If you’ve been following Noise Vortex for a while you will know that I endorse all kinds of creative takes on established styles. Over the course of this decade, black metal has seen a particular amount of exciting experimentation. Bands like Deafheaven, Lantlôs and Alcest left a mark on the scene by defining the blackgaze sound. On their self-titled debut, american Wishfield draw from these bands as they put their own spin on blackgaze with dream pop vocals and outstanding fretless guitarplay.
Category: Reviews
Idle Hands – Mana
Sometimes a band comes out with an album that begs the question “why has no one done this before?”. Idle Hands prompt this question with their infectious debut album Mana as they fuse epic heavy metal with cold gothic rock. Admittedly, gothic influences in heavy metal aren’t groundbreaking, but Mana’s quality and integrity in uniting these two certainly is.
Slugdge – Esoteric Malacology
Praise Mollusca! UK death metal force Slugdge make a triumphant return with their fourth album Esoteric Malacology. Now on Willowtip Records and stronger than ever, the band continues to forge their lore of cosmic slugs and the allmighty Greatfather.
Howling Sycamore – Howling Sycamore
Boasting an impressive line-up, Howling Sycamore make their astonishing debut rearranging the well-established into something new to breathe some fresh air into the progressive metal scene.
Aosoth – V: The Inside Scriptures
Aosoth are back. Four years after IV: An Arrow in Heart, french Aosoth make a fierce return with their unrelenting and characteristically dissonant fifth album V: The Inside Scriptures.
Botanist – Collective: The Shape of He to Come
It is time to return to the Verdant Realm once more. Ever the industrious one, american Botanist have come out with their new album and first part of the “Collective” series. The Shape of He to Come is to be taken literally as it sees the band revolutionize their sound.
The Ruins of Beverast – Exuvia
Four years after his last album Blood Vaults – The Blazing Gospels of Heinrich Kramer, german mutli-instrumentalist and vocalist Alexander von Meilenwald returns to make another entry to the discography of his project The Ruins of Beverast. Enter Exuvia, one of the most densely atmospheric albums to come out this year.
White Ward – Futility Report
Ukrainian sextet White Ward make a furious entrace with their debut album Futility Report, an absolute must listen for fans of jazzy black metal with post-rock and avantgarde influences.
Mastodon – Emperor of Sand
One of the finest acts in progressive metal is back once more and they have their seventh studio album in tow. Mastodon present their fourth concept album Emperor of Sand, a story about life, death and the battle against cancer.
The Ominous Circle – Appalling Ascension
A dark shadow looms over Portugal as a monstrous entity rears its head to claim its righteous place. The Ominous Circle make their debut and let us bear witness to their Appaling Ascension.