Green Carnation – A Dark Poem, Part II: Sanguis (2026) – Review

Green Carnation - A Dark Poem - Part II: Sanguis - Album Cover

A Dark Poem, Part I roared forth on sturdy wings of woe (too) late in 2025. A record that didn’t deny its roots to Doom Metal Central with pronounced progressive airs, and powerfully so. A piece full of poignant melancholy that took us by surprise first and then by storm. It did miss reaching superb levels by a fraction of an inch, though. And this was mainly due to inexplicable slowdowns and an undeniable lack of oxygen in certain spots.

So, barely a few months later, Green Carnation reappeared on our radar with more sadboi tunes. Rushing new records usually … [...] Click to raid more!

Velarium, special shade by Ashen Sun!

Ashen Sun - Velarium - Album Cover

Does anybody remember Johnny Hagel? You know, the bassist who kept popping up here and there on this zine. Most notably on records sponsored by an ancient incarnation of Tiamat and – yes – more recent Sorcerer, too. But since then, he seemed to have taken a deep dive. Like them anal nuclear subs that disappear into nowhere.

Thus, the RMR crew was mighty surprised to see him emerging astride a Gothic Rock gig called Ashen Sun. One that wallows darkly in echoes of dystopian melancholy, electronica-driven Darkwave without the bodices, and soft-spoken messages of fire and … [...] Click to raid more!

Locus Noir – Shadow Sun (2026) – Review

Locus Noir - Shadow Sun - Album Cover

2026 seems to turn into an interesting year in rock ‘n’ metal. And it may well be the out-of-the-box section of our musical universe that will take on some weight this time. And in truth, sometimes one needs a hefty counterweight to the endless supply of beastly metal that the underground ceaselessly regurgitates.

So, why not some gothically tainted rock (and metal) that seems to reach us straight from the past? Melancholy writ large on yet another canvas of the dead and dying, with a whiff of that graveyard smell. Shadowy greetings from a sun weeping tears, but not of … [...] Click to raid more!

Darkyra – Life Force (2025) – Review

Darkyra Life Force - Album Cover

Does anybody remember the folks of SAVN? The Gothic Metal jockeys with only one self-titled album to their credit, dating back to 2014. The one fronted by Carmen Elise Espenæs, you know, Liv Kristine‘s sister. Now, this record was literally the first really failed record of this zine’s long career. And we’re still traumatised. But to this day, we just can’t stand the weak tea metal this record exudes in abundance.

So here we got ourselves a piece from an obscure act called Darkyra. One that sounds eerily similar to the aforementioned band. Their 3rd full-length Life Force[...] Click to raid more!