Cruz Del Sur

Septagon – Apocalyptic Rhymes Review

By Dr. Wvrm on November 7, 2018 in 2018, Cruz Del Sur, German Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 48 comments

“When a band drops a successful debut, the weight off their shoulders must be akin to cracking the top level of a pro sport. A million and one obstacles overcome, plus proving to the world that your shit doesn’t totally stink? Must feel nice. Not that I have firsthand experience—producing these bad boys is more a nice can sesh than a cold, rainy night in Stoke. But like writing, music needs to have consistency. Reviewing their 2016 debut, Jean-Luc Ricard suggested that Septagon might have a modern classic in them, but Deadhead Syndicate wasn’t it. Compared to Apocalyptic Rhymes, Deadhead Syndicate is Rust in Peace.” Thrash pile.

Hammer King – Poseidon Will Carry Us Home Review

By Huck N Roll on October 2, 2018 in 2018, Cruz Del Sur, German Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 37 comments

“I have been skulking around the dank halls of Angry Metal Guy World Headquarters long enough now that new albums are appearing from bands I’ve reviewed in the past. Sadly, they’re usually not good bands. Last month was another meh effort from Crippled Black Phoenix, and this month we get Hammer King, a German power metal band whose 2016 album was, you guessed it, meh.” Hammer Fail?

Apostle of Solitude – From Gold to Ash Review

By Huck N Roll on March 1, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Cruz Del Sur, Doom Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 0 comments

“Much like the Olympics, every four years Apostle of Solitude reawaken to deliver us another tasty treat of traditional doom. This isn’t hipster doom, performed by men in suits with perfectly coiffed beards lamenting in coffee shops. This is doom of the Sabbathian brand, with big guitars, bigger riffs, sometimes lumbering and ponderous and sometimes not, and (happy times!) short album lengths — and unruly beards.” Beard-core > java-core.

Mausoleum Gate – Into a Dark Divinity Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 11, 2017 in 2017, Cruz Del Sur, Finnish Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Proto-Metal, Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 29 comments

“While Death Alley sticks with the upbeat rock ‘n’ roll of Motörhead, Captain Beyond, and Blue Öyster Cult, Finland’s Mausoleum Gate goes for dark, jamming, progressive song structures, with a fuck-ton of organs. Like, Deep Purple levels of organ. And this is where, I suspect, readers will be split. If you aren’t the type to buy an original print of Machine Head (even if it’s fifty cents), Into a Dark Divinity ain’t for you. But, old-timers looking for an interesting combination of BÖC and Purple, with hints of Angel Witch, should read on.” Enjoy of Deep Purple.

Hands of Orlac / The Wandering Midget Split Review

By El Cuervo on September 9, 2017 in 2017, Cruz Del Sur, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Stoner Metal, Swedish Metal, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, 26 comments

“Splits are great ways to expand your musical repertoire when familiar with one of the bands collaborating. A level of mutual respect is presumed between the two: surely a favored artist will have good tastes themselves? And surely the twinned groups will offer something similar but sufficiently distanced for a neatly conjoined listening experience? Such conclusions seem logical.” Slashed by Occam’s razor.

Argus – From Fields of Fire Review

By Steel Druhm on September 6, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Cruz Del Sur, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 50 comments

“In the pantheon of epic and trve metal acts, the Argus wing isn’t far from the front foyer where legends like Cirith Ungol and Manilla Road reside. As one of the best of the current acts keeping the old ways alive, Argus has graced us with three top-notch slabs of backward looking metal that always managed to avoid sounding stale. The secret ingredient keeping their sound fresh was always the rich undercurrent of heavy doom they injected into the batter. This anchored their tales of myth and Manoantics to the Earth and kept things reliably weighty and mega-ballsy.” Machos supreme.

Walpyrgus – Walpyrgus Nights Review

By Steel Druhm on June 6, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Cruz Del Sur, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 25 comments

“‘Super groups’ aren’t all of Pulsar Class wattage. In truth they fall all over the spectrum from truly famous assemblages to largely unknown folks from somewhat established bands. Walpyrgus hovers closer to the latter pole, being composed of members of Twisted Tower Dire, While Heaven Wept and Daylight Dies. This may not be the most recognizable collection of musician, but what they do, they do surprisingly well, namely rocking early 80s NWoBHM in all its ear-wormy, guitar-driven glory.” I am the Walpyrgus.

Lunar Shadow – Far From Light Review

By Steel Druhm on March 19, 2017 in 2017, Cruz Del Sur, Epic Metal, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 55 comments

“Nostalgia is a part of life, as inescapable as death, taxes and back hair. In moderation it’s a wistful and harmless reminder of happy times and precious moments. Taken to extremes however, it becomes ABBA-centric musicals and ironical Hipster Hell (i.e. Williamsburg, Brooklyn). The biggest problem with throwback/retro nostalgia-core is the fact it must forever look backward at what’s already been done, rarely managing to inject modern ideas or sensibilities into the mix. Flying in the face of this truism, Lunar Shadow boldly strides out of Germany with a new take on living in the past.” A retro twofer? Everyone loves a bargain.

Arduini / Balich – Dawn of Ages Review

By Steel Druhm on February 23, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Cruz Del Sur, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, 24 comments

“You know all about our stance on so called “supergroups” at his establishment. The whole concept of a group of superlative (or at least well known) musicians coming together to form an exciting new project invites heightened expectations, and all too often the end product is a let down. Of course there are exceptions to the rule like Arch/Matheos and of course, that awesome Metallica / Lou Reed collaboration, but as a rule it’s best to approach these things guardedly. That brings us to today’s subject – a project by former Fates Warning guitarist Victor Arduini and Argus vocalist Brian Balich.” Big doom for big men and women.

Quicksand Dream – Beheading Tyrants Review

By Steel Druhm on November 11, 2016 in 2016, Cruz Del Sur, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, 36 comments

“When a band is so damn trve they make their fans wait 16 years for a follow up album, you know you’re dealing with some real hard asses. Quicksand Dream is their name, and the waiting game is their…game. They burst on the epic metal scene way back in 2000 with their disastrously titled Aelin – A Story About Destiny debut, and though that name was like a poke in the eye, there was no denying the righteous Cirith Ungol and Brocas Helm worshiping within. It was a sound so completely lost up the ass of metal history that it became the very embodiment of “cult” and doomed the band to self inflicted obscurity.” Those that don’t know, don’t know.