LIK

Wretched Fate – Carnal Heresy Review

Wretched Fate – Carnal Heresy Review

By Eldritch Elitist on February 26, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, 38 comments

“I like the Swedeath subset of death metal, but I don’t like it enough to delve into it on a regular basis. Perhaps this is due to its lack of character; or, more accurately, its abundance of character, one which has largely remained unchanged since Entombed ventured down the Left Hand Path. As such, while countless notable Swedeath releases have come and gone, the only ones that truly stick with me are those that inject a fun little twist while staying true to the tenets of the style. The melodic grotesqueries of Lik and the horror soundtrack stylings of Heads for the Dead are a few recent examples, and with their sophomore record, Carnal Heresy, Wretched Fate aims for similar prestige.” Swedetails.

Bloodbath – Survival of the Sickest Review

Bloodbath – Survival of the Sickest Review

By Ferrous Beuller on September 8, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, 75 comments

“Let’s talk about blood, baby. Hemoglobin and me. Let’s talk about all the blood things and the bad things that may bleed. Death metal and that hideous ichor that courses through us all are as synonymous as editors and intimidation… Swedish supergroup extraordinaire Bloodbath have made a career out of celebrating the genre’s twisted tenets and once pulsed at the very center of the classic scene.” Your bath is ready.

Burning Darkness – Dödens Makt Review

Burning Darkness – Dödens Makt Review

By Carcharodon on July 6, 2021 in Reviews, Death Metal, Heavy Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 26 comments

“Swedish five-piece Burning Darkness has been kicking around since 1999, going through various periods of inactivity and releasing a number of demos. It was not until 2017, however, that a debut full-length record finally appeared, the self-released The Angel of Light. That raw chunk of melodic black metal sported heavy dollops of both death (“Demonic Bloodlines”) and heavy metal (“Crystallised Curse”), and was enough, it seems, to secure Burning Darkness a deal with Non Serviam Records. Now, the band returns with its sophomore effort, Dödens Makt.” Burning leather and rubber.

Demonical – World Domination Review

Demonical – World Domination Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on October 29, 2020 in Reviews, Death Metal, 18 comments

“Demonical is a reliably good band from that everflowing stream of Swe-death. I got into them on the fun Death Infernal and kept with them ever since. I know when I want some cool modern Swe-death that merges Dismember, Entombed, and Amon Amarth pretty effectively, I can turn to Demonical.” Demonical inwasion!

Lik – Misanthropic Breed Review

Lik – Misanthropic Breed Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on October 6, 2020 in Reviews, Death Metal, 26 comments

“Critic-bait comes in two forms: pretension and novelty. Critics are often a special mixture of jaded and self-important, so something that appeals to an inflated sense of one’s own intelligence or to that jaded sensibility which dismisses the familiar reflexively, respectively, is what sets the critical heart aflutter. Lik is not critic-bait, but they’ve got this particular critic hook, line, and sinker.” Dismember tomorrow.

Hatchet – Dying to Exist Review

Hatchet – Dying to Exist Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on July 11, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Combat Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Melodic Metal, Thrash Metal, 67 comments

“The best metal is not purely contemplative music, but the music of action that’s worth attention. The kinetic element of metal is present in the energetic rhythms and soaring harmonies, through the murk and the ice, in the slam and the breakdown; it’s baked into the idea of heaviness itself. This music makes those who get it move; we mosh, we furiously bang our heads, throw up the horns, or play an air instrument. The gut feeling that good metal gives me makes me need to do something: have a lively night with friends, furiously scribble a review draft, play an instrument, work out, or even just pace about and enjoy the music.” Chopping spree!

Down Among the Dead Men – …And You Will Obey Me Review

Down Among the Dead Men – …And You Will Obey Me Review

By Saunders on June 22, 2018 in 2018, Crust Punk, Danish Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Transcending Obscurity, Death Metal, 32 comments

“Vibrant old school death releases from Lik, Skeletal Remains and Ripped to Shreds have highlighted 2018 so far, and with an upcoming full-length from Extremity on the horizon, things are looking bright for fans of the retro style. That said, can Down Among the Dead Men raise the bar and lay waste to the standout competition?” Old dogs, deadly tricks.