III

Sword – III Review

By Itchymenace on November 22, 2022 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 25 comments

“For you angry metal toddlers out there who have never heard of them, Sword (not to be confused with Austin doom stoners The Sword) is a Canadian band that swung hard with their 1986 debut, Metalized. The album generated a decent amount of attention and even landed them opening slots for Motorhead, Alice Cooper and Metallica. Their 1989 follow up, Sweet Dreams, was another energized plate of trad metal but the band’s edge never penetrated very far beyond their Canadian homeland. It’s not clear why they broke up in the early 90s but according to their website, they’ve been happily playing in cover bands, raising families and working their 9-5 jobs. III seemingly picks up where the band left off 30 years ago.” Reforging the steel.

Demons & Wizards – III Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 28, 2020 in 2020, Century Media, International Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 76 comments

“Blind Guardian has always fed my fantastical appetite through the years—providing me with stories and full concept records at a pace and with a passion that is pure fun. Then, there’s Iced Earth. A band that has given me plenty of headbangable moments and vivid imagery through their own concepts—even crushing my spirit at times with heartbreaking ballads and war/lost-love themes. When I first heard Demons & Wizards, I realized it was no different. In a single band, I could experience the storytelling nature of Blind Guardian and the crushing, yet crippling character of Iced Earth. For two—now three—records, this has been the goal of this power-metal duo. But, fifteen years is a long time to go without your partner-in-crime. Even identical twins can lose a connection after a decade-and-a-half of separation. So, what’s that mean for Kürsch and Schaffer and their precious III?” Two Demons, one Triwizard Cup.

Bask – III Review

By Kenstrosity on November 8, 2019 in American Metal, American Rock, Folk, Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Season of Mist, Stoner Rock, Folk, Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 14 comments

“Asheville, North Carolina. A bizarre cultural potpourri famous for its beer, food, music scene and road construction, Asheville is one of those strange places that is both cripplingly flawed and difficult to resist. It’s a fascinating place, and it has my heart. So it should come as no surprise that I Bask in the glow of III, an Americana-spiked hard rock album that comes direct from my current hometown. We write infrequently about stuff from or within spitting distance of this city, but it seems like every time we do we like what we get—I direct you to Aether Realm and Undrask, for starters—and Bask’s latest continues the trend.” Sweet home Carolina.

Waingro – III Review

By GardensTale on August 19, 2019 in 2019, Canadian Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Sludgelord Records, Stoner Metal, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, 11 comments

“What constitutes summer music for you? In my case, I tend to gravitate towards music that plays well on car trips, meaning I blast stoner and sludge above average during the times of sunshine. These genres often have the locomotive rhythms, simple structures and addictive riffing that allow me to practice finger-drumming on the steering wheel and terrible singing, preferably with the windows rolled down so everyone in a 30-yard radius gets to enjoy with me.” Road rage and hot days.

Weedpecker – III Review

By El Cuervo on February 2, 2018 in 2018, Polish Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Stickman Records, Stoner Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 54 comments

“It’s entirely unsurprising that Weedpecker reside on the same label’s roster as Elder. Both feature groovy, stoner riffs, are progressive and are drug-fueled to differing extents. Fortunately, unlike Elder, Weedpecker aren’t unrelentingly average; in fact, they’re drastically superior.” Superior drugs make for superior rock.

Arcade Messiah – III [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 15, 2016 in 2016, Irish Metal, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Rock, Stereohead Records, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Rock, 37 comments

“As I sit here on a snow-covered porch, watching the snow dissipate below the rising sun, it dawns on me just how much I dislike the term “post.” I hate Post-It notes, post holes, fence posts, and (the worst offender of them all) post-hole diggers. I hate the terms “post” (position), “flagposts” (they’re fucking “flagpoles”), and “man-posts” (penises). But, for how much I hate all these terms, I hate post-black, post-rock, post-hardcore, and post-metal the most.” Post no bills (or man-posts).

Die Choking – III Review

By Madam X on October 8, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Grind, Reviews, The Compound Recs, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 13 comments

“Cheesesteaks are a big deal in Philly and as I understand it, there’s a ‘right way’ to go about ordering them. Firstly, you place your order for said cheesesteak with the cashier. Secondly you make your cheese selection and lastly you opt for or against the fried onions. The key and most crucial step though, is PLACE YOUR ORDER CONCISELY. Philly’s Die Choking approach their hypergrind in the same way – concisely.” Ready for 14 minutes of choking?

SardoniS – III Review

By Roquentin on September 13, 2015 in 2015, Belgian Metal, ConSouling Sounds, Doom Metal, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Instrumental Metal, Stoner Metal, 6 comments

“Imagine, for a second, one such object, say a charcoal black freight train splattered with shiny, rainbow-colored spots that has descended to our plane straight from some kooky stoner heaven, traveling at a high speed, unstoppable, and crushing everything in its path.” So little time to get out of the way of the Rainbow Train. Now less…now none!

Indesinence – III Review

By Grymm on July 19, 2015 in 2015, Doom Metal, English Metal, Profound Lore Records, Reviews, Doom Metal, 20 comments

“Whenever I say the words “endurance test,” what does that do to you, dear reader? Do you think of 26.2 mile marathons across metropolises like Boston, or even out in the barren sticks of Arizona? Do they bring back memories of reading books like War & Peace in the time span of a few days, in hopes that the book report will somehow miraculously score higher than the “C” you earned due to poor planning?” I think of sitting through any late period Metallica album.

Xerath – III Review

By Kronos on September 12, 2014 in 2014, Candlelight, Death Metal, English Metal, Groove Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Progressive Metal, Symphonic Metal, 12 comments

“Let’s face it: traditional symphonic metal is a playground of melodrama that’s nowhere near brutal enough. That’s why Fleshgod Apocalypse and Septicflesh (get mad about that concretion) are such popular bands – no matter how much we complain about their loud as hell albums here, there’s no denying that symphonic death is the perfect step forward for the maligned fusion genre.” Madam X will not take kindly to this Septicflesh bashing….