![Almanac – A Discographic Review [Tsar (2016), Kingslayer (2017) and Rush of Death (2020)]](https://www.angrymetalguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RotM-square_splash_text_small-768x768.jpg)
“For the last four years, I have been neglecting—and you have been denied my Very Important Opinion™ about—one of the most idiosyncratic voices in metal: Victor Smolski. And so, in a Swallow the Sun-sized act of hubris, I’m writing a discographic review of Victor Smolski’s Almanac.” You can’t spell “Almanac” without MAN!
![Deadspace – The Liquid Sky [Things You Might Have Missed 2017]](https://www.angrymetalguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Deadspace-The-Liquid-Sky-cover.png)
“Down Under’s Deadspace have craftily sneaked their way into the upper echelon of bands from the past few years. Their debut full-length was a depressive but dramatic cut of black metal with a strong narrative voice through its measured pace and use of film samples. 2016’s EP felt ‘purer’ as it featured less spoken words no interlude tracks; it was 4 lengthy, cathartic tracks which tracked life and death. A sophomore record called The Liquid Sky released towards the death of 2017 and the high standard is maintained.” In space no one can hear you frown.
![Elvenking – Secrets of the Magick Grimoire [Things You Might Have Missed 2017]](https://www.angrymetalguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/1000x1000-768x768.jpg)
“Welcome to Bizarro Metal World, where the reviews are made up and the scores are reversed! Just kidding, but seriously, Angry Metal Guy himself was set to review this album. However, time being what it is during the holiday season (and AMG being as angry as he is), he didn’t get around to it. As luck would have it -at least for Elvenking – while I’ve heard tell that AMG was quite disappointed with this album, I am not!” Dodging the AMG bullet.
“Genus Ordinis Dei (GOD for short) by their name wonder what the biological classification of an Abrahamic God would be, and they do this by seemingly breaking the rulebook and combining symphonic death metal with elements of the traditionally blue collar of deathcore.” Symphonic deathcore? Surely you can’t be serious.
“Okay, I’ll admit that what first drew me into Dangerous Days, the debut offering from Italian traditional metal act Hyperion, was its eye catching artwork. I don’t usually gravitate towards heavy metal albums, but I guess that, deep down, I’m no better than a toddler, drawn to bright colors, sci-fi spacesuits and cool-ass monster designs like my 1.5 year old son to literally anything he isn’t supposed to touch.” Free metal and candy.
“It’s that time of year again where people are scrambling for gifts to buy people, malls to populate, and year-end lists to create. It’s also the time of year when I try to step outside of my blackened, doom-laden comfort zone and try my hand at less bleak, more visceral waters. In other words, I done burned myself out on black metal for a bit, and what better pick-me-up is there than Swedish death metal?” Satisfying like Swedeath Fish.
“SCENE: A slick, leather-appointed office on the 13th floor of an imposing building. The room is furnished with hellish trophies and framed photos of sobbing individuals. Faint wailing can be heard from the floors below.” AMG: the screenplay.
“Founded way back in 2002, Beirut’s Ayat pumped out a string of demos culminating in their well-received 2009 debut Six Years of Dormant Hatred. Not-so-hot off the heels of that release, (wonderfully-named) founders and only constant members (Reverend) Filthy Fuck and (Mullah) Sadogoat are back with another viscerally angry cut, this time with a side of politics, for reasons that should be self-explanatory in 2017.” Angry worms.
“Now here’s a strange and interesting story. Imagine forming your band in 1973, naming yourself after a Pete Sinfield song from his Still album. Imagine working on your first album for forty-three years. Imagine playing and writing for nine years, then sleeping for two dozen. And imagine recording the songs you’ve been writing for all these years over a number of sessions scattered across eight years and five different locales. Clearly, time moves at a different speed for German progressive rockers Sea Goat.” Vote Goat.
“To review a record by a band whose career is as storied as Morbid Angel’s, in the hopes of any kind of objectivity, is fraught. Is Kingdoms Disdained a return to form? The answer is a resounding yes, but let’s be honest, standards were treacherously low.” Are you Morbid? Are they?
