Necrot are a death metal band from the US and this is their third album. 2020’s Mortal was an enjoyable slab of old-school death metal carnage, and now Necrot are back to reap more limbs with the 40-minute Lifeless Birth. It’s a step up a level for Necrot, one you must listen to if you’re a ..read more

I’ve been listening to both Marduk and Origin for a long, long, long time, but have never seen either of them. Imagine my surprise and excitement then when I saw this show appear on my radar. Scrumptious stuff indeed. Doodswens Unfortunately the stated opening band Skaphos are no longer playing, so it’s straight into Doodswens ..read more

This is the third album from solo black metal act Selbst, originally from Venezuela, and now Chile. Following on from 2020’s Relatos de Angustia, Despondency Chord Progressions contains 44 minutes of new material. The artist behind Selbst, (also in Animus Mortis), is aided on this release by the drummer of Aversio Humanitatis/Eternal Storm, and has ..read more

This is the sixth album from Polish black metallers Blaze of Perdition. I enjoyed 2015’s Near Death Revelations, 2017’s Conscious Darkness, and 2020’s The Harrowing of Hearts, so was pleased when Upharsin appeared. Across its 41-minute duration Blaze of Perdition create a withering storm of hostile black metal and ceremonial atmosphere. Upharsin finds Blaze of Perdition delving deeper into ..read more

This is the debut album from German death metallers Mære. Featuring ex-members of Ingurgitating Oblivion, …​And the Universe Keeps Silent contains 37 minutes of lightless dissonant death metal. The promo blurb mentions bands like Gorguts, Incantation, Morbid Angel, Immolation, Replicant, Phobocosm, and Saevus Finis, so this will give you a good idea of where Mære ..read more

Dvne are a progressive post-metal band from the UK and this is their third album. I fell hard for Dvne on their 2017 album Asheran, which they then followed up in 2021 with the critically acclaimed Etemen Ænka. Which brings us to the much-anticipated Voidkind, an album that boasts 58 minutes of new material. Voidkind develops ..read more

This is the fifteenth album from UK doom metal band My Dying Bride. A Mortal Binding contains 55 minutes of new music from this legendary act. My Dying Bride have returned with a doom-drenched descent into the abyssal depths of loss and despair. It’s rich in moody darkness, and resplendent with emotive colour. Balancing atmospheric immersion ..read more

This is the third album from Dutch dark rock band Dool. The Shape of Fluidity contains 50 minutes of dark rock music with both a metallic and a Gothic edge, as well as containing elements of doom, post-rock and post-punk. Dool’s music flows together seamlessly, making for an individualistic blend that is extremely enjoyable and ..read more

This is the second album from Canadian death metal band Atræ Bilis. Following on from 2021’s Apexapien, Atræ Bilis have now returned with 40 minutes of new material. As enjoyable as that record was, Aumicide is something else. On Aumicide Atræ Bilis continue down the path of bringing together different death metal styles into a compelling whole ..read more

Now here’s an interesting show. A bill of extremes, from the deathgrind mayhem of Knoll to the funeral doom crawl of Bell Witch. How could I miss such a compelling reason to journey to one of my favourite venues in Manchester once more? Knoll There’s a very good turnout for Knoll, which is great, as ..read more