Melodic Death Metal

Miles to Perdition – 2084 Review

By GardensTale on February 8, 2020 in 2020, Luxembourgian Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 19 comments

“How many albums have we had concerning 1984? Orwell’s dystopia remains an ever-popular subject for musicification, to the point where it’s barely more than a cliche, despite Huxley’s Brave New World looming as a more apt comparison for our current day and age. Miles to Perdition agree that 1984 is an old hat at this point, so they have decided to push for an adaptation that really brings something new to the table. They have updated the novel to something more befitting the changes in our own culture since its publication, with… 2084.” Brave new 1984.

Dawn of Solace – Waves Review

By Steel Druhm on January 22, 2020 in 2020, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Gothic Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Noble Demon, Reviews, Doom Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 62 comments

“As a big fan of Tuomas Saukkonen’s Before the Dawn and Black Sun Aeon projects (R.I.P. to both), I was the natural demographic for his melancholy melodeath vehicle, Dawn of Solace as well. 2006s The Darkness was a beautiful and haunting dose of Finnish gloom that made an impression, and I always wondered why he never released another album under that name. Now in 2020 he finally delivers the followup outing titled Waves.” Surfing blues.

Aether – In Embers [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By Twelve on December 21, 2019 in 2019, Melodic Death Metal, Polish Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Things You Might Have Missed, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Melodic Death Metal, 31 comments

“Wintersun has long been a favorite of mine. Sure, it’s a band with a whole bunch of frustrations, but Jari Mänepää is a strong composer, and he’s got a cool sound that I can’t help but like. His wild blend of melodeath, power metal, black-tinged folk, and symphonic over-the-top wizardry appeals to me. It’s always a good Time T(w)o listen to well-composed symphonic heavy metal, and this is where the Polish group Aether come in.” Less spa, more metal.

Dawn of Disease – Procession of Ghosts [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By GardensTale on December 16, 2019 in 2019, German Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Nuclear Blast, Things You Might Have Missed, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Melodic Death Metal, 17 comments

“My first “real” metal band was Iron Maiden. The second was Children of Bodom, and through them, I found other melodic death metal bands like Norther and Kalmah. These last three bands were all listed on Metal Archives as “power metal with harsh vocals,” as a kind of elitist bid to disassociate melodic death metal that was too melodic from the “death” part of the label. While it was kind of a ridiculous strategy, it is true that there’s a major subsection of melodic death metal that has little in common with death metal aside from growls or screams.” Death’s revenge.

Iapetus – The Body Cosmic [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By Eldritch Elitist on December 13, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Self-released, Things You Might Have Missed, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 37 comments

“Metal offers incalculable aural interpretations of outer space. Darkspace focuses on the inhospitable nature of the infinite vacuum. Gamma Ray pitches a trip through a black hole as the ultimate roller coaster ride. Ghost Bath dwells on the melancholic isolation of the cosmos while also sounding like something out of Sonic Adventure. Yet it takes Iapetus just over three minutes to craft a moment more compelling than any of those with their sophomore LP, The Body Cosmic.” Space in your face.

Horrizon – World of Pain Review

By Twelve on December 2, 2019 in 2019, German Metal, Massacre Records, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 45 comments

“One of the earliest things I’ve learned in my short tenure working with these angriest of metal men is how difficult describing music actually is. Scholars throughout time have worked hard to remedy this situation by giving us the hallowed name drop, and venerated genre tags, that we might use few words to convey great meaning. And yet, these still often fall sadly short of describing the actual phenomena we experience. I could tell you, for instance, that the music of World of Pain, the third full-length output from the German band Horrizon.” When words fail.

Yer Metal Is Olde: In Flames – Colony

By Dr. Wvrm on November 26, 2019 in 2019, Melodic Death Metal, Nuclear Blast, Swedish Metal, Yer Metal Is Olde, Melodic Death Metal, 50 comments

“There is no part of me that would trade away the pain and disillusion of losing a childhood idol, of walking out on shitty setlist after shitty fucking setlist if it meant losing In Flames’ impact on my life, Colony in particular. It isn’t their best album; it certainly isn’t their most successful. Perhaps though, Colony encapsulates everything In Flames could and would become better than any other record could.” Burning playgrounds and scar diaries.

Angry Metal Primer – In Flames

By Dr. Wvrm on November 17, 2019 in 2019, Angry Metal Playlist, Angry Metal Primer, Melodic Death Metal, Swedish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 39 comments

“Friends. (Wa)romans. Kvltrymen. I’ve come to bury In Flames, not to praise them.” Fvkking Fvnerals, man.

Necropanther – The Doomed City Review

By Eldritch Elitist on November 15, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Melodic Death Metal, 45 comments

“Fans of Eyes of Blue Light, the sophomore masterpiece from Denver, Colorado’s Necropanther, take heed: The Doomed City is not the record you are expecting.” Much Panther.

Apotheus – The Far Star Review

By GardensTale on November 10, 2019 in 2019, Black Lion Records, Melodic Death Metal, Portuguese Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 36 comments

“Every now and then you run into something that seems to have been made specifically for you. It’s like someone reached into your head, downloaded a copy of your soul, extracted exactly the sort of things you enjoy, and made something that panders to the template it found. Apotheus’ promo described a progressive melodeath band with a sci-fi concept album about interstellar colonization. Periods for emphasis, but Sign. Me. The. Fuck. Up.” Swallow the wvrm.