Aug17

Morbid Evils – Deceases Review

By Akerblogger on August 29, 2017 in 2017, Drone, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Svart Records, Drone, 10 comments

“Tantalizingly labeled as being a grind-drone hybrid, Morbid Evils — a side project of Rotten Sound vocalist and guitarist Keijo Niinimaa — doesn’t play by the rules. That’s not to say that the feelings these two extreme sub-genres stir up aren’t present. The suffocating and oppressive atmospherics found both in the gargantuan monotone sound of drone and the stifling chaos of grindcore are an ever-present force here, shifting with the force of planet sized icebergs. The name of the game is oppression and the aim of the game is to hammer the brain into a pulp.” Morbid and evil is no way to go through life, son.

Nervecell – Past, Present… Torture Review

By Master of Muppets on August 27, 2017 in 2017, Lifeforce Records, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, United Arab Emirates Metal, Technical Death Metal, 42 comments

“Why tech-death insists on being an exercise in as many bands as possible doing the exact same thing as each other, is something that baffles. On that note, and with Beuller-approved levels of irony, let’s talk about some dudes from Dubai and what they’ve done with the genre on their third full-length, Past, Present… Torture.” Dial N for Nile, oh, and Nervecell.

Unseen Faith – Waver Review

By Kronos on August 27, 2017 in 2017, Danish Metal, Deathcore, Prime Collective, Reviews, Deathcore, 68 comments

“Dedicated readers of this very website will know that Kronos fears neither God nor core, and I picked Waver out of the promo bin knowing full well what I was getting myself into.” Did you though?

Dead Lord – In Ignorance We Trust Review

By Huck N Roll on August 26, 2017 in 2017, Century Media, Hard Rock, Proto-Metal, Retro Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Hard Rock, 19 comments

“My summer quest for scrumptious retro metal is almost at an end. It has taken me far and wide, usually with poor, and at best middling, results. It has been a quest of dissatisfaction, to the point where I will soon be turning my nose at any retro promo that is pushed under my prison door at AMG Headquarters. My last kick at the cat will be the latest from this group of miscreants who call themselves Dead Lord.” The mind is a terrible thing to taste.

Leng Tch’e – Razorgrind Review

By Saunders on August 25, 2017 in 2017, Belgian Metal, Death Metal, Grind, Reviews, Season of Mist, Grind, 13 comments

“A revolving door of members and seven-year break since dropping 2010’s Hypomaniac hasn’t dulled the band’s commitment to keep on grinding, returning with their sixth full-length opus, fittingly titled Razorgrind. But do they still have what it takes to match it with the new breed of talented grinders? Or are Leng Tch’e destined to die a musical death by a thousand cuts?” Shave and a haircut, grind it!

Thy Art Is Murder – Dear Desolation Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on August 25, 2017 in 2017, Australian Metal, Deathcore, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Deathcore, 70 comments

“Deathcore, in its peak popularity, was essentially the dubstep of metal. Structured around a massive breakdown in the same way dubstep is structured around its 808 drop, the prototypical deathcore song was a kinetic experience designed to ratchet up the tension until a cathartic release blasts forth. This compositional style is extremely limiting, which is why both sub-genres will (and arguably already are) seen as flashes in the pan.” Pan’s Labyrinth.

Portrait – Burn the World Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 25, 2017 in 2017, Heavy Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, 23 comments

“OK, no stories this time. I don’t want to cause anyone to walk away from an album they might actually enjoy. Instead, I’ll just be blunt and boring. I’ll compress reviews into simple phrases like “album of the year” or “this isn’t brutal enough and you’re all pussies for liking it.” I guess 700 words is a waste of time for some and I should just force-feed shitty clickbaiting one-liners to you like a CNN ticker tape. I guess I could do that. Or… I could say fuck that and hammer out another lengthy piece proclaiming my love for King Diamond and Mercyful Fate. Yep, I think I’ll do that.” King Clickbait strikes again.

Steven Wilson – To the Bone Review

By El Cuervo on August 24, 2017 in 2017, Caroline International, English Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Rock, 65 comments

“The solo works of Steven Wilson were in ascendancy by 2012’s accomplished The Raven that Refused to Sing, a musically morose but sonically warm homage to 70s prog rock which drew me in with its Fripp-isms and ensnared me in its powerfully emotive web. 2015 saw the decidedly harsher tone of Hand. Cannot. Erase., which similarly impressed me with its engrossing tale of obliteration with more modern tools. The prospect of a sequel named To the Bone surely had a number of AMG writers all hot and bothered. His production has always been top-notch while his music is constantly developing, promising at least that it would stand apart from prior albums to offer something fresh.” Reinvent, refresh.

Vulture – The Guillotine Review

By Treble Yell on August 24, 2017 in 2017, German Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 15 comments

“From the slightly out of focus and over-exposed band photos to the chrome plated logo that wouldn’t be out of place adorning the packaging of a bootleg Thundercats toy, Vulture have gone to great lengths to make it seem like they’ve been around for decades. Even the (rather excellent) album art has been carefully rendered to deceive, with faint nicks and scratches baked in to mimic a record that’s been manhandled and left in a crate for aeons.” Faux-olde.

Crafteon – Cosmic Reawakening Review

By Eldritch Elitist on August 23, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Melodic Black Metal, 54 comments

“Cthulhu rises from the depths. Seawater cascades in waterfalls down its body; its colossal form dwarfs a nearby castle, a monument to mankind’s delusions of superiority as if it were some child’s plaything. The logo in the top left reads “Crafteon,” a nod to Lovecraftian[1. Get it? Huh? Do ya?] fiction, complete with dangling tentacles. Sure, this album’s exterior presentation pretty much screams “Eldritch bait,” but you know what? This is my 50th review for AMG, and I feel like indulging my base impulses in celebration.” Celebrate with Cthulhu!