Japanese Metal

Anatomia – Corporeal Torment Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on May 18, 2021 in Reviews, Death Doom, 13 comments

“I’ll spare you the history blurb masquerading as an intro paragraph: Anatomia is a Japanese death-doom band that’s been around for almost twenty years, you’ve probably heard them on a split with a band you like, and Corporeal Torment is their fourth full-length. Now that you’re all caught up, let’s admire the title’s accuracy for a moment. Corporeal Torment implies something physically oppressive, and that’s precisely what Anatomia seems to be going for here. That it can also be described as rancid and crushing would probably make these two Japanese dudes smile ear-to-ear, although smiling is not something their sound is whatsoever evocative of.” Pain is life.

Significant Point – Into the Storm Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on February 25, 2021 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 72 comments

“Significant Point. This band name has caused some amount of controversy around the AMG beer cooler for its apparent strangeness. Alternative band names such as Topic Sentence and Eminent Predicate were tossed around with mirth and glee, and the sniggering appeared to drown out the thunder in the east, but I still heard the distant rumblings. Significant Point exists to make a significant point potent statement: heavy metal never dies.” Point taken.

Evil – Possessed by Evil Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on February 4, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Speed Metal, 42 comments

“I’ve got a soft spot for Japanese metal, especially the old-school varieties. It should shock absolutely nobody that Evil come directly from the lineage of Abigail and Sabbat thematically, meaning that they take the “evil” schtick of classic Venom and Bulldozer so far that it exceeds parody and lands in a strange realm of charming innocence and naivete. Evil, on their second album Possessed by Evil, lands feet-first in this realm.” Possession is nine-tenths of witchlaw.

The Ridiculous Year o’ Death Metal, Part 1 [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Ferrous Beuller on January 5, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Death Metal, Grind, 92 comments

“We can all agree it has been a horrific year. Fortunately for the metal community, our lexicon is inverted. Rest assured that, when I say death metal has been absolutely disgusting in 2020, it can only be a good thing. While we at Angry Metal Guy have done our best to cover as much calamity as possible, it was inevitable that some releases would go unrecognized. To that end, this round-up exists solely to shed unholy light on those atrocities that didn’t quite make the cut, but still warrant your attention.” Become death.

Gorevent – Fate Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on February 5, 2020 in 2020, Comatose Music, Japanese Metal, Reviews, Slam, Slam, 39 comments

“In popular music, the West Coast is known for the smooth, extravagant, and maximal productions of Dr. Dre, while the East Coast is known for the grimy, gritty, and dusty productions of Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA. I prefer the latter, and when it comes to slam, travelling further East gets me the grotesquery I crave.” Slam of the rising sun.

Defiled – Infinite Regress Review

By Doom_et_Al on January 22, 2020 in 2020, Death Metal, Japanese Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Death Metal, 18 comments

“Metal, particularly death metal, has generally had a particularly Western bent. Originating as it did from rock and heavy blues, this is to be expected. But music never exists in a vacuum, so when artists with a different cultural background bring their experience to traditionally western cannon, the results are often quirky and interesting. Japanese death metal veterans Defiled are a case in point: while the style exists in the unmistakable sandpit of death metal, there are enough different toys that the music feels fresh and unorthodox.” Just like sand through the horror glass.

Otoboke Beaver – Itekoma Hits [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By Grymm on December 19, 2019 in Damnably Records, Hardcore, Noise, Not Metal, Punk, Things You Might Have Missed, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Hardcore, Noise, Not Metal, Punk, 40 comments

“As long as it’s good, gives us reviewers joyous vibes, and is kinda sorta somewhat within proximity of our wheelhouse, we’ll give it a fair shake and coverage. Kyoto’s Otoboke Beaver’s debut full-length, Itekoma Hits, is several miles away from our particular wheelhouse, but we see them, cheerfully smiling and waving while screaming, delivering some absolutely apeshit bonkers music that veers from pop-punk to hardcore to surf music to practically everywhere else and in-between.” It’s not metal, but then again, neither are you.

Galneryus – Into the Purgatory Review

By Eldritch Elitist on October 22, 2019 in 2019, Japanese Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Warner Music Japan, Power Metal, 61 comments

“Galneryus is my favorite power metal band. Hell, they might just be my favorite metal band, period. I can’t call myself a ravenous fan of many artists, but Galneryus’ enormous catalog of righteous Japanese power metal has me foaming at the mouth every time the band so much as hints that they’re entertaining the thought of a new record. The fact that I consider 2017’s Ultimate Sacrifice a low point of their career, yet still felt confident in giving it an honorable mention slot on that year’s list, should say something for their consistency.” Land of the rising fun.

Angry Metal Primer – Mayhem and Galneryus

By Dr. Wvrm on October 20, 2019 in 2019, Angry Metal Playlist, Angry Metal Primer, Black Metal, Century Media, Japanese Metal, Norwegian Metal, Power Metal, Warner Music Japan, Black Metal, Power Metal, 33 comments

In which we marry the utmost extremities of the metal spectrum in an wholly unholy situation. Prepare your neck brace.

Desecravity – Anathema Review

By Ferrous Beuller on February 9, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, Japanese Metal, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, Willowtip, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 28 comments

“Japan probably isn’t top of the list of countries responsible for propagating the most volatile of technical death metal. Desecravity clearly don’t care for the geographical rank and file, however, as their hyper-proficient assault takes absolutely no prisoners. Anathema is the band’s third foray into profuse precision and exhibits a startling standard of musicianship. But, as with all overtly technical genres, there lingers an elephant in the room… What good is inimitable skill without commensurate song writing? I’ve lost count of the amount of bands I’ve heard over the years who exist, seemingly solely, as an extreme guitar clinic. No attention to structure, no time spent on foundation. Fortunately, Desecravity seem to be aware of this to some degree, but they aren’t entirely out of the woods yet…” Killed by tech.