Articles by Kez Whelan

"Those sultry licks get weirder and weirder, until they resemble the sound of a UFO taking off." Masked metal weirdos Imperial Triumphant go straight on new album Goldstar

By Kez Whelan published 19 March 25

Imperial Triumphant's Goldstar is their most accessible record yet - but still weirder than a box of frogs

Metal Hammer's 50 best albums of 2024

By Metal Hammer published 31 December 24

From Judas Priest's Invincible Shield to Nightwish's Yesterwynde and Opeth's return to extremity, these are the metal albums that ruled 2024

"A lurid, increasingly Neanderthal-minded caricature of the band’s trademark sound. It's an absolute blast." US hardcore brutes Nails are reborn anew on Every Bridge Burning

By Kez Whelan published 26 August 24

Eight years and more than a few band members since their last record, Nails are back and brutal as ever

"It’s incredibly refreshing to hear Thou cutting loose and just rocking out with such gleeful enthusiasm." Umbilical proves Thou are still one of sludge metal's most adventurous and innovative bands

By Kez Whelan published 31 May 24

US underground darlings Thou prove there's so much more to them than just sludge on expansive sixth album Umbilical

Metal Hammer's 50 best albums of 2023 (and the stories behind them)

By Rich Hobson published 27 December 23

Sleep Token, Creeper, Within Temptation: 2023 has been a massive year for metal, and these 50 records represent the very best the year has had to offer

The 50 best metal albums of 2022

By Rich Hobson published 26 December 22

From Ghost and Slipknot to Zeal & Ardor and Ithaca, these are the best albums of the last 12 months

Best metalcore albums of 2022: Rolo Tomassi/Ithaca/Parkway Drive/Heriot/Bleed From Within

The 10 best metalcore albums of 2022

By Rich Hobson published 17 December 22

From Architects and Parkway Drive to Ithaca and Motionless In White, these are the 10 best metalcore albums of 2022

Best doom metal albums of 2022: MWWB/Crippled Black Phoenix/End Boss/Konvent/BlackLab

The 10 best doom metal albums of 2022

By Rich Hobson published 15 December 22

From Conan and BlackLab to Crippled Black Phoenix and MWWB, these are the 10 best doom metal records of 2022

Venom Inc: There’s Only Black album cover

Venom Inc.’s There’s Only Black: metal warhorses prove they’re more than a nostalgia act

By Kez Whelan published 21 September 22

Album review: original Venom guitarist Mantas out-paces old foe Cronos with new album There’s Only Black

Wiegedood - There's Always Blood At The End Of The Road

Wiegedood's There’s Always Blood At The End Of The Road: a snarling beast of black metal intensity and ingenuity

By Kez Whelan last updated 14 January 22

Flemish black metallers Wiegedood break with Church Of Ra tradition on album #4, There's Always Blood At The End Of The Road

Death metal maniacs Baest take a swim in the grim on new album Necro Sapiens

By Kez Whelan published 4 March 21

Looking for brutish, no-nonsense death metal riffery? Baest’s new album Necro Sapiens has got you covered

Anaal Nathrakh’s Endarkenment: filthy nihilism out, unexpected optimism in

By Kez Whelan published 7 October 20

Blackened grind doomsayers Anaal Nathrakh clean up their act on new album Endarkenment – but it can’t dispel the whiff of formula

Paradise Lost’s Obsidian: doom majesty meets old school goth bangers

By Kez Whelan published 14 May 20

The UK’s masters of misery Paradise Lost channel their inner Sisters Of Mercy on new album Obsidian

Elephant Tree’s Habits album: the Smashing Pumpkins go doom

By Kez Whelan published 29 April 20

Melancholy British doom squad Elephant Tree present their most expansive album yet

Introducing Limelight band The End Of The Ocean

By Kez Whelan published 28 April 19

Former punks breathe new life into post-rock...

Krisiun – Scourge Of The Enthroned album review

By Kez Whelan published 6 September 18

Brazil’s longest-serving death metal band Krisiun still mean business with Scourge Of The Enthroned

The Lion's Daughter – Future Cult album review

By Kez Whelan published 20 July 18

Blackened sludge gang The Lion's Daughter fire up their synths and get weird on Future Cult

Kez Whelan

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