I have never heard about this project before this record. But all i gotta say is that its really good. Nothing groundbreaking, but their mixture of Ice Nine Kills' theatrics, a7x's vocal type and riffs mixed with a whiff of power metal throughout is something i havent really heard before. There are definitively some highlights on the record that overshine some others. But the songs are consitently atleast good. The lyrics can get into cringe territory, but its forgiven as the ... read more

Blackbraid release a small EP. These 3 Songs continue their Sound from Blackbraid III with one accoustic version of an older track. The first track could easily fit on Blackbraid III and would be a highlight even on that, the second track wouldnt be a standout there but still flows really well, but the accoustic version sadly feels like it lacks something. The atmosphere gets lost, the riffs feel stale and as a last track, it feels like it has no real purpose.
Overall a strong outing from ... read more

Crossfire unleash a flurry of 3 ragers onto the hardcore scene. They infuse their metallic hardcore with an edge of southern influence. The first two songs are pure ragers with a very grand sounding riff and good vocals. In the third track, the screeching vocals kinda get buried alot. The production works for what it is, but the vocals are slightly buried and the songs could generally be louder. Still an absolute bang for such a small band. Will definitively follow them!

Finally... some Atmospheric Black Metal that scratches my urge. The only other release that did it so far this year, was MOL.
This record sets up an incredibly dense and dark athmosphere, that sometimes overtunes the Metal part of it, which i dont really mind. Since the athmosphere is what i live for. Sadly the vocals are a bit too hallway-esk for me. But, they are implemented well here, just not up to my personal preference. The Songs flow wonderfully and feel very encompassing. You can feel ... read more

Necrofier deliver a well crafted Black Metal record with alot of Death Metal Influences scattered throughout. IT certainly feels well made, but the production isnt up to what id like these bands to do. So maybe im the wrong demographic for this style of Black Metal. Riffs are good, Vocals are fine.
If you like Black Metal, go for it, but it wont change your mind on the genre.

Rob Zombie returns and does... what he does best. Its a horror driven metal record, feeling very filthy and dirty in nature. The production is muddy and the vocals distorted. Its very much Rob Zombies style. The lyrics on it are very much hit and miss. They can reach from fun horror and brutal ideas to very goofy and from time to time even cringeworthy. The album sadly doesnt have many standouts for me. It just flows by and then its just over. So, sadly nothing really struck me and will stick ... read more

This record sits comfortably somewhere between oldschool metalcore and relatively modern MeloDeath. The riffs vary from headbangers to melodic anthems, and so do the vocals. Its not a massively varied record, it keeps its sound, but its varied enough to have a contour. Sadly none of the chorusses really catch me, neither do the riffs. Its all well done, but doesnt stick well enough to return. Still, if you crave oldschool metalcore and or MeloDeath, this is a good record to go to!

Varials return with their most soulcrushing effort to date. The riffs and breakdowns go so hard, they feel like they overpower your eardrums. The vocals are equally as dark and low. This record feels like Kublai Khan if they had bridge cables as guitar strings.
Sadly alot of songs dont differ much from each other and therefore begin to blend together. Thats why the moments of clean vocals work all the better.
Oerall its a breath of fresh air, for the modern metal scene, since its alot slower ... read more

Clawfinger are a band, as much as i enjoy Nu-Metal, i never seem to get into. I try time and time again and always fail. Same goes here. The riffs dont stand out, the vocals are fine but the lyrics are corny. Yes they speak facts and rap about the truth. But i sadly cant take it seriously. This really just isnt my record, and it feels like its been done better before.

The Gloom In The Corner celebrate their comeback with their newest record. I had relatively high expectations for this, since "Trinitiy" was one of the best records of 2022. This record in theory follow their trajectory that Trinity showed off, but makes it heaver and more compressed. This is where my problem with this record lies. The production feels compressed and mostly destroyes the theatre and grand scale that this record wants to create. The riffs, sound good, but arent ... read more

Lovebites show us their typical combo of Power Metal corssed with Visual Key. It is fun, but does blend together quick. It surely does have its standouts on the record and do sound like some awesome show intros of sorts. Sadly it didnt grip me much and left me wanting more. In that regard its very similar to their last project.

I seem to be in the minority here, but that is fully fine. I did not like this record, nether did i enjoy any full track on here. Riffs and instrumentals are not bad, maybe slightly to muffled (but thats typical black metal for you). But the vocals, i just found to be really unpleasant to listen to. IF it was their intention, good job. Yall did well!
But it put me in an awful mood and i didnt enjoy my listen through it. Sorry!

The time has come, Sylosis finally clicked for me. Been following them ever since their return in 2020 but i never connected to an album. Always only some singles. But with "The New Flesh" this has changed. This record is groovy, catchy, creative and fun. The Songs, whilst being relatively similar in sound, differentiate enough to feel each indiviudal one. The breakdowns hit very very hard, even though most of them are incredibly simple.
For me, this record fills the spot that Trvium ... read more

Solid Metallic Hardcore with a very concise runtime of 17min. Fitting for its brutality. Sadly it just doesnt hit for me apart from some gnarly riffs in some songs. If you like the style though, u will enjoy the record!

Mirrorcell fuse together Nu-Metalcore and Shoegaze influences for a very mixed bag of an album. The first 4 tracks are amazing metalcore pieces with that 2000s Nu Metal flare inside them and a shoegaze flourish to finish it off. Glitter, as an opener, especially does this very well. Sadly in the later half of the record, it kinda looses its focus, meanders on some mediocre chorusses and ends up being forgettable. I will surely get some tracks for the playlist out of it. But its not one for the ... read more

Worm Shepherd had a run of two very decent symphonic blackened deathcore records. Sadly this EP doesnt hold up to that standard. The first half is incredibly generic modern deathcore, not unlike to Slaughter To Prevail or Distant, while the second half shows more of the symphonic soundscapes and blackened flourishes to create a good few songs. They dont reinvent the wheel, but they come closer to their standart.
Atleast with only 24min its quite concise and doesnt overstay its welcome.
Overall ... read more

Mothica present her newest EP, which sadly just feels like any other female fronted pop tinged modern Metalcore record. If it werent for the last 2 songs on the record it would probably even fall below a 50 for me. It almost feels painfully bland. Her vocals are very pretty, but thats mainly where the positives end.

Above, Below really gain some traction with this latest release. Progressive Metalcore, wrapped in a Modern Metal veil. To me, it sounds well made and does what it does very well. Sadly it really doesnt connect and fails to evoke any emotions inside of me. I know ill be in the minority here and that is fully fine. The riffs blend together, personally only some hooks really land and the term of progressive really doesnt mean much here apart from long songs. Sadly even many song structures feel ... read more

I came in here, expecting a continuation of Ukko, one of my favourite Metalcore records in recent years. I did not get that. Where Ukko combined that Thall and Metalcore influence with Folk influences, Sunder fuses Metalcore and Thall with Gothic Metal and looses the part that made Ukko stand out. The riffs are muddy, but well done. The Gothic Metal influences work really well and make the songs feel distinct and unique. I cant say similar things for the straight Metalcore tracks. Those are ... read more

I understand the hype. Its just not for me!
Worm bless the black metal genre with an opus of an record. Its a progressive journey through Black Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Neoclassical Solos and Gothic vibes. This is how Progressive Black Metal should look like. Thanks Worm for this really good album.
Sadly its not my cup of tea and probably does get a lower score from the than it deserves.