Diaries of Doom

London-based mob Tunguska return with their sophomore EP, Decline . It sees them sounding more impressive and more crushing than ever.   Opening with cold, industrial noise to set the scene before a punishing, jaunty, dissonant guitar riff bursts through your speakers, Tunguska offer a healthy dose of brutality in 'A Cold Symmetry', showing with little haste the heaviness they are capable of. Morphing into a more sinister mood with a well-placed key change, their use of clean vocals is as effective as the roaring death growls. Tunguska strike a satisfying balance between the likes of Korn on one end and Meshuggah on the other. 'Hive Mind Puritan' follows in a similar vein, featuring Mike Pilat of Herod on guest vocals. The guitar riffing shows off a cool approach to the modern, post-Meshuggah school of death metal, and accompanies Sean Gibson's vocals that, again, alternate nicely between stomach-churning screams and carefully-placed melodies. An infectious amount o...

  Ahead of dropping Family the Smiling Thrush on the 4th of June 2021, Boss Keloid have released 'Gentle Clovis', a majestic tune that serves as a proud statement for the unique blend of just so many influences that make up the band's sound, revealing a true labour of love from those Boss boys.  Opening with an angular guitar riff and punchy, roomy drum sound, a groove is laid down that entwines and dances like a snake around the 4/4 beat. Moving into what I'll call an A section (verse/chorus doesn't really work for describing this song structure), BK display one of their finer pieces of instrumental layering, with guitarist Paul Swarbrick's signature octave-doubled guitar sound and inimitable playing style dancing around Alex Hurst's vocal melody and sustained guitar chords. Section B drops into a clean, sparkly section that evokes images of Ian Anderson and Robert Fripp chasing a certain white rabbit. Section C absolutely soars into life; "I'll bu...

The world feels like a slightly different place at the end of March 2021. Lockdown restrictions are easing, you can see your mates again, gigs are actually being booked - maybe with a healthy dose of optimism, but it's something now that the last 'normal' concert we were at was now over a year ago - and god forbid, the sun's actually out at the moment. Yeah, in the Midlands. Who'd have thought it? We return with more top picks after a month off. There was a lot to pick from March, such as Eyehategod, Recall the Remains, Memoriam, Callous Hands and a live Conan album to name a few. These three really stood out, though... Dvne - Etemen Ænka (progressive/post-metal) - Metal Blade Records Dvne's Asheran from 2017 was a staggering debut, but they've somehow one-upped themselves on Etemen Ænka . More expansive, more progressive, and more elements to their sound, Dvne have really unleashed a masterpiece here. The addition of a keyboardist adds a stronger spacey fee...