Ghost Brigade

Nailed to Obscurity – Black Frost Review

By Steel Druhm on January 8, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, German Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Nuclear Blast, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 99 comments

“One of the happy surprises from out of left field during 2017 was a little album called King Delusion by then unsung German act Nailed to Obscurity. It took the base elements of Opeth, Katatonia and Ghost Brigade and skillfully forged them into a humdinger of a prog-death platter brimming with heaviness and dark atmospheres. It garnered a place in my Top Ten for that year and I still play it quite regularly. 2019 sees the band return to greatly elevated expectations with their third album, Black Frost, and I was particularly eager to get my paws on this one.” Tales of frost and fire.

V – Pathogenisis Review

By Steel Druhm on November 18, 2017 in 2017, Doom Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Suicide Records, Swedish Metal, Doom Metal, Hardcore, Post-Metal, 53 comments

“V is a project of Daniel Liljekvist (In Mourning, ex-Katatonia) and on their Pathogenisis debut they’re peddling a take on post-metal that clings close to the early days of the style, while also incorporating a good dose of doom. The hardcore element that’s slowly becoming watered down in much modern post-metal is quite prominent here, making V’s sound muscular, aggressive and confrontation. Most importantly of all, it’s chocked full of spleen softening riffs.” V is for Post-metal?

1476 – Our Season Draws Near Review

By Madam X on March 28, 2017 in 2017, Ambient Metal, American Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Prophecy Productions, Reviews, Rock, Ambient Metal, 37 comments

“Known for its short summers and long, drawn out winters, New England is not the worst starting point for a winter-themed album. Fueled by isolation and frigid temperatures, 1476 hail from the infamous Salem, Massachusetts and their specialty is a mixture of art and stripped-down dark, atmospheric rock.” We didn’t land on 1476’s rock, it landed on us!

Lòdz – Time Doesn’t Heal Anything Review

By Dr. Wvrm on March 20, 2017 in 2017, French Metal, Klonosphere, Post-metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Post-Metal, 17 comments

“Upon being handed the Lòdz torch, Grymm advised me to approach the Frenchmen from an emotional standpoint. Post-metal’s enjoyment is often predicated on embracing the primal, rather than the technical. Someone like myself who struggles to connect with the genre’s hardscrabble nature might fail to embrace the passion hidden within. For Time Doesn’t Heal Anything to resonate in my heart, Lòdz would have unlock my emotional chastity.” Only AMG can unlock those goddamn belts!

Sons of a Wanted Man – Black Days Black Dust Review

By Madam X on March 3, 2017 in 2017, Belgian Metal, Black Metal, Hardcore, Post-metal, Pulverised Records, Reviews, Sludge, Hardcore, Sludge Metal, 33 comments

“Who are Sons of a Wanted Man you ask? In short they’re a fledgling band, hailing from Beringen (Belgium). Citing the influence of Gojira, Deafheaven and Alcest, Sons of a Wanted Man dabble in introspective post-black metal, forcibly heavy sludge and raw hardcore with Black Days Black Dust claiming to journey through beauty and frenzy in equal measure.” This looks suspiciously like an EP….

In Mourning – Afterglow Review

By Madam X on May 23, 2016 in 2016, Agonia Records, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 41 comments

“Coming across In Mourning’s The Weight of Oceans was a great surprise. I knew nothing of the band, but the album art stole my breath away and for that reason alone, no matter what it sounded like, I needed to posses The Weight of Oceans. I grabbed the album and hit play, within seconds captivating waves washed over me, I was sold. Four years on, The Weight of Oceans still ranks as one of my most loved albums. Along comes Afterglow and I’m brimming with hope that it’ll be a solid continuation of its predecessor.” High expectations can be a frigid bitch.

Votum – :KTONIK: Review

By Steel Druhm on February 11, 2016 in 2016, Mystic Productions, Polish Metal, Post-Rock, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 44 comments

“AMG recently dropped this album by Poland’s Votum in my promo bin with a snarky remark about how I love “sadboy doom-prog.” Naturally, I denied it and retorted with a series of choice names, but when the time came to actually sit down and listen to :KTONIK:, Votum’s fourth full-length, I was forced to admit I did love the sadboy post-rock prog metal being laid down. Damn, him! Damn that AMG!

Deathwhite – Solitary Martyr EP Review

By Steel Druhm on August 11, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Gothic Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Gothic Metal, Post-Metal, 35 comments

“Ah, Deathwhite is back to antagonize music reviewers who expect to know things like: who’s in the band, what do they play, where are they from, who is their daddy and what does he do? Yes, Deathwhite scoffs at such outdated formalities, opting to exist in complete secrecy like goth-metal’s answer to those masked marauders in Ghost.” Straight from the Witness Protection Ensemble, more intrigue and confusion.

Artaius – Torn Banners Review

By Madam X on May 14, 2015 in 2015, Bakerteam Records, Folk Metal, Italian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Folk Metal, Melodic Metal, Progressive Metal, 9 comments

“It took two lines in the Artaius promo blurb to stop me in my tracks – Artaius has shared the stage with well known metal acts like Ensiferum and Primal Fear and Torn Banners features special guests Tim Charles (Ne Obliviscaris), Lucio Stefani (Mé, Pek e Barba) and Dario Caradente (Kalévala). Those be some big selling points right there!” Madam X willing reviewing folk metal? The end is nigh.

Madam X’s Top Ten(ish) of 2014

By Madam X on December 30, 2014 in Blog Posts, 52 comments

“As 2015 makes her grand and stately entrance, bear with and support me as I try to hunt down even more new blackened death metal albums that sound exactly like Septicflesh.” Madam X has her foibles, but she also has plenty of quirks. Join her as she unveils a Top Ten(ish) list sure to bumfuzzle and befuddle.