Vattnet Viskar

Chrome Waves – A Grief Observed Review

By Mark Z. on March 3, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Black Metal, Disorder Recordings, Reviews, Black Metal, 22 comments

“I’m always fascinated by bands that could have been. Not ‘could have been famous,’ but could have been anything. They’re the bands that muddle about in the underground, release an EP or two, and then fade into the ether without ever releasing anything again. For years Chrome Waves were one of those bands. Formed in 2010 by famed American black metal musician Jeff Wilson (formerly of Abigail Williams, Wolvhammer, and Nachtmystium) and drummer Bob Fouts (formerly of The Gates of Slumber and Apostle of Solitude), the group released a self-titled post-black metal EP in 2012 before going totally silent.” Waves from the void.

Astronoid – Astronoid Review

By Mark Z. on January 31, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Blood Music, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Shoegaze, Progressive Metal, Shoegaze, 69 comments

“You wake up and everything seems better. The air is fresher, the sun is brighter, and you feel a sense of hope you haven’t felt in years. That’s what it was like listening to Astronoid’s 2016 debut Air for the first time. From out of nowhere, the Massachusetts quartet burst onto the scene with a style that hit the perfect sweet spot between fresh and familiar. Combining Deafheaven-esque music with airy, poppy singing, the band built off their experience in Vattnet Viskar to create something truly original, something that soared through a world of timeless innocence right onto my Album o’ the Decade shortlist.” Following a dream.

The Lion’s Daughter – Future Cult Review

By Mark Z. on July 25, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Black Metal, Electronica Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Sludge Metal, Black Metal, Electronica Metal, Sludge Metal, 78 comments

“When your parents said to follow your passion, I don’t think they meant for you to throw on a zip-up face mask, sling a taxidermy animal over your shoulder, and become a fucking weirdo. Yet that’s exactly what The Lion’s Daughter have done on third album Future Cult, and the result is sure to confound anyone familiar with the band previously.” Taxidermy is creepy.

Spirit Adrift – Curse of Conception Review

By Grymm on October 3, 2017 in 20 Buck Spin, 2017, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 115 comments

“Arizona’s Spirit Adrift, a one-man doom machine featuring the talented voice, musicianship, and songwriting of one Nate Garrett, dropped a promising debut last year with Chained to Oblivion. Just a hair over a year later, Garrett returns with a fully fleshed-out band, a slightly altered sound, and a new album in Curse of Conception.” Those adrift are not always lost.

Contrite Metal Guy – Mistakes Were Made

By Grymm on September 7, 2017 in 2017, Blog Posts, Contrite Metal Guy, 107 comments

“The life of the unpaid, overworked metal reviewer is not an easy one. Cascading promos, unreasonable deadlines, draconian editors and the unwashed metal mobs – it makes for a swirling maelstrom of music and madness. In all that tumult, errors are bound to happen and sometimes our initial impression of an album may not be completely accurate. With time and distance comes wisdom, and so we’ve decided to pull back the confessional curtain and reveal our biggest blunders, missteps, oversights and ratings face-plants. Consider this our sincere AMGea culpa. Redemption is retroactive, forgiveness is mandatory.” Grymm tidings.

Dzö-nga – The Sachem’s Tales Review

By Mark Z. on July 19, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Avantgarde Music, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 40 comments

“Sophomore full-length The Sachem’s Tales sees Cryvas crafting a concept album about Native American folklore, aiming to combine Cascadian black metal with classical music. Joined by female vocalist Grushenka Ødegård and session drummer Aaron Maloney (formerly of Pennsylvania metalcore act This or the Apocalypse, oddly enough), has Dzö-nga given us the next Bergtatt or delivered another Bandcamp black metal record whose hype will fizzle faster than you can say “Ghost Bath”? The Great Tree and the Dzö-nga House.

The AMG Staff Picks the Top Ten Records o’ 2015: There’s No Accounting for Anything Anymore

By Angry Metal Guy on December 21, 2015 in 2015, Blog Posts, 210 comments

“We’ve reached the end of 2015 and this year I’m personally editing these Top Ten lists. For the first time (ever) I am reading the production of the different writers we’ve assembled over the last few years. I am shocked. I am dismayed. I feel angry, offended, galled. But I am not surprised. Under Steel Druhm and Madam X‘s indulgent care and averted gaze the young Angry Metal Staffers have run amok. Alas, after having actually consumed of the words these gentlemen produce, I’m firing them all. It’s back to the drawing board: me, Steel Druhm, and as much metalcore as you can eat!”

IIVII – Colony Review

By El Cuervo on August 28, 2015 in 2015, Ambient Metal, American Metal, ConSouling Sounds, Reviews, Ambient Metal, 5 comments

“Josh Graham is a serial pie fingerer. Aside from his visuals and art work for established names such as Neurosis and Vattnet Viskar, he’s also embarked on a number of music projects including the post-rock Red Sparowes and post-metal A Storm of Light. Now he brings his tight atmospherics and stunning visual design to his new ambient project IIVII and its debut, Colony.” There’s complete anarchy here at AMG headquarters!

Vattnet Viskar – Settler Review

By Grymm on June 11, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Black Metal, Century Media, Post-metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 40 comments

“I’m going to get this out of the way regarding Vattnet Viskar’s second album, Settler right now: that is the saddest album cover I’ve seen in my almost-two years of writing for Angry Metal Guy, and I’m not talking “OMG THEY WENT FULL DEAFHEAVEN!,” either.” But it would be very sad if they did go full Deafheaven, just to be clear.

Vattnet Viskar – Sky Swallower Review

By Grymm on September 18, 2013 in 2013, American Metal, Black Metal, Century Media, Doom Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 7 comments

“Any band or artist worth their salt will marry their influences to create something new, whether said influences are musical, aesthetic, or simply a product of their environment. Vattnet Viskar (roughly translated from Swedish as “the water whispers”) are definitely a product of the state of New Hampshire. When one pictures New Hampshire, he or she thinks of rolling hills with lush greenery, picturesque winters, and rivers of clean, flowing water… all from the northern half of the state. Southern New Hampshire (especially VV’s hometown of Plaistow) is a panoply of industrial parks, gas stations every block or two, oppressively hot summers where you can see the heat rising from the asphalt while walking out of a heavily populated 7-11, and the occasional forest or lake being slowly (and sadly) converted into a housing project. Sky Swallower flawlessly combines the two images into one cohesive, impressive album.” Black metal from the “live free or die” state makes a certain amount of sense and new writer Grymm makes his AMG debut to discuss why.