To refer to Ilsa’s latest, Corpse Fortress (Relapse), as just Doom Metal seems a bit reductive. Yes, Doom is the foundation on which the monolith tracks of Ilsa are built on, and that is fiercely on display on ‘Drums of the Dark Gods’ and ‘Hikikomari.’ But careful attention reveals that there are undercurrents of Black, Thrash and even Punk fortifying the stock.Continue reading
As the dust begins to settle on what will undoubtedly go down in a history as a fine year for heavy and progressive music, the Ghost Cult crew present our favourite albums of 2017. While a year with only a couple of genuine life-changing, genre redefiners, nevertheless 2017 has seen an absolute plethora of very, very high quality releases. With over 400 albums reviewed this year, at an average of 7.5/10, there was a deep pool of quality releases selected and dissected throughout the year. A genuinely democratic inner sanctum here, we now present Part 1 of an official Ghost Cult Album of the Year (2017) run down that s truly representative of Ghost Cult, our writers, and our musical position as a site. Please share your thoughts and comments on the music we collectively love, as we countdown from 50 through to 26…Continue reading
Iron Monkey, it’s fair to say never got the respect or adulation that should rightly have been theirs. Exploding from Nottingham, England in the mid-90’s with their self-titled E.P. and the classic Our Problem (Earache), the band was on a trajectory straight to the top of the filth-smeared grime pile that they were climbing. Exuding a sound reminiscent of Black Sabbath thrown into a swamp with Eyehategod, this was music so hate-filled and nasty it demanded your attention before the band split in 1999. Original vocalist tragically Johnny Morrow passed away in 2002, but fifteen years on guitarist Jim Rushby has resurrected the Monkey as a three-piece ready to unleash new album 9-13 (Relapse).Continue reading
If God took the seventh day off for some rest, then Satan was hard at work piecing together Denver, Colorado’s Primitive Man. The nihilistic and tortured sounds encased in Caustic (Relapse) are the proof you need that the devil is not only kicking but that his influence is still very much among us. Approach this beast on your own accord, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Continue reading
Portland’s Usnea is not one of your proto-typical Doom bands, and there is so much more on offer than just down-tuned, droning noise, so coming to their new record, Portals Into Futility (Relapse) with an open mind is an absolute requirement as not only will it writhe and wrap itself around your very being, it will also frustrate and at times make you long for the next song.Continue reading
In three short years, Danish singer-songwriter Amelie Bruun has already achieved what many fail to do across a lengthy career, and that is to create art that is interesting and distinctive. With Mareridt (Relapse Records), under the banner of her Myrkur project, she is releasing an album where there is genuine curiosity as to both how it will sound, but also whether she will be able to stride further into a more “mainstream” conscience (the use of the term mainstream being applied quite liberally here… this is unusual and uncompromising music, lest we forget). Continue reading
Ghost Cult’s dive beneath the crust into the dirty, disgusting and sub-underground is back, as Richie HR returns with a round-up most fetid for your vulgar delectation…Continue reading
For nearly thirty years, Dwid Hellion (in real life bearing the much less fearsome name of Jack McLimans), has been at the forefront of the Crossover genre, combining Metal and Hardcore Punk with ferocious intensity with Columbus, Ohio crew, Integrity.Continue reading
In the ever crowded and, as a result, often maligned style of Technical Death Metal, Dying Fetus are not only one of the original innovators of the genre, but have remained to this day as one of its standard bearers. Capturing the perfect blend of complexity and dynamism with pure brutality, the likes of Destroy The Opposition are modern day genre classics and are why Dying Fetus are so beloved in the death metal community to this day. Continue reading
Ex Eye’s self-titled album (Relapse) is something extraordinarily different, so hold on to your hats and brace yourself! The soon-to-be-legendary group consists of renowned, experimental saxophonist Colin Stetson, Greg Fox on drums, Shahzad Ismaily on synths and Toby Summerfield on guitar and these dudes will literally blow your mind!Continue reading