Two records for the extreme prog fanatics!

While central Europe is drowning in the scorching sun of the first heatwave of this summer, Norwegian post-black metal newcomers Sundrowned are releasing their debut album “Become Ethereal” via the eclectic Oslo based Fysisk Format label. Rarely has the title of an album been quite as idiomatic, so there’s plenty of ethereal atmospheres to bathe in, juxtaposed with the genre’s typical harsh vocals and drum blastbeats. Beautiful and chilling at the same time, “Become Ethereal” serves just right to cool down from the heat with its frosty and bleak vibes. Not to be missed for fans of the genre and blackgaze masters like Alcest, Lantlôs, etc. Top notch stuff. Dario

Unique Leader Records have been stepping up their game, and with the release of American prog/tech death group Alustrium‘s newest album “A Monument to Silence”, they’re growing to be one of the best modern metal labels today. The band have truly proven themselves to be worthy of attention, and if their previous 2 albums haven’t done enough, this one certainly will. Solid and punchy production, excellent execution, and just super consistent. The style portrayed here is quite reminiscent of bands like Black Crown Initiate, Rivers of Nihil, and even the latest Alluvial that launched a few weeks ago. So if you’re a fan of either of those groups, do yourself a favour and give this album a listen! Colin