Wonderbox Metal

End of Transmission: 1995-2025 The Final Tour – Orange Goblin/Grand Magus/Urne – Academy 2, Manchester – 13/12/25 (Live Review)

This is quite the event. Legendary band Orange Goblin are calling it a day after 30 years, sadly, and this is their farewell tour. It’s sold out, which I’m happy for them about, as they’re a band who deserves all the success they have had and more. Tonight they’re joined by two other bands that I’m a fan of too, the mighty Grand Magus and the riff-tastic Urne. It promises to be a good one. Continue reading “End of Transmission: 1995-2025 The Final Tour – Orange Goblin/Grand Magus/Urne – Academy 2, Manchester – 13/12/25 (Live Review)”

Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2025

Another year, another list. 2025 followed 2024 as it was meant to, and brought with it a plethora of new metal albums to get excited about. Continue reading “Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2025”

Dimholt – Metaform (Review)

Dimholt are a Bulgarian black metal band and this is their third album.

I enjoyed 2014’s Liberation Funeral and 2019’s Epistēmē – I had thought I reviewed the latter too, but apparently not. Which brings us to Metaform; 52 minutes of quality and enjoyable black metal. Continue reading “Dimholt – Metaform (Review)”

Martröð – Draumsýnir Eldsins (Review)

This is the debut album from international, (Iceland/US), black metallers Martröð.

Martröð is brought to us by current/ex-members of Chaos Moon, Häxanu, Osgraef, Ringarë, Manetheren, Vörnir, Wormlust, and a whole lot more. Draumsýnir Eldsins contains four songs spread over 37 minutes, and takes the listener on a journey into spectral dissonance. Continue reading “Martröð – Draumsýnir Eldsins (Review)”

Rotten Sound – Mass Extinction (Review)

This is the latest EP from Finnish grindcore legends Rotten Sound.

GRRIIIIINNNDDDDDDDDDDD! Hell yeah. This is what it’s all about. eight tracks in 10 minutes. Rotten Sound rage and burn all before them, and it’s devastatingly good fun. A quick shout out to 2018’s Suffer to Abuse and 2023’s Apocalypse, but other than that let’s get right down to business. Continue reading “Rotten Sound – Mass Extinction (Review)”

Argus Megere – Cerburea Apusului (Review)

Argus Megere are a Romanian black metal band and this is their fifth album.

Cerburea Apusului is the long awaited follow up to 2017’s VEII. It may have been a while since their last record, but Argus Megere have certainly not aged poorly. There’s a lot to absorb across Cerburea Apulsului. This is an album that’s easy to enjoy upon first experience, but it really settles into its own natural rhythms after repeated spins. Continue reading “Argus Megere – Cerburea Apusului (Review)”

Jours Pâles – Résonances (Review)

This is the debut album from French post-black metallers Jours Pâles.

Jours Pâles have been a band to not miss out on ever since 2021’s delectable Éclosion. Followed swiftly in 2022 by Tensions and then again in 2024 with Dissolution. With 58 minutes of new material to captivate and entrance the listener with, Résonances is another winner from Jours Pâles. Continue reading “Jours Pâles – Résonances (Review)”

Vin de Mia Trix – This Landscape Is Alive (Review)

This is the third album from Ukrainian doom metal band Vin de Mia Trix.

Palimpsests was a record that topped my 20174 year end list, but that was a long time ago, and I never really expected to hear from Vin de Mia Trix again after so long. However, they resurfaced in 2022 with the EP Waves~Stars, and have now returned fully with the colossal This Landscape Is Alive. Continue reading “Vin de Mia Trix – This Landscape Is Alive (Review)”

Enthroned – Ashspawn (Review)

Enthroned are a black metal band from Belgium and this is their twelfth album.

Following on from 2014’s Sovereigns and 2019’s Cold Black Suns, a new Enthroned album has now appeared on the horizon. Ashspawn boasts 50 minutes of new music from Enthroned, and it has not disappointed. Continue reading “Enthroned – Ashspawn (Review)”

Doubtsower – The Past Melts Away with a Sneer (Review)

Doubtsower is a one-man Welsh doom metal band and this is his fourth album.

If you have yet to experience the uncommon blackened doom of Doubtsower, then let me recommend you Asphyxiation of a Seasick Soul, The Endless Shadow of Despicable Power, and Nothing Reduced to Everything. All are quality slabs of experimental darkness, and all have paved the way for The Past Melts Away with a Sneer. Continue reading “Doubtsower – The Past Melts Away with a Sneer (Review)”