Allegaeon

Nuclear Power Trio – Wet Ass Plutonium Review

By sentynel on July 29, 2023 in Reviews, Instrumental Metal, Progressive Metal, 73 comments

“I know this looks like the daftest thing imaginable, but stay with me here: this is actually brilliant. I have no idea what led to one pun escalating quite so far out of control, but here we are: the Nuclear Power Trio. Three guys in terrifying dictator masks, playing Latin fusion instrumental metal, brilliantly. Three years ago I loved their EP A Clear and Present Rager, which brought me in with a comedy video and immediately gripped me with the quality of the music. Wet Ass Plutonium is their debut full-length. Does an instrumental band teetering on the edge of being a novelty act have a full album in them?” Strong Mancore

Allegaeon – Damnum Review

By Cherd on February 24, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 85 comments

“Today, dear reader, I take over review duties for the tech death band Allegaeon from all around swell guy GardensTale. You see, Mr. Tale has twice reviewed these Coloradans, once for 2016’s Proponent of Sentience, and again for 2019’s Apoptosis, awarding both middling to poor scores. Apparently, this upset the powerful Allegaeon lobbyists in metal congress, because those comment sections got savage. GardensTale, this site, his mom, other writers, OUR moms; no one was safe from the blistering ire of the Allegaeonites.” A letter to Damnum.

Deviant Process – Nurture Review

By Felagund on October 25, 2021 in Reviews, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 49 comments

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: technical death metal can be a fickle mistress. For a genre so overflowing with talent, much of the actual music can come across as rather soulless, and despite all the intricacies, a lot of releases appear surprisingly formulaic. In short, I’ve been burned before. But then I look to recent releases from bands like Alustrium, Symbolik, and Allegaeon; releases that serve as a potent reminder that not all is lost, and that when the tech-death hits, it hits hard. It was with this sunny outlook that I plucked Nurture, the latest release from Deviant Process, from the promo pit.” High hopes and technical problems.

Cult of Lilith – Mara

By GardensTale on September 5, 2020 in Reviews, Death Metal, Deathcore, Progressive Metal, 30 comments

“Cult of Lilith is one of those bands that are in the middle of what journalists and label blurb writers might call a ‘meteoric rise.’ Hailing from Iceland, the quintet has only one EP and no demos to their name since their inception in 2015. Yet Mara, their debut full-length, is already coming out through Metal Blade, one of the biggest labels in the business. On top of that, none other than semi-classical master painter and annual album art top 10 contestant Eliran Kantor delivered the ever excellent cover, and producer Dave Otero has such names as Cattle Decapitation, Archspire and Cephalic Carnage on his resume.” Big buzz, big expectations.

Angry Metal-Fi: The Best and Worst Sounding Albums of 2019

By Steel Druhm on January 28, 2020 in 2020, Angry Metal-Fi, Blog Posts, 87 comments

“Metal-Fi? One has got to wonder if the serious lack of updates on the site is because of these issues or are they in fact the root cause? I honestly don’t know. Certainly, neither Dave nor I could have possibly foreseen that our unannounced hiatus last year would kick off Ragnarök. But unfortunately, that’s what all of the facts seem to indicate. Our bad.” Deaf and taxes.

Allegaeon – Apoptosis Review

By GardensTale on April 15, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 160 comments

“Almost three years ago, as a probationary noob, I was tasked to review the bloated, brickwalled behemoth that was Allegaeon’s Proponent for Sentience. I argued that taken as a whole, the 72-minute album was beyond overwritten and overwrought even before the utterly crushed production ruined what was left. It turned out to be my least popular opinion since I argued in high school that metal bands without growls or screams were still metal (that actually happened.)” Bruise the messenger.

Impureza – La Caída De Tonatiuh Review

By GardensTale on November 15, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Death Metal, 139 comments

“Metal is like a sponge: capable of sucking up any foreign juices. Classical music? We’ve seen that thousands of times since before In The Nightside Eclipse. Country? Not too common, but there’s a number of stoner and folk metal bands that incorporate its imagery. But flamenco? Sure, Allegaeon has the odd interlude, but it’s hardly integral to their sound, feeling more like a wacky gimmick than a serious crossover. Impureza take offense to the absence of flamenco metal, due to their proud Spanish herita- wait, they’re French?!” No expects the French-Aztec Inquisition. Seriously, nobody does.

Sentient Ignition – Enthroned in Gray Review

By Dr. Wvrm on May 17, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Technical Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 30 comments

“Sentient Ignition burst onto the death metal circuit one year ago, dropping a two-track demo that caught the ears of everyone from MetalSucks to Toilet Ov Hell. Mixing melody, technical skill, and progressive intent, the demo delivered a product equal parts surprise and success. Enthroned in Gray is now tasked with living up to expectations set dangerously high for a band whose career spans 15 minutes and 52 seconds.” The confidence of youth and the wankiness of tech-death.

70000 Tons of Metal: One Man’s Journey

By Mark Z. on March 12, 2017 in 2017, Blog Posts, Live Reviews, 39 comments

“My friends ask me what happened, but my ability to verbally communicate has been reduced to moaning and a weeping noise that sounds something like a baby panda crying for milk. I wonder how I’m going to make it through the final day of this floating festival. I wonder when the aching will subside. I wonder where my life went so wrong. How did I end up here, on the 7th annual 70000 Tons of Metal cruise, weak with exhaustion and feeling like my body has been bludgeoned with a sledgehammer? My mind drifts back…” Tales from a 70000 ton heavy thing.

Vale of Pnath – II [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Dr. Wvrm on January 12, 2017 in 2016, American Metal, Technical Death Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Willowtip, Technical Death Metal, 52 comments

“I never thought of myself as a tech death fan. Coming from a thrash background, I never needed insane drum machine combos or faster-than-light scales to get my dander up. But after penning one tech death TYMHM this winter, I was struck by the notable divide between Dormant Ordeal and current beau Vale of Pnath.” Kronos laughs at your newbiehood.