Review: Daniel O Sullivan, known as a producer for the likes of Tim Burgess and for his astounding art pop band Grumbling Fur, makes his first foray into classically informed chamber music. With some sort of superhuman genius mind, the unassuming Mancunian wrote these arrangements for a 14-piece ensemble and nailed it. 'Golden Verses' is stately, pastoral, yet menacing. Another highlight, 'Painting Rose' is some of the most psychedelic classical music you'll ever hear. So, if you're looking for chamber music that spans eras, genres and takes you on a transcendent journey, then look no further.
Review: The brainchild of Olli-Pekka Laine (Amorphis, Barren Earth, Mannhai), Beyond The Aeons marks the debut full-length from psych-death-prog entity Octoploid. Rounding out the line-up with several long-time collaborators including vocalist Mikko Kotamaki (Swallow The Sun) and keyboardist Kim Rantala (formerly of Amorphis), the collective live up to their namesake by pulling from several eras of rock simultaneously with a sonic bedrock built upon 70s prog and psychedelia, 90s death and black metal, as well as the myriad Venn Diagram-like intersections where these styles have crossed paths over the decades. Equal parts King Crimson, Pink Floyd and Opeth, on their debut statement Octoploid deliver a fuzzy, bombastic ode to all things heaving, hypnotising, hefty and hallucinogenic.
Review: Born on the 17th of May 1988 and dying in October 1992, Old Funeral were one of the very first Norwegian extreme metal acts on record, before the second wave black metal wave would sweep through Scandinavia. Featuring members of later pioneering acts such as Abbath and Demonaz of Immortal, as well as Varg Vikernes (who would go on to become the one-man band Burzum and murderer of Mayhem's Euronymous), the Our Condolences collection collates every known recording the group ever made, showcasing the earlier chaotic maelstrom of blackened death-thrash experimentation retrospectively required before black metal as we know it today could arise. In traditionalist fashion, these recordings have been in no way remixed, remastered or touched up, this is straight from the original tapes cold, raw harshness in the exact same form it was delivered to unsuspecting listeners decades prior.
Review: Originally founded in 1982, Bristol thrash metal legends Onslaught are considered to be one of the UK's so-called "big four" along with Xentrix, Sabbat and Acid Reign, while their sophomore effort The Force from 1986 is often regarded as a worldwide, stone cold thrash classic. Originally inspired by frenetic hardcore punk acts such as The Exploited and Discharge, the band would eventually adopt a hardcore-shaped speed metal assault that would be perfected following the arrival of vocalist Sy Keeler, allowing Paul Mahoney who provided vocals on their 1985 debut Power From Hell to switch to bass duties. Keeler would depart following issues with the label regarding his performance on the band's follow up third record In Search Of Sanity, released in 1989, yet he would make a triumphant return with the rest of the members for the dawn of their new era on 2007's Killing Spree.
Review: Originally released in 2005 and celebrating its 20th anniversary, Ghost Reveries would serve as the eighth full-length from Swedish progressive metal legends Opeth. Following the 2002/2003 two-part project which showcased their most malevolent form on Deliverance and then a resolutely pleasant prog rock opus with Damnation, this follow up sought to rectify one side with the other; coalescing into a masterwork which simultaneously was regarded by longtime fans as a career height, whilst the expanded distribution from signing with major label Roadrunner opened them up to an entire new wave of unsuspecting ears. Marking their first album since 1999's Still Life to not be produced by Porcupine Tree's Steve Wilson, instead duties fell to Jens Bogren (Katatonia, At The Gates, Dimmu Borgir) who helped Mikael Akerfeldt and his cohorts to rediscover their death metal origins yet channelled through their more melancholic sensibilities. Boasting some of their most vital pieces from the epic 10-minute opener 'Ghost Of Perdition', to the even lengthier fan favourite 'Reverie/Harlequin Forest', as well as the equally adored 'The Grand Conjuration', the album has long since been held aloft as the perfect modern entry point to the world of Opeth. The project would also be the first to include keyboardist Per Wiberg as a "permanent" member while serving as their final endeavour to feature both drummer Martin Lopez and long-time guitarist Peter Lindgren.
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