Akerblogger

Maschine – Naturalis Review

By Akerblogger on November 22, 2016 in 2016, English Metal, InsideOut, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Rock, 37 comments

“Things are getting worse. The seasons are becoming more unforgiving and natural disasters on a colossal scale are becoming more common. Species and their habitats are being pulverized into extinction at a rapid rate and humanity, instead of looking for a solution, seeks to jump ship to other planets. How are we, the powerless, going to solve this? What can we really do? Well, we can curl up into a ball and listen to Maschine’s second full-length that focuses on the ramifications of our disregard for Mother Earth.” Prog it up as the world goes down.

Xoth – Invasion of the Tentacube Review

By Akerblogger on November 8, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Creature of the Northwest, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 35 comments

“In the green-binary star system of Xoth, the deity Idh-yaa got all down and dirty with Cthulhu to create his slutty star-spawn. In a similar fashion, the band Xoth have got all down and dirty with all the blackened sub-genres of the metal-sphere, spawning a debut album that reaches far beyond the stars.” Star Lust, that fabulous STAR Lust….

The Answer – Solas Review

By Akerblogger on November 3, 2016 in 2016, Hard Rock, Irish Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Hard Rock, 26 comments

“Ten years ago, The Answer released their fuzzified, blues-rock debut Rise. This Northern Irish four-piece rocked. The classic-rock influence was clear for all to hear yet there was enough raw energy for them to stand out; their sound having a vibrant vigor that did not seem forced. Fast forward ten years and five albums and The Answer have released their seventh full-length, Solas. This time the band have honed in on their Gaelic heritage, expressing a more subtle, more folk-inspired side to their sound.” Your mom thinks this is boss.

Cognitive – Deformity Review

By Akerblogger on October 28, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Reviews, Unique Leader, 9 comments

“The Halloween period is here. Carve your pumpkins, bob your apples, egg your neighbors’ houses and listen to some horror-themed brutality. Hailing from Jobbstown, New Jersey, Cognitive play tech-death straight from the grave.” Boo-urns!

The Chronicles of Israfel – A Trillion Lights, Tome II Review

By Akerblogger on October 20, 2016 in 2016, Bridge of Hands Entertainment, Canadian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 28 comments

“I’m sure we can all agree that if it wasn’t for the geniuses, the mavericks, the inventors, and the experimenters of this world we would all be living in a grim and destitute place consumed by darkness and destruction. If the likes of Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Leonardo Da Vinci did not exist, where would we be today? The same can be said for the advancement of our beloved metal. With open arms we embrace those who experiment, those risk-takers who take the form forward, the advance guard who pave the way for copy-cats to follow. As the pioneers surge ahead into a glorious vista, The Chronicles of Israfel wobble and hobble with the wives and children at the baggage train near the back, drunk from last-nights ale and crippled with a mind-numbing fear.” One step forward, three steps back.

Tortorum – Rotten. Dead. Forgotten. Review

By Akerblogger on October 12, 2016 in Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, World Terror Committee, Black Metal, 8 comments

“Bergen is a charming city located on the west coast of Norway. It’s Europe’s utopia, a haven from scum and villainy and home to wonderful landscapes, picturesque architecture, politeness, order, harmony, and BLACK METAL! Tortorum claim to be from Bergen although the two founding members of the band are from the UK and Poland. Despite this, the evilness that resonates from the name Bergen is undeniable. I’m shaking as I type this and I haven’t slept since I received the promo because I fear the terrors that Tortorum may summon. Rotten. Dead. Forgotten. is a mini-album straight from the demonic depths of Hell. Proceed, if you dare.” We warned you, but also dared you.

Ricardo Remédio – Natureza Morta Review

By Akerblogger on October 5, 2016 in 2016, Dissociated Records, Electronica Metal, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Electronica Metal, 29 comments

“Follow me into the electronic church of Ricardo Remédio, a prolific musician who has collaborated with various doom bands and electronic projects in his native Portugal. Under the divine gaze of Sunn O))) and Ulver collaborator and multi-instrumentalist, Daniel O’Sullivan, Natureza Morta is Ricardo Remédio’s first solo record. The album is atypical in that it contains no riffs, vocals, drums or your everyday heavy metal violence.” And now for something completely different.

Slomatics – Future Echo Returns Review

By Akerblogger on September 15, 2016 in 2016, Black Bow Records, Doom Metal, Irish Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 16 comments

“A blanket of smoke and incense billows from an attic-bedroom conversion as Electric Wizard makes a rare appearance from his occult abode to make a sandwich or to record an episode of Most Haunted. Conan sits in the garage and uses his sharp fingernails to shape mythical creatures out of wood, sporadically bellowing songs of war into the night, begrudgingly quieting down when his mother threatens to take away his copy of The Silmarillion. Slomatics is the younger brother of the two aforementioned doomsters. He spends his time gazing into the stars, reading Frank Herbert, Philip. K. Dick and H.G. Wells, and exploring the Moog that his father found for cheap at the car boot sale.” At home with the Slows.

Barishi – Blood From the Lion’s Mouth Review

By Akerblogger on September 11, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Progressive Metal, 35 comments

“Metal is undeniably a multifaceted wonder. It has many moods and it incorporates many styles from a wide range of genres and mediums. But how much is too much? Is it too late in the evolution of this dark and dangerous genre for us to return to the simple days of booze, drugs, and rock ’n roll?” Yes, yes it is.

Vukari – Divination Review

By Akerblogger on July 28, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Bindrune Recordings, Black Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 19 comments

“Atmospheric black metal. Some run to the hills, disgusted by the label, while others embrace it with an incredible fervor, an addict in desperate need of his next fix. Part of the beauty, or tedium, of the ‘atmospheric’ label is its elusiveness. Ranging from one-man bedroom-studio synth-heavy releases to six-piece major-label indie-black-digeridoo extravaganzas and everything in between, I never really know what freakish concoction awaits.” Life is like a box of kvlt chocolates.