Esben And The Witch – Nowhere


Four years ago, at Cult of Luna’s heralded Beyond The Redshift festival, I saw a band that went toe-to-toe with the headline acts and matched their beauty, elegance, and musical depth. Ten years into their career and with their fourth album Nowhere (Season of Mist) about to grace our ears, we find Esben And The Witch at their darkest.Continue reading


Leonov – Wake


Much debate surrounds the basis of Norwegian quintet Leonov – are they Doom? Are they post-Rock?? Do they eat much fårikål??? Yawn…what’s certain is that the band’s sound is heavy, melodic and steeped in melancholy, as sophomore album Wake (Fysisk Format) bears out.Continue reading


Pijn – Loss



Several years ago I reviewed a local gig containing a set by Manchester-based post-Hardcore band Knifecrimes, and enjoyed a chat with their fresh-faced East Anglian guitarist. These days Joe Clayton still classes Manchester as home but is now a sought-after producer and mastermind of the multi-faceted, enigmatic Pijn, whose first album proper Loss (Holy Roar) is a pulsing ball of creativity.Continue reading