4.5

High Command – Eclipse of the Dual Moons Review

High Command – Eclipse of the Dual Moons Review

By Holdeneye on November 25, 2022 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 96 comments

“For me, 2022 has been chock-full of highly anticipated albums from returning favorites, so it’s only fitting that my last review of the year should be more of the same. Three years ago, I told you not to miss Beyond the Wall of Desolation, the debut full-length from Massachusetts band High Command and late addition to my year-end list. When I first heard that record, I immediately fell in love with the band’s epic, fantasy-themed crossover thrash and was impressed by the way they were able to take a bunch of old-school, typically aggro styles and mash them together into something oozing with grandeur.” Command to highly overrate.

The Offering – Seeing the Elephant Review

The Offering – Seeing the Elephant Review

By Holdeneye on November 3, 2022 in Reviews, Alternative Metal, Death Metal, Deathcore, Groove Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metalcore, Nu Metal, Progressive Metal, 225 comments

“Three years ago, I covered Home, the debut full-length from Boston-based multi-genre masters The Offering. I loved Home at the time, but the intervening period has seen the record’s shadow grow even larger over me; it’s simply one of the most unique and mind-blowing albums I’ve ever heard. The album made my Top 5 of 2019 (and probably would move up at least one spot were I making that list today), so its follow-up comes with the highest of expectations.” You can’t go Home again.

The Otolith – Folium Limina Review

The Otolith – Folium Limina Review

By Carcharodon on October 20, 2022 in Reviews, Symphonic Metal, 116 comments

“‘I miss SubRosa, and I don’t understand why there’s no other band out there like them,’ lamented a poor, tortured soul beneath a recent review of mine. Well, ask and ye shall receive, as the saying goes. Here I am to present for your entertainment, enjoyment(!), and critical assessment, The Otolith, a band that has risen from the ashes and sports four members of symphonic doom quintet SubRosa.” SunRoses to the faithful.

Bong-Ra – Meditations Review

Bong-Ra – Meditations Review

By Thus Spoke on August 3, 2022 in Reviews, Instrumental Metal, 42 comments

“As some of you might have guessed from my unsubtly Nietzschean moniker, I like philosophy. That’s why upon spotting Bong-Ra’s Meditations in the swirling chaos of the promo sump, I had to have it. The album is a tribute to the posthumously-titled Stoic writings of Marcus Aurelius, each of the four tracks named after the Stoic virtues “Courage,” “Wisdom,” “Justice,” and “Temperance.” Naturally, I took this as an opportunity to immerse myself not only in new music, but in Stoic philosophy.” Here today, Bong tomorrow.

Altars – Ascetic Reflection Review

Altars – Ascetic Reflection Review

By Dear Hollow on July 8, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, 73 comments

“Beyond its cover’s deceptively pastoral mountain scene, Altars offers something lurking underneath. On paper, the trio deals in a collision of dissonant death metal name-drops we’ve come to expect, and it would be easy to stop there. But we won’t, because there’s something else. Ascetic Reflection’s unique take settles in the negative spaces between lurching and punishing with clarity and nimbleness, allowing its meditative lurch to burrow into listeners’ skin. Holding mirrors of the self and the divine and the futility therein, the aptly named Ascetic Reflection deals in shredding pain.” Altars of radness.

Imperial Circus Dead Decadence – 殯――死へ耽る想いは戮辱すら喰らい、彼方の生を愛する為に命を讃える――。 Review

Imperial Circus Dead Decadence – 殯――死へ耽る想いは戮辱すら喰らい、彼方の生を愛する為に命を讃える――。 Review

By Eldritch Elitist on June 13, 2022 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, Power Metal, 131 comments

“I have irregularly listened to Imperial Circus Dead Decadence for a decade, and while I can instantly identify their sound, it’s not one I can concisely describe. Think of the blackened melodeath hybrid of Chthonic spliced with Fleshgod Apocalypse’s brutal symphonics and Cradle of Filth’s gothic drama, and you have a ballpark estimate. That is, at least, before tossing in a heaping helping of neoclassical power metal in the vein of Versailles.” The Circus is in town, and it is crazy!

Kardashev – Liminal Rite Review

Kardashev – Liminal Rite Review

By Carcharodon on June 8, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Doom, Death Metal, Post-Metal, 175 comments

“In the year that was 2020—you know, that year—I stumbled across an EP by an unsigned band from Arizona. That EP was The Baring of Shadows by Kardashev, an absolutely devastating record about harrowing heartache and managing mourning. Combining elements of black and post-metal with progressive death, Kardashev’s self-styled deathgaze casually sauntered to #5 on my 2020 List despite only comprising four tracks, one of which (“Snow-Sleep”) also took my Song o’ the Year spot. It seems I wasn’t the only one Kardashev impressed. It was announced in January 2021 that the quartet had signed to Metal Blade. To say I was pumped for the sophomore full-length would be something of an understatement.” Fanboy summer.

Cavernlight – As I Cast Ruin Upon the Lens That Reveals My Every Flaw Review

Cavernlight – As I Cast Ruin Upon the Lens That Reveals My Every Flaw Review

By Thus Spoke on May 10, 2022 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Sludge Metal, 45 comments

“As spring progresses, the ever-more-present sun brings light and warmth, for some even a promise of hope. Cavernlight throw scorn on the very idea. As I Cast Ruin Upon the Lens That Reveals My Every Flaw follows their habit of epically proportioned titles. It also continues the trend of dealing with existential suffering and despair. Where it differs is in the way it delivers its message. As We Cup Our Hands and Drink from the Stream of Our Ache was a relentless rhapsody of torment, railing and raging with metallic furor. As I Cast Ruin… feels like a step beyond this rawness, to a deep, depressive apathy and acceptance.” The end of light and hope.