Category: Reviews
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Graveyard – Peace
They’re back from the dead. Gothenburg rockers Graveyard were at the forefront of the whole retro-rock revival of the late aughts, with 2011’s Hisingen Blues serving as one of the finest examples of modern-day Led Zeppelin worship to these ears. After breaking up in 2016, albeit for a couple months, they’ve returned with their first…
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BlackLab – Under The Strawberry Moon
On the surface of it, BlackLab are a doom metal band, and yet not completely so. Hailing from Japan, BlackLab are two Japanese women: Chia Shiraishi on drums, and Yuko Morino on guitar and vocals. A bass-less two piece, but they are (dark) light years removed from the generic boredom of the likes of Royal…
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Witch Mountain – self-titled
It’s been a while since Witch Mountain parted ways with Uta Plotkin, the amazingly rangy singer who first blew my mind on 2011’s South of Salem. But their next two albums were subsequently less heavy, before creative differences led to the search for a new frontwoman. And while it didn’t take long for the band…
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Khemmis – Desolation
It’s not uncommon for a more traditional doom band to take a turn toward power metal—Argus first made strides in this direction with Boldly Strides the Doomed, while Age of Taurus is leaning much more towards the swords ‘n sorcery set on their outstanding second album, The Colony Slain. We can also now include Khemmis…
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Sense of Fear – As The Ages Passing By…
So much metal is marred by a lack of dynamics, but that is certainly not the case with Sense of Fear. Time changes abound on As The Ages Passing By…, giving Sense of Fear a real sense of drama. The first thing that struck me about Sense of Fear was their strong songwriting and musicality.…
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Ghost – Prequelle
After three years, Ghost have released their fourth full-length album, Prequelle. After how much I enjoyed their previous work, Meliora (2015) especially, I had high hopes for the new record, but ultimately I believe my expectations were a bit too high for their new project. The album features several high points, but many low points…
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ASG – Survive Sunrise
Now, I don’t think that “sludge pop” is actually a thing, although I might have seen that term used in a Torche review or two. It could also possibly apply to ASG, a Carolina outfit that often mixes catchy hooks with heavy, distorted riffs. It’s been five years since their last album, Blood Drive, which…
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The Raz – The Raz
Good music is always timeless music and such is the case with the music made by the splendidly named The Raz. Their self-titled debut could have been recorded at any time in the last fifty years (which I mean as the highest compliment). Their musicianship is very strong and the band gel together well, giving them…
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Yob – Our Raw Heart
You could call Yob’s eighth studio album a labour of love. Certainly, from reading Mike Scheidt’s heartfelt Facebook updates over the past couple years, it’s clear the frontman has a new lease on life after an intestinal disease left him hospitalized in 2017. While doom is definitely no stranger to pain and suffering, whether physical…
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Exmortus – The Sound of Steel
It’s been two years since their last offering, Ride Forth, but the guys from Exmortus are back with a vengeance. On June 8th (via Prosthetic Records) comes The Sound of Steel – the band’s fifth full release. I’m going on record right now to say it is my favorite record from these young men out…