Woods of Ypres

Deadwood Lake – Immortalised in Death Review

Deadwood Lake – Immortalised in Death Review

By Emya on August 14, 2019 in 2019, English Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Reviews, UKEM Records, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 15 comments

“Sparkling cool water gently thrums against a piece of driftwood. A tiny squirrel scurries through the underbrush. I sit atop a picnic bench beside the rock strewn shore of Diamond Lake in southern Oregon mulling over how to articulate my heavy thoughts regarding an album by a band with a similar name to the very lake I overlook. When asked how they got their name, melodic atmospheric black metal band Deadwood Lake’s response is simply “we just thought it sounded cool.” It turns out that there is in fact a body of water in northern Wisconsin with the same sinister name as this relatively new yet prolific addition to the UK’s atmoblack scene.” Death at the lake.

Phlebotomized – Deformation of Humanity Review

Phlebotomized – Deformation of Humanity Review

By Eldritch Elitist on January 29, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, Dutch Metal, Hammerheart Records, Reviews, Death Doom, Death Metal, 115 comments

“Following the spate of fantastic death metal records released in the twilight months of 2018, my new year’s resolution was thusly engraved: listen to more death metal. Admittedly, last year was absolutely bananas when it came down to average release quality across all varieties of death metal, rendering wishes for the streak to continue borderline pointless. I can at least continue to expand my horizons in a genre that I have always somewhat neglected, and what better way to start than with—Jesus fuck, what is that?” Ugly to be bone.

Thrawsunblat – Great Brunswick Forest Review

Thrawsunblat – Great Brunswick Forest Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on October 25, 2018 in 2018, Canadian Metal, Folk Metal, Ignifera Records, Reviews, Folk Metal, 88 comments

“Thrawsunblat’s music is some of the closest stuff we have to Canadiana (which my word processor says isn’t a real word) for metalheads, and I’m always thankful when they decide to put out new stuff. Main man Joel Violette played on Woods of Ypres’ Woods V, one of my favorite records of all time, which makes me respect his musical acumen even more. For those who aren’t Canadian and couldn’t care less about Woods of Ypres, Thrawsunblat is interesting because they’re hard to predict.” Loose Canadian.

Altars of Grief – Iris Review

Altars of Grief – Iris Review

By Ferrous Beuller on March 31, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Doom Metal, Hypnotic Dirge Records, Reviews, 56 comments

“In 2004, a close friend of mine lost not one but both of his parents in the Indian Ocean tsunami that claimed nearly a quarter of a million lives. While I hope I will never experience tragedy as dramatic and profound as his, the impact reverberated throughout our small group, and to a comparatively infinitesimal degree, we shared in his loss. Without wanting to cheapen such sorrow, doom metal — particularly in its more extreme iterations — has always offered me a similar catalytic capacity to know its author’s pain.” Tragic beauty.

Frostreich – Join the Wind [Things You Might Have Missed 2017]

Frostreich – Join the Wind [Things You Might Have Missed 2017]

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 8, 2018 in 2017, Black Metal, Geisterasche Organisation, German Metal, Things You MIght Have Missed 2017, Black Metal, 40 comments

“Oh, post-black metal. Everyone’s favorite genre to either love or hate on. This little genre is either hyped too much or considerably bashed on by metalheads around the globe. It can be pretentious, it can be repetitious, and a single song can carry on for-fucking-ever. Many times, entire albums revolve around a key atmosphere that, no matter the quality of the songwriting, repeats itself across every track on the album—no matter the runtime or how many songs on the disc. And, when that first fifteen-minute piece hits, people either become absorbed or annoyed within seconds.” Break, like the wind.

Dr. A.N. Grier’s Top Ten(ish) of 2017

Dr. A.N. Grier’s Top Ten(ish) of 2017

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 30, 2017 in 2017, Blog Posts, Lists, 121 comments

“Remember that scene in Ghostbusters (the real Ghostbusters…) where Winston tells Ray, ‘If someone asks you if you are a god, you say yes!’ Well, if someone asks you if you want to write a guide for teaching organic chemistry, you say hellafuckingno. I’m serious. Do yourself, and everyone around you, a favor. So, yeah, this year’s been nuts. Thankfully, there’s Angry Metal Guy—a solace for all metalheads to come together and be verbally abused and cat-tailed in the company basement.” Cat’s got yer list.

Godhunter – Codex Narco Review

Godhunter – Codex Narco Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 15, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Baby Tooth Records, Battleground Records, Doom Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, 9 comments

“What kind of ‘god hunter’ is Godhunter? One out in search of truth, peace, and reasoning? Or are they on a hunt for revenge; fed up with the silence that returns their prayers or the global devastations no mortal man seems capable of preventing? Godhunter are many things and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were both.” God is game.