Sunniva - Hypostasis (Album Review)

Release Date: September 19th 2025. Record Label: Svart Records. Formats: DD

Hypostasis - Tracklisting

1.Mercurial Bloodstreams 05:03

2.Peine Forte Et Dure 07:22

3.Valovaltimo 07:29

4.Opening the Key 07:06

5.Sun Funeral 08:16

6.Hung from the Sky 08:00

Review

Sunniva’s debut album Hypostasis blends Funeral Doom, Sludge Metal and Post-Metal atmospherics against a blend of nihilistic Black Metal passages. There’s a dark sense of brooding mystery forming against the backdrop of Ambient Metal textures and sudden shifts into Psychedelic warfare based tactics. This is a highly accomplished debut which is their first new material in over five years. This is time that has served Sunniva well as the band have crafted an ice-cold and emotionally calculated release that blends the sounds of Neurosis, ISIS and Cult Of Luna but with a Post-Black Metal philosophy.

The vocals are harsh, aggressive and very precise but Sunniva deserve high praise for their high reliance on Shoegaze and Alt-Metal themes which gives this record quite a different feeling compared to other Post-Metal albums being released recently. There’s an aura of DEFTONES and DEAFHEAVEN lurking in the midst especially with how Sunniva weave the claustrophobic elements of Alt-Metal against the punishing backdrop of Blackened Sludge Metal especially on the albums early opening tracks of Mercurial Bloodstreams and Peine Forte Et Dure.

Sunniva operate on a Progressive Metal landscape which allows them to add layers of twisted Post-Metal grooves and thrilling Psych Metal melodies with an abstractive Industrial sound holding everything together. This course of creative action stays quite similar throughout the whole album but when Sunniva goes off-script and delves into other areas of music then the album really starts to shine especially when the emotionally driven clean vocals appear.

The other tracks on Hypostasis are really beautiful to listen to and fully experience with moments of delicate Post-Rock energy appearing before transcending across the Post-Black Metal abyss that still leaves a refreshing burst of heavy sonic based aggression on tracks such as: Valovaltimo, Opening The Key and Hung From The Sky.

This is the type of Post-Metal album that dares to be different at every possible opportunity and pulls this off brilliantly with great style and a unique vision which should see Sunniva become more well known in the Post-Metal world.

Overall, Hypostasis is the perfect blend of melody, aggression, sonic interludes and intense black metal soundscapes that allows this to be a wonderfully addictive and highly unforgettable album. 

Words by Steve Howe

Hypostasis is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Svart Records.

Links

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Asheville NC Iconic Heavy Mountain Music and Beer Festival Returns Halloween Weekend

Heavy Mountain Music and Beer Fest returns for Halloween weekend of 2024! Bolstering two days of heavy music and spooky vibes, Heavy Mountain makes its way to the Orange Peel and Burial Beer’s Eulogy. Featuring an array of iconic artists and genre spanning acts, exclusive pours from the area’s finest breweries, and hair-raising visual installations to set the mood for the Southeast’s heaviest Halloween Party!

First wave lineup announcement includes legendary atmospheric black metal from Washington’s Wolves in the Throne Room, dark medieval stylings of black metal heroine Hulder, and immersive fantasy/doom from NYC’s Castle Rat. In addition, the fest will feature highly anticipated album release sets from East Tennessee progressive sludge powerhouse Generation of Vipers and Asheville death metal outfit Harsh Realm.

The fest will also include a pre party with Chicago’s post metal pioneers Pelican & an after party of cover sets by local favorites both hosted at Burial Beer’s Eulogy. Heavy Mountain promises a blood curdling weekend of evil. Sure to please Halloween heads, metal maniacs and beer buffs alike with costumes, cover sets, and plenty of beverages.

Pre-Sales and Purchase Information Here!

Toneworthy presents - HEAVY MOUNTAIN MUSIC & BEER FEST

The Southeast’s Heaviest Halloween Party

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26

Show: 2pm | Doors: 1:30pm

$50 adv / $70 dos
$95 VIP

The Orange Peel

Wolves in the Throne Room
Hulder
Castle Rat
Generation of Vipers (album release)
Harsh Realm (album release)

Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for all of the details. 

Solnedgang - Valkyrie (EP Review)

Release Date: January 26th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Valkyrie - Tracklisting

1.Folkvangr 04:46

2.Draugr 05:52

3.Lament 05:30

4.Niflhel 07:57

Review

Solnedgang is an Instrumental Post-Rock/Post-Metal studio project from the creative mind of a highly talented individual called Jon who is originally from Norway and is now based in London, UK. Solnedgang plays a brooding and emotive style of Post-Rock/Post-Metal with flourishes of Black Metal, Doom Metal, Prog Rock and Shoegaze which adds upto a whirlwind of heavy instrumental sounds that can be quite uplifting one moment and crushingly bleak the next.

Their latest EP - Valkyrie - is quite more Post-Rock dominated at the start with Solnedgang playing music comparable to bands such as Pelican, Mono and Russian Circles. Though, listen closely to the excellent opening track Folkvangr and you hear brief moments of Post-Metal grooves starting to emerge which slowly start to expand into heavier themes. The song is quite cautionary but retains a hopeful sound for the EP to build upon.

Second song Draugr is a different style with a Blackened Shoegaze delivery moving firmly over into Post-Metal territory with a dogged and determined Post-Doom flow becoming heavier and more technical as the song firmly becomes dominated by a sublime Blackened Doom Metal flow. The whole sound of the EP is quite DIY based with “less is more” based production values giving Valkyrie a true underground feel.

The final two tracks of Lament and Nifhel is where Solnedgang impressed me the most with the varied and different styles of Post-Rock and Post-Metal being used with an aggressive fast-paced charge used for the heavier parts of the EP. Considerably more Progressive with Solnedgang drawing upon bands such as The Ocean, Cult Of Luna and even The Cure.

Valkyrie is quite a rich and highly interesting EP which allows Solnedgang the perfect opportunity to show a wide range of emotionally driven Post-Rock/Post-Metal grooves that suddenly ends where I wanted the EP to keep going. However, this is still an excellent release for Solnedgang to introduce themselves to the greater reachers of the underground Post-Rock and Post-Metal community.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

LARES - Et in Arcadia Ego (Album Review)

Release Date: April 12th 2024. Record Label: Argonauta Records. Formats: CD/DD

Et in Arcadia Ego - Tracklisting

Et in Arcadia Ego

Review

Et in Arcadia Ego is the new album from Psychedelic Sludge Metallers LARES and sees the band explore the boundaries of Psych Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal and Post-Black Metal sounds with the band drawing upon vast amounts of 90’s Grunge and Noise Rock. LARES have delved into these areas of music before on previous releases especially on their stunning 2020 album Towards Nothingness.

Et in Arcadia Ego is more Ambient focused with LARES being influenced by bands such as Wolves In The Throne Room and Deafheaven especially where the brutal Blackened Sludge movements transform into beautiful sounds of Psychedelic Post-Rock energy. The record is quite daring with the different style of vocals that LARES employs for this album. Harsh growls and vicious vocals combine for an unsettling approach even within the quieter moments of the album.

LARES have stripped back their entire sound and creative outlook for this album when compared to Towards Nothingness. There’s a sense of emptiness lurking in the background with LARES struggling to keep that feeling behind the scenes but the onslaught of Sludgy guitars slowly transforms into a pitch black style of Ambient and Psychedelic sounds which become quite ETHEREAL when the Doomgaze aspects of the album fully takes over.

Et in Arcadia Ego is a singular twenty seven minutes track but feels longer and that’s a compliment for LARES. As this record takes so many wonderful sounding twists and turns that time just stops and you feel you’re listening to a much longer record. 

The album can be quite TRIPPY and SURREAL at times with LARES experimenting with multiple different styles of Psychedelic Sludge Metal and Post-Black Metal that allows Et in Arcadia Ego to be quite TRANSCENDENT and UPLIFTING in nature. 

Teaming up with the ever reliable Powerhouse label Argonauta Records, Et in Arcadia Ego has been mixed by Luca Leprotti and mastered by Brad Boatright which gives the record a thoroughly modern setting which is also enhanced by an unsettling claustrophobic delivery that pulls no punches.

Et in Arcadia Ego is an intense journey into the heavier and brutal levels of modern day Psychedelic Sludge Metal which ranks as LARES best album to date.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the promo.

Et in Arcadia Ego will be available to buy on CD/DD via Argonauta Records from Friday April 12th 2024.

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/laresband
https://www.instagram.com/laresmetal/
https://www.argonautarecords.com/

Vnder A Crvmbling Moon - II: Aging & Formless (Album Review)

Release Date: April 05th 2024. Record Label: Ripcord Records. Formats: CD/DD

II: Aging & Formless- Tracklisting

1.Nomad

2.Nocturnal Passenger

3.Procession

4.Breach The Sky 

5.The Breathing of Monsters

6.Fall...Still

7.Bury Me With The Fallen Trees

Members

 

Andy Price - Bass

John Davidson - Guitar

Ray Arrell - Vocals

Scott Taylor - Guitar

Steve Humphreys - Drums

Review

Post-Metal collective Vnder A Crvmbling Moon return with their second full length album with II: Aging & Formless which continues the Post-Metal journey heard on their acclaimed debut release I: Oblivion. That record showed a band forged by the creative forces of Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Sludge Metal and Post-Black Metal dynamics for a mournful journey that captured a soulful Psychedelic energy within the harsher and extreme movements of the Post-Metal arena.

Vnder A Crvmbling Moon don’t stray away from that mission with this new album with a more Post-Doom and Post-Black Metal dominated sound which has moments of classic sounding Ambient Heavy and Prog Metal guitars aligning to the band’s overall sound. The whole tone can ultimately be described as a “destructive force of nature” where the band wisely use uplifting Post-Rock cinematic themes with the more aggressive melodies that the band use as their main weapon to impress listeners with.

Taking cues from bands such as Neuroris, Cult Of Luna, ISIS and Russian Circles within their music but with a Black Metal outlook being injected into the overall dynamics that drift eerily to their next destructive target.

Each track is beautifully deconstructed to the more pitch-black sound that Vnder A Crvmbling Moon excels at with swirling Ambient rhythms and Progressive melodies on each individual track which showcases some of the best Post-Metal musicians the UK scene has to offer with members of the band previously being part of bands such as Garganjua, Conjurer and Codex Alimentarius. 

There’s a lush contemporary Black Metal or Blackened Sludge Metal energy heard on outstanding tracks such as: Nomad, Nocturnal Passenger, Breach The Sky, The Breathing Of Monsters and Bury Me With The Fallen Trees. These tracks are lengthy compositions with the tracks running between eight minutes to thirteen minutes in length but Vnder A Crvmbling Moon never overstays their welcome. They deliver music that is always welcoming despite the brutal onslaught of Post-Metallic sounds though the extra level of uplifting Post-Rock energy gives the album a deeply emotional core you don’t initially expect.

II: Aging & Formless can be quite experimental with Vnder A Crvmbling Moon never playing it safe and delivering a haunting journey of complex sounding Post-Metal melodies with the added aggression of Black Metal sounds that work its magic with the more Sludge Metal dominated parts of the album.

Overall, this is a superbly constructed and highly creative album which showcases why Vnder A Crvmbling Moon are quietly solidifying and building up their place as one of the most interesting creative forces within the UK Post-Metal scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Ripcord Records for the promo.

II: Aging & Formless will be available to buy on CD/DD via Ripcord Records from Friday April 05th 2024.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Blackened Post-Metal Gang ARV Now Streaming New Song FURY From Upcoming New EP: Varmint

ARV: 'Fury' Video From Oslo Based Blackened Post-Metal Gang Now Streaming; 'Varmint' EP Set For Release March 17th through VINTER RECORDS. Watch the 'Fury' Video below

Comments the band: "«Varmint» is an unpleasant convergence of a destructive past, the fury of now, and the future to come. The music itself is a reflection of the usual trajectory of an unrested mind in a life of struggle."

The Oslo underground is as thriving as ever, even during the recent pandemic. One of the better new outlets, as a result of this, is ARV.

The post-metal five-piece is going at it full throttle and has made its mark in the local live scene over past year, most recently leaving everyone in awe after their intense and pummeling live offering at Høstsabbat in Oslo.

They clearly have their minds set on not paving their way silently.

ARV caters to lovers of intensifying chugs, caustic screams and creative drum patterns, all seamlessly combined with expansive ambience and more mellow, cinematic passages. The songwriting and muscianship in this band is something else, and to top this off, ARV is fronted by legendary ex-Kollwitz singer Frederik Hillestad, always serving the audience the most ferocious vocals with a stage presence unmatched.

Early 2023 will see the first physical release from ARV, and a limited 7» inch is on its way via VINTER RECORDS. Those of you fortunate enough to have witnessed this entity live, know they are a sleeping giant, shining light in the darkest of nights - and their recorded output is no different.

ARV is here to destroy, none prisoners taken.

ARV is:

Frederik Hillestad: Vocals
Jens Hovden Storaker: Bass
Marius Bowitz: Guitar
Christian Nordheim: Guitar
Bjarne Burger Olafsen: Drums

Links

Facebook

Atavist - III: Absolution (Album Review)

Release date: June 19th 2020. Label: Candlelight Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

III: Absolution – Tracklisting

1.Loss 16:30

2.Struggle 14:22

3.Self-Realisation 09:38

4.Absolution 17:42

Members

Chris Naughton

Shane Ryan

Callum Cox

Review

Atavist new album III: Absolution came as a mighty surprise for myself. As I didn’t know that the band had reformed or they were releasing their first new album in almost 13 years. I was a huge fan of these guys back in the day and their highly evolved and progressive sound that had elements of Sludge Metal, Doom Metal, Post Metal and Death Metal that all combined for a deeply unforgiving and punishing sonic based experience.

III: Absolution sees Atavist return with a more world-weary and experimental sound compared to their past works but still capturing what made this band such a force to be reckoned with originally. Atavist play a more progressive style of Death/Doom Metal on this album that reminds me of YOB and Pallbearer in places. The band have added a bleaker and cinematic groove to their music and there’s some fantastic instrumental work throughout the album.

Atavist have written 4 songs for this album and they’re quite long in length ranging from 9 mins and 18 minutes in length. This allows Atavist to explore new things on this record and they play some punishing Death/Doom Metal riffs on the majority of the album. Atavist features Chris Naughton on Winterfylleth fame but this is a very different beast compared to that great band.

The Post-Black Metal atmosphere of the album is perhaps the main strength of this record. As the harsh vocals and guitars are built on that solid foundation that allows III: Absolution to be full of many gloomy moments with impressive songwriting and vocals to match. The album can be considered as on 1 epic song split into individual chapters with the opening song Loss and final song Absolution being the standout parts of the album. Though the other two songs Struggle and Self-Realisation being great songs as well.

I felt emotionally connected more to Loss and Absolution. As they have the heaviest riffs and perhaps the boldest ideas on the album. The Post-Metal sounds are Atavist through and through with the challenging style of music maybe too depressing for some to enjoy at first. The album despite it’s dark lyrical content and bleak sounds does offer it’s fair share of uplifting moments when the more commanding Ambient and Post-Rock vibes take a more commanding lead which left me wanting to hear more.

III: Absolution is a masterclass of Extreme Metal and Atavist may have released their most defining work to date.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Lisa at Hold Tight PR for the promo. III: Absolution is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Candlelight Records.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

SONANCE - To Possess You Entirely (Album Review)

Release date: November 30th 2018. Label: Truthseeker Music. Format: DD/Vinyl

To Possess You Entirely – Tracklisting

1.MANIPULATION DOMINATION CONTROL 19:00

2.I THIRST 06:56

3.TO POSSESS YOU ENTIRELY 03:17

4.A BEACON OF HOPE IN THIS DESOLATE HOLE 06:15

5.SPIRIT WIFE 04:42

Members

Ben - Guitar

Will - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Moog

Chi - Vocals, Bass, Piano

Dave - Drums

Jamie - Drums

Review

To Possess You Entirely is the new album from Ambient/Post-Doom/Post-Metal collective – SONANCE. The band have released a wide range of different albums since their inception. SONANCE have never released the same album twice as they try their hands at a wide range of different genres and sounds. I have a lot of time for the band and they have have released some of the UK’s most highly emotional, bleak and violent Post-Doom/Post-Metal music of recent years.

That’s no different with their latest album – To Possess You Entirely. The album is quite a cold and highly complex release and features some of the harshest moments I’ve heard from the band. I’m still deciding if that’s a good thing. As the music can be too bleak at times.

There is no denying that this is a superbly produced album that will keep the established SONANCE fan-base extremely happy especially with the epic 19 minute opening song – Manipulation Domination Control. This has all the trademark moments that SONANCE are known for. Bleak progressive sounds combine with a sinister and nightmarish Post-Black Metal sound that soon gives way to Ambient, Drone and Post-Rock noises.

The album carries on this with this style of experimental music for the rest of the album but SONANCE do slow things down for the excellent sounding title track. As they play a more Ambient driven Post-Rock sound. I wish the album had more moments of this style of music but I appreciate that SONANCE perhaps wanted to create a more sinister and bleaker experience that I originally expected or imagined.

You may feel that I don’t have much time for this album and that isn’t the case. I feel this album is perhaps SONANCE most daring album to date. However I feel more attached to their earlier works such as Blackflower and Like Ghosts. Though within time I feel I will appreciate this album a whole lot more. I just need to be in the right mood and mindset to live through the epic 40 minute plus run-time.

Overall, To Possess You Entirely is another reason why SONANCE are perhaps one of the finest Doom/Post-Metal Bands the UK has to offer at the moment. They create music on their own terms and that is a rare thing to fully experience within today’s musical scene.

Words by Steve Howe

You can buy To Possess You Entirely on Vinyl via Truthseeker Music now.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

BAST - Nanoångström (Album Review)

Release date: November 23rd 2018. Label: Black Bow Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Nanoångström – Tracklisting

Distant Suns

Far Horizons

The Beckoning Void

Nanoångström

A Red Line through Black

The Ghosts which Haunt the Space Between the Stars

Members

Craig Bryant

Jon Lee

Gavin Thomas

Review

Bast return after a lengthy five year absence with their new album – Nanoångström. The band made a great impression with their debut album Spectres back in the day. Their blend of ice-cold Doom/Sludge Metal was matched against a pitch black progressive Post-Black Metal sound.

Spectres was one of my albums of the year when it was released in 2014. Now the band have returned and it feels like they have a few scores to settle. As this album is angry as they come.

Opening song Distant Suns is a subtle post-rock song with trippy ambient heavy interludes. This is a very cool sounding song that offers a brief glimmer of hope amongst the darkness Bast create from here on in.

Second song – Far Horizons – is a blackened doomed/sludge metal song that has elements of their previous album but with a thicker and heavier progressive sound. The song moves from gloomy post-rock atmospheres and soaring melodies that YOB are known for. The vocals are superbly sung as they move from death based growls to a more melodic clean based style.

Third song – The Beckoning Void – opens with a thrashier riff spliced with an unstoppable blackened Doom/Sludge riff. The song is relentless as Bast start to add strands of Psychedelic noises into the mix. The song could have easily run out of steam but Bast show enough musical creativity to keep the mood vibrant throughout the almost eleven minute running time.

Fourth song – Nanoångström – is the standout song on the album and I can see why the band named the album after this song. As this song shows Bast at their majestic best. With the band playing a non-stop onslaught of Post-Black Metal and Progressive Doom/Sludge Metal. Though Bast still offer moments of helpful Post-Rock passages amongst the darkness. The song shows the band creating an epic cinematic song that’s quite unforgiving in places.

As with the other songs on the album the final two songs – A Red Line Through Black and The Ghosts Which Haunt the Space Between the Stars – both run past or near the ten minute mark. This perhaps the heaviest and gloomiest parts of the album. As Bast finish the album on an almighty high. The heavy progressive sounds of Bast have a real purpose and sense of urgency that make you quite sad when the album actually ends.

The production on this album is simply stunning and you can feel every hypnotic bleak and heavy sound coming from all corners. Bast have delivered the goods again with this album and one that will rightfully claim this album as one of the best albums of the year. Even this late into the game.

Nanoångström is a thrilling and breath-taking album.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Curtis at Dewar PR for the promo. Nanoångström will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Black Bow Records from November 23^rd 2018.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

LURK - Fringe (Album Review)

Release date: August 05th 2018. Label: Transcending Obscurity Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

FRINGE – Tracklisting

Ostrakismos
Tale Blade
Reclaim
Elan
Offshoot
Furrow
Nether
Proteus Syndrome

Members

Kimmo Koskinen - Vocals

Kalle Nurmi - Drums

Arttu Pulkkinen - Guitar

Eetu Nurmi - Bass

Review

I didn't know what to expect from Finnish Heavy Metallers - LURK - new album, Fringe. I've only heard bits and pieces from this band and I have never listened to a full record of theirs. Shame on me as Fringe is epic as they come. I've listened to their previous albums now when writing this review. Fringe is perhaps their most diverse and most experimental offering to date. The album is a mixture of Sludge, Doom and Post-Metal though LURK do add elements of pitch-black doom/death sounds on certain songs on the album.

Opening song - Ostrakisomos - starts off with a Mastodon/Neurosis style progressive sound. Then elements of psych sounds and a twinge of Jazz gives way to a bleaker atmosphere with the pitch-black vocal delivery of lead vocalist Kimmo. The riffs remain in the Doom/Post-Metal world however everything else is pure progressive bleakness. LURK have a talent for creating highly atmospheric sounds that will make your skin crawl. The music and lyrics have a brooding feel and LURK approach their music with a truly cool sounding apocalyptic feel.

Second track - Tale Blade - has a more Blackened Rock and Roll approach with the pitch-black vocals feeling they've came from a different band. However the riffs are eerie familiar from past LURK albums. The slow progressive guitar riffs slowly adds a more down-tempo doom and gloom effect. However it's the intricate psychedelic post-rock/post-metal interludes that offer a different side to LURK. The song can be very cold but also offers brief moments of uplifting sludge grooves. Only for a few seconds though. 

The rest of the album carries on the Sludge/Doom/Post-Metal hybrid sound with elements of bleak vibes holding everything together. Songs such as Reclaim, Elan, Furrow, Nether and Proteus Syndrome sees LURK do a great job of keeping the mood loud, violent and fresh. Maybe Fringe does take many cues from the legendary sound of Neurosis and Mastodon but which band doesn't within the realm of Doom/Sludge Metal. At least LURK add a more organic groove to their music and the lyrics are simply sublime.

Fringe is an album that has something to say and LURK accomplish this by weaving highly intelligent progressive riffs and bleak lyrics to match. My favourite song has to the final epic song Proteus Syndrome as LURK crank up the tension with an endless stream of heavy Doom/Death riffs and bleak growls to match. Fringe is a well-produced and excellent sounding album from the start.

LURK take a no holds barred approach to this album and it pays off brilliantly well. LURK have delivered the goods with Fringe.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Transcending Obscurity Records for the promo. Fringe will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Transcending Obscurity Recordds from August 05^th 2018.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp