Solstice

Godthrymm – Distortions Review

By Grymm on August 15, 2023 in Reviews, Doom Metal, 71 comments

“Back in 2020, before things would go pear-shaped in literally everyone’s lives, I reviewed Reflections, the debut album from Godthrym, the new band featuring former My Dying Bridesmen Hamish Glencross (guitars/vocals) and Shaun Taylor-Steels (drums). I was enamored by how heavy, dirge-y, and Paradise Lost-y the entire album was. However, once the pandemic went into full swing, Reflections only gained in momentum and solace as everything around us quickly turned to shit on a planetary scale, bringing with it a sense of comfort and catharsis and landing itself on my Top Ten of a year we all would love to forget (but can’t). Now, in a happier(?) time and with a fuller line-up, Godthrymm are back with their highly-anticipated follow-up, Distortions.” Doom for End Times.

Midnight Odyssey – Biolume Part 2: The Golden Orb Review

By Carcharodon on March 17, 2021 in Reviews, Ambient Metal, Drone, Heavy Metal, 70 comments

“In November 2019, I picked up the Midnight Odyssey-reviewing baton from a tired and broken Dr A.N.Grier, who had aged a number of cat years during his time with the 160-minute beast, Shards of Silver Fade. By contrast, I was able to listen to its successor, and first episode in a planned trilogy, Biolume Part 1: In Tartarean Chains, twice through and still have time for a 15-minute power nap, in the time it took poor Grier to labor his way through Shards. For anyone who thought this was a sign that Australian gloomster and one-man Odyssey, Dis Pater, had learned to curb his more expansive tendencies, however, Pater has all 102 minutes of Biolume Part 2: The Golden Orb to tell you otherwise.” Maximum adventures.

Opprobrium – The Fallen Entities Review

By Mark Z. on February 20, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Death Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 39 comments

“Opprobrium actually started life as Incubus. No, not the band whose name you were cursing the 10,000th time you heard “Drive” on the radio back in 2002—this Incubus was an early American death-thrash group who drew comparisons to Sepultura with their two classic albums, 1988’s Serpent Temptation and 1990’s Beyond the Unknown. Brothers and founding members Moyses and Francis Howard even share Sepultura’s Brazilian heritage and were inspired to write a third album after a trip to their homeland in 1999.” Beast from the past.

Steel Druhm’s Top Ten(ish) of 2018

By Steel Druhm on December 29, 2018 in 2018, Blog Posts, 181 comments

We’re getting to the nitty gritty of the lists, and now Lord Protector Steel Druhm‘s list must be weighed, measured and accepted as gospel. Let no man question the Steel of Approval!

Huck N’ Roll’s and Eldritch Elitist’s Top Ten of 2018

By Steel Druhm on December 21, 2018 in 2018, Blog Posts, Lists, 147 comments

The top tens are marching, and Huck N’ Roll and Eldritch are ready to spread the gospel of good metal across the land. You wanted lists, you got lists!

Solstice – White Horse Hill [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Huck N Roll on November 30, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Dark Descent Records, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 51 comments

“I love to hear music from bands that faded away decades ago, only to come back with renewed fury. Satan, anyone? Sorcerer? The list goes on, and now we can add Solstice to it. Stylistically similar to Sorcerer and Khemmis, these venerable Brits put out a couple of albums in the 1990s before disappearing from the scene, only to reappear in 2013 with a comeback EP, Death’s Crown Is Victory. Immaculately recorded and arranged, the four songs presented were top-notch epic doom. And now, five years after that—and a full twenty after their last full-length—Solstice present us with White Horse Hill, and it is glorious.” Won’t you ride their White Horse?

An Interview with A Forest of Stars

By Akerblogger on September 15, 2018 in Blog Posts, English Metal, Interviews, 16 comments

“At Bloodstock Open Air 2018, I was able to spend an hour with the Leeds-based progressive black metal Victorian menagerie that is A Forest of Stars. They had just finished their set on the Sophie Lancaster Stage and were riding a wave of adrenaline that placed them in an excitable, energetic, and joyous mood.” A day in the forest…with stars.

Condenados – The Tree of Death Review

By Steel Druhm on January 6, 2017 in 2017, Chilean Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Shadow Kingdom Records, Doom Metal, 33 comments

“Those who know me will tell you that Steel Druhm is a man of refined tastes. As such, I don’t always listen to cult underground doom, but when I do, I like it the same way I like my chili – extra meaty and full of crippling regret. Obscure Chilean doom purveyors, Condenados have their own homestyle recipe they’d love to share and on their second album, The Tree of Death they’re looking to serve it to a wider audience.” Ent no thing.

Things You Might Have Missed 2013: Procession – To Reap Heavens Apart

By Steel Druhm on December 9, 2013 in 2013, Chilean Metal, Doom Metal, High Roller Records, Things You Might Have Missed 2013, Doom Metal, 8 comments

“Following along with Avatarium, little know Chilean act Procession released a high quality slab of doom in 2013 that you may have missed. In fact, I probably would have missed it were it not for a tip from a loyal reader. Their sophomore opus To Reap Heavens Apart is right in line with early Candlemass (think debut and Nightfall), While Heaven Wept and Solstice and as such, it’s weighted down with weighty, glum and downtrodden riffs and despairing, yet epic vocals that call to mind the styling of Messiah Marcolin, albeit a more restrained version.” Steel Druhm missed his share of good doom this year and it has him rather perplexed an confuzzled.