5.0

The Gentle Storm – The Diary [Vinyl Review]

The Gentle Storm – The Diary [Vinyl Review]

By Angry Metal Guy on March 26, 2015 in 2015, InsideOut, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Vinyl Review, Folk, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 50 comments

“It’s not news that I’m a big fan of Arjen Lucassen’s output from the last 5 or 6 years. Starting with 2009’s unparalleled Guilt Machine, Arjen has released a string of records that I love. In full defiance of Angry Metal Guy’s Law of Diminishing Recordings™, the “poofy-haired Dutchman” has seemingly upped his game on every release: a great solo release, a seriously enjoyable Star One disc, and a stellar Ayreon album which landed #2 on my Top 10(ish) of 2013. So it was with unabashed enthusiasm that I began my countdown when I heard he was working with Anneke van Giersbergen, formerly of The Gathering, on a project entitled The Gentle Storm.” And it’s not like anticipation has ever led to disappointment or anything…

Opeth – Pale Communion Review

Opeth – Pale Communion Review

By Angry Metal Guy on August 31, 2014 in 2014, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, 111 comments

“Twenty-fourteen brings us the answer to this question in the form of Pale Communion. The record is Opeth’s follow-up to the (apparently) love-it-or-hate-it Heritage, and the second record in the style that is maybe best described as “post-Opeth.” While the band continues to be recognizable in tone and melody construction, they are not the band they were. They are not a death metal band with some prog elements—”death metal with feeling” as Peter Lindgren once said to me in a discussion about whether the band fit the genre “progressive death metal”—they’re just a progressive rock band.” So, where does Pale Communion fall on the scale from “got its groove back” to “meh”? Find out by reading this here review.

Sólstafir – Ótta Review

Sólstafir – Ótta Review

By Madam X on August 26, 2014 in 2014, Avante Garde, Icelandic Metal, Post-Rock, Releases, Reviews, Season of Mist, Post-Metal, 60 comments

“Ótta consists of 8 tracks, beginning with a representation of midnight, moving through each Eyktir in the day, coming to a steady close at what would be representative of between 9 pm and midnight. Hardly a riveting concept I grant you, but thought provoking nonetheless.” Usually it takes lots of SepticFlesh and blood to make Madam X swoon, but Sólstafir’s blend of heathenish melodic, melancholic post-metal and bizarre alternative rock seems to have done the trick in a big way!

Carcass – Surgical Steel Review

Carcass – Surgical Steel Review

By Dr. Fisting on September 3, 2013 in 2013, Death Metal, English Metal, Heavy Metal, Nuclear Blast, Rating, Reviews, Death Metal, Grind, 48 comments

“What time is it? It’s motherfucking Carcass time, people. If you’re anything like me, you felt cheated by their “final” album Swansong back in ’96, and the legions of Heartwork-inspired posers failed miserably to fill the void. You may have given up hope on any kind of closure, until the band’s return to live work in 2007. Since then, it’s been a waiting game, a simple “will they or won’t they” concerning new music. And now, after a 17-year wait, the answer comes in the form of the brilliantly-titled Surgical Steel…” What’s the verdict? Only time, and your scrolly button, can tell!

White Wizzard – The Devil’s Cut Review

White Wizzard – The Devil’s Cut Review

By Happy Metal Guy on June 10, 2013 in 2013, 5.0, American Metal, Century Media, Earache Records, Heavy Metal, Reviews, 40 comments

“Everything about this record is perfect. From the wacky, bright, colorful and sharp-looking album artwork to the catchy operatic singing, Los Angeles band White Wizzard makes sure that every detail not only pays homage to traditional heavy metal, but is also (more importantly) given a modern touch as well. The musical similarities to earlier heavy metal bands (especially Judas Priest and Iron Maiden) can definitely be heard [O RLY? – AMG]. But the music sounds a little too modern to be considered ‘traditional heavy metal.'” Whenever the word ‘perfect’ starts getting tossed around the AMG office, the staff gets mighty nervous. Happy Metal Guy always gives us trouble, but now the psychotic horse is fully out of the burning stable and White Wizzard is to blame. Oh, the huge manatee!!

Sigh – In Somniphobia Review

Sigh – In Somniphobia Review

By Angry Metal Guy on March 6, 2012 in 2012, 5.0, Black Metal, Candlelight, Progressive Metal, Reviews, 21 comments

Bands really get the shit end of the stick sometimes, and one of the areas that this happens with is the concept of change. On the one hand, a band is never supposed to change their sound. Their fans will freeeeak out and everyone will call what they do a big pile of shit (how about that last Drudkh album, went from darling of the scene to whipping boy in the matter of a day). On the other hand, others will hear a record from a band that functionally the same and say something cocky like “Is Cannibal Corpse even remotely relevant anymore?” [Oh wait, that was me and everyone got mad. — AMG] Sigh is one of those bands that I think threads that needle perfectly—offering up records every couple of years that change their sound, while keeping the core in place. In Somniphobia is really no exception to this rule—and it triumphantly continues the band’s current success streak.