Ancient Death – Ego Dissolution Review
[Cover art by Maegan LeMay] Now one certainly doesn’t need any special context to understand the appeal of Ego Dissolution, Walpole, Massachusetts-based Ancient Death’s debut LP after an EP and a split. If you’ll go …
Katoaja – What We Witness Review
[Cover art by Waltteri Lahti] Albums hitting in December and early January almost don’t have a chance in the floodwaters of List Season, so Katoaja’s debut record, What We Witness, was already struggling against the …
Best of 2024: Lone Watie: Can You Give Me A Minute, Please?
Something at work got me thinking a little while ago about The Ant and the Grasshopper. The gist of the fable, of course, is get stuff done now or you’ll regret it later. Now look, …
Thy Catafalque – XII: A Gyönyörü Álmok Ezután Jönnek Review
Front cover artwork by Dániel Szécsényi and Tamás Kátai The list of descriptors for Tamás Kátai’s Thy Catafalque is long and varied. Consult any online source, ask any fan, and you’ll be buried in any …
Papangu – Lampião Rei Review
Cover artwork by Eduardo Ver Papangu’s debut album, Holoceno, was a resounding success in 2021, even making that year’s Last Rites Combined Staff Top 25. Four longtime friends from João Pessoa, Brazil, had somehow found …
Ironflame – Kingdom Torn Asunder Review
[Cover art by Mike Hoffman] If we were lucky enough to have a look into the thought bubble above Ironflame founder Andrew D’Cagna’s head, we’d see the stuff of epic fantasy: dragon shadows coursing across …
Hail Spirit Noir – Fossil Gardens Review
[Cover art by George Baramatis] The cover art for Hail Spirit Noir’s fifth studio album, Fossil Gardens, is a bit of a head-scratcher until you remember where they’re from and what they do. Maybe (probably) …
Beaten To Death – Sunrise Over Rigor Mortis Review
Cover art by William Hay To the great wonder of people who know me, I’ve never been beaten to death. Lord knows I’ve pushed some limits. If it ever does come to that, I hope …