Adrift in general and their new album 'Enlightened By Eternity' in specific. The new album is the forth one for the duo and the first one for Century Media, featuring eight new songs that act as a musical... Continue Reading →
CD review NEÀNDER ‘eremit’
neànder is a rather new band, considering their start that dates back to 2017. Within these three years, the Berlin-based band was rather productive with a self-titled debut, shared with the world in 2019. A year later the sophomre release 'eremit' has left the studio and carries another six songs, penned by the German quartet.... Continue Reading →
CD review SCORCHED OAK ‘Withering Earth’
Sometimes good things just come to you. The inbox is full with releases and sometimes it takes a coincident to get to the good stuff. This time it was my friend Christian from Hamburg's Plattenkiste, who recommended this release to me. Knowing his good musical taste meant to me, checking out this album, and so... Continue Reading →
CD review ARROGANZ ‘Morsus’
Since 2008 German Arroganz (OK, that sounds a bit weird) evolve their sound and music, built on despair and rage. Also sounding very authentic the trio debuted in 2011 with "Dark and Deathless' and here comes the next avalanche of evil riffs, reaching is from Cottbus, Germany. 'Morsus' is the title of the new Arroganz... Continue Reading →
MY DYING BRIDE will raise the curtain for ‘Macabre Cabaret’ in November
Latest activities at My Dying Bride led to a next EP the band announce for November 20th this year. The band raise the curtain for 'Macabre Cabaret', a new EP that also includes 'A Secret Kiss'. Singer Aaron Stainthorpe states:“'Macabre Cabaret' delves into the shadow empire of dark love and the consequences of unchecked sexuality. The deep... Continue Reading →