3.0

Ancient Crypts – Devoured by Serpents Review

By Dr. Fisting on July 13, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Death Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Death Metal, 0 comments

“It’s common knowledge that some of the most raging metal music today is coming from South America. Countries like Peru, Chilé and Colombia are producing what seems like hundreds of awesomely raw death and black metal bands. They are insanely passionate about old-school metal, their love for Satan is strong, and they release ridiculously obscure demos that are always fun to chase down. Case in point: Chilean death metal duo Ancient Crypts, who have released a cassette-only death metal monstrosity entitled Devoured by Serpents.” South American death metal is like a fine steak. It’s bloody, but delicious. Join Mr. Fisting as he takes us on a trip to the crypts!

Stormzone – Three Kings Review

By Steel Druhm on July 10, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Heavy Metal, Irish Metal, Metal Nation Records, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 0 comments

“In the wake of the surprising comeback album by Satan and the enjoyable new White Wizzard outing, NWoBHM may be a bit more palatable to metal mavens young and old. Striking while the iron is hot, Ireland’s Stormzone roars back onto the scene with yet another ode to old-timey metal in the same vein as Iron Maiden, Saxon and Grim Reaper.” Steel Druhm has been a staunch Stormzone supporter since joining the AMG staff. Does their new opus continue to satisfy his metal needs or will it be hit by the curse of 2013? Hey, they can’t all be White Wizzard….

Coffins – The Fleshland Review

By Happy Metal Guy on July 8, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Japanese Metal, Relapse, Reviews, 1 comment

“Japan is better remembered as the country of eclectic and elaborately dressed, KISS-inspired metal bands. But it is also home to extreme metal bands with a straightforward musical approach. No gimmicks; just plain clothes, unshaved faces, silly lyrics, cartoonish album artwork and bulldozing riff after bulldozing riff. Coffins is such a band, and they are a 17-year-old, vomitey death/doom metal band from the Japanese region full of Pidgeys, Rattatas, Geodudes, Tentacools and Zubats. Despite being surrounded by dozens and dozens of cutesy critters, their music is anything but for the Gameboy- or Nintendo-DS-wielding toddlers.” Death metal from the Isle of Japan loaded with big, ugly riffs and vomitus vocals. Are you sold yet? Happy Metal Guy is here to close the deal and win those steak knives!

Wound – Inhale the Void Review

By Madam X on July 5, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Death Metal, FDA Rekotz, German Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 7 comments

“Germanic Wound punt their cruddy, punky and nasty school of death metal as falling somewhere between that of forbearers of the Gothenburg death metal sound At The Gates, old-school death metallers Necrowretch and Wolfbrigade (previously Wolfpack) who combine Swedish hardcore punk and death metal. I’m hazarding a guess that’s why they were added to F.D.A Rekotz deathstable, home to one of Steel Druhm’s big picks from 2012, Blood Mortized. Inhale the Void follows on a little over a year after the release of their demo Confess to Filth and it pretty much negates the need to hunt down this earlier release as 4 of the 6 tracks making up the demo are nicely bundled up in this debut album. All rather convenient and considerate of them to do that!” Madam X tackles some death metal that doesn’t sound like Septicflesh because you demanded it!

Black Sabbath – 13 Review

By Angry Metal Guy on June 12, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, 3.5, Doom Metal, English Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, 44 comments

A new Black Sabbath record!? That’s pretty epic. And it calls for an epic response. So here we present for you the first ever triple review here at Angry Metal Guy. First up: Angry Metal Guy; then Steel Druhm; and Mr. Fisting Himself weighs in with a third opinion. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll probably find a reason to complain or a spelling error. Break out the flamethrowers, it’s reviewing time!

Valient Thorr – Our Own Masters Review

By Dr. Fisting on June 3, 2013 in 3.0, American Metal, Reviews, 3 comments

“North Carolina’s Valient Thorr may well be the world’s ultimate opening act. Their crossbreed of proto-metal and garage-y punk is engineered for maximum effectiveness, and has allowed them to warm up the crowd for bands as disparate as Motorhead, NOFX, and Gogol Bordello. This is due to the band’s authentic rock ‘n’ roll swagger, boundless energy, and mostly the entertaining antics (and wrestling boots) of their vocalist, the eccentric Valient Himself. Regardless of what band you actually paid to see, Valient Thorr will win you over by the end of that 35 minute set.” An awesome live band does not a great recording band make. Can these warriors translate their live energy to the studio? Mr. Fisting Himself has the answers.

Tristania – Darkest White Review

By Steel Druhm on May 30, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Gothic Metal, Napalm Records, Norwegian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 9 comments

“Norway’s Tristania was one of those quirky, but compelling bands that really grabbed my attention with their Beyond the Veil album. Their strange mash-up of goth, death, black and symphonic metal was quite intoxicating and had more moods than any crazy ex girlfriend you care to mention. Follow up World of Glass was also gripping and fascinating, but as the years went by, Tristania’s wow factor rapidly drained away. By the time of 2010s Rubicon, they had become a mere shade of their former selves and the album felt like run-of-the-mill goth-metal with little to set it apart from the legions of similar female-fronted acts. I expected more of the same here with Darkest White, but I was pleasantly surprised by the improvements the band has made in their approach and song writing.” Since all we do is review death metal that sounds like Septicflesh, Steel Druhm thought it might be a good time to review some goth-metal. Tristania was available, so here they are for your viewing and reading pleasure.

Eldkraft – Shaman Review

By Natalie Zed on May 28, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Epic Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Epic Metal, 1 comment

Shaman is the debut album from Sweden’s Eldkraft, a group who attempt to unite the ancient and mystic with the epic and contemporary. Their conceptual influences are Norse mythology and pagan rituals, especially those concerned with transition, growth and spiritual journeys. Their sound, however, does not have the folksy old-fashioned quality that one might expect; instead, they have gone for modern production and complex instrumentation that makes them sound considerably more grand and expansive than one would expect from a three-piece. This combines to make Shaman a strong and sometimes startling debut.” Join Natalie Zed as she goes on a journey of discovery with Eldkraft’s debut, Shaman.

U.D.O. – Steelhammer Review

By Steel Druhm on May 25, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, AFM Records, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 7 comments

“U.D.O. (i.e. Udo Dirkschneider), the voice of Accept is back with his umpteenth album full of typically old school, Germanic heavy metal. As with all his previous platters, Steelhammer is Accept-ish in design, with nods to Teutonic power metal like Grave Digger. Sometimes speedy, sometimes mid-tempo, the man and his band traffic in meat and potato metal riffs with his now classic raspy snarl dropped on top thereof. While you have to admire his consistency, it doesn’t always lead to memorable albums, though you can usually count on a handful of above-average ragers. 2011s Rev-Raptor was a rather fun and engaging outing, and Steelhammer follows right along in the same cheesy, but familiar mode.” It’s Udo and his band U.D.O. and that means more Germanic metal with silliness, hooks and Accept-isms. If you liked any of his other 200 albums, you’ll probably like this too.

Bruce Soord with Jonas Renkse – Wisdom of Crowds Review

By Angry Metal Guy on May 24, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Kscope, Not Metal, Reviews, 2 comments

I was surprised to see Katatonia’s Jonas Renkse show up on a record with The Pineapple Thief’s Bruce Soord—’cause I have no idea what the connection between these two is or has been. But seeing this combination—two people who come from pretty different worlds in my brain—I couldn’t give this a skip. And neither should you.