Carcharodon

King of the North(ish).

Maeskyyrn – Interlude Review

By Carcharodon on October 14, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Hypnotic Dirge Records, Melodic Black Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 63 comments

“I normally dislike interludes intensely – the recent, very good Tool album, for example, I recreated as a playlist minus the four interludes because they annoyed the crap out of me. So an album called Interlude, with three tracks actually titled “Interlude,” plus an “Introduction” and final track “The End,” put me somewhat on edge. Despite having really liked the advance tracks for Maeskyyrn’s Interlude, I was expecting to have to report that here is yet another really promising album ruined by bloat and plinky … well, interludes.” Interludes, man.

Voice of Ruin – Acheron Review

By Carcharodon on October 10, 2019 in 2019, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Swiss Metal, Tenacity Music, Thrash Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 8 comments

“Voice of Ruin know what they like to do and are continuing to do it. And “that” is melodic death-tinged thrash. Where Purge and Purify felt like out and out Lamb of God worship⁠—and there’s nothing inherently wrong with that⁠—Acheron sees Voice of Ruin expanding their sound a bit more.” Define “a bit.”

Ecstatic Vision – For the Masses Review

By Carcharodon on October 6, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, American Rock, Heavy Psych Sounds Records, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Psychedelic Rock, 18 comments

“Many years ago now, I caught a gig by a personal favorite, The Mars Volta. They had just released Frances the Mute and were touring in support of that great record. Sadly, this ranks as among the worst gigs as I’ve ever been to. The band themselves appeared to be off their faces and played only one discernible song over an hour into the jam session, at which point I left. I have similar feelings about For the Masses.” Fit for mass consumption?

Obsidian Tongue – Volume III Review

By Carcharodon on September 28, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Bindrune Recordings, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 29 comments

“It’s six years since this Maine duo dropped their sophomore effort, A Nest of Ravens in the Throat of Time, a time when we still linked to Myspace pages in reviews. How time flies! A Nest of Ravens was a great record, atmospheric black metal, sprawling, blisteringly heavy in places with folky elements too. Their debut, Volume I: Subradiant Architecture, wasn’t too shabby either. That Obsidian Tongue mainman and multi-instrumentalist Brendan Hayter did a brief stint in the much-missed Woods of Ypres and currently mans the bass for metal-infused folksters Thrawsunblat maybe gives some sense of where Obsidian Tongue are coming from.” Tongue on the third date.

Pinewalker – Migration Review

By Carcharodon on September 14, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Sludge, Sludge, 10 comments

“Five years in the making, the Salt Lake City five-piece describe the recording of their self-released debut as a “form of catharsis for all of us … [following] painful realities and losing loved ones to cancer, we poured [out] every ounce of hurt, sorrow, mourning, remembrance, joy, and clarity…” And make no mistake, you can feel that emotion in the many moods of this record.” Riding the pine.

Geistaz’ika – Trolddomssejd I Skovens Dybe Kedel Review

By Carcharodon on September 11, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Danish Metal, Folk Metal, Reviews, Signal Rex, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 26 comments

“Denmark. It’s one of those places oft-overlooked, by me at least. If I think of Scandinavia, Norway and Sweden immediately come to mind, belatedly followed by Finland — which I’m reasonably sure is not actually part of Scandinavia — and only then, Denmark. Similarly, when I think of metal, and black metal, in particular, the same countries come to mind, probably in the same order. Denmark just isn’t really on my geographic or musical radar. I realize this will be deeply offensive to any Danish readers but I’m British and we currently specialize in offending other Europeans by the disparaging way we talk about them and their countries.” Dis-Danes.

Lamassu – Into the Empty Review

By Carcharodon on September 5, 2019 in 2019, Australian Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 29 comments

“Stoner rock is one of those genres where it’s hard to put into words what separates the great records from the tediously competent. What is it that makes Kyuss’ Welcome to Sky Valley or Sleep’s Dopesmoker nigh-on perfect records, while another album with all the same constituents just barely scrapes a 2.0? Well, as I say, it’s hard to put into words but, possibly because of its close relationship with the blues, great stoner has a ‘feel’ to it, a ‘know it, when you hear it’ quality.” Empty feelz and bluesy thrills.

The Road – Reverence Redacted Review

By Carcharodon on August 28, 2019 in 2019, British Metal, Doom Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Self-released, Sludge Metal, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Sludge Metal, 31 comments

“Never, however, have I wished that someone take your average British motorway as musical inspiration. In complete disregard of my wishes, Bristol, UK band The Road have done just that. On this, their self-released debut, Reverence Redacted, the Bristolian two-piece draw on the “crushing oppressiveness of the British motorway experience”⁠—personally, I would say “soul-crushing oppressiveness”⁠—to inspire their post-doom offering.” Trapped on the highway to Hell.

Wraith – Absolute Power Review

By Carcharodon on August 13, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Punk, Reviews, Self-released, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Punk, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 31 comments

“My review lineup had a fallow week in it and the promo blurb for Wraith peaked my interest with the phrase “blackened speed/thrash metal” with a “punk attitude.” In my head, this translates as something like Skeletonwitch playing The Exploited or Dead Kennedys covers. If this Indiana three-piece could only deliver on my own little fantasy there, I’d be up for that all day.” Absolute power corrupts absotutely.

Total Hate – Throne Behind a Black Veil Review

By Carcharodon on August 7, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Eisenwald Records, German Metal, Industrial Metal, Punk, Reviews, Black Metal, Industrial Metal, Punk, 38 comments

“Metal, punk, alcohol, sex, & Satan. These are the band Interests listed by German metallers Total Hate on their Facebook page. Three of these are featured in the music put out by this Nuremburg five-piece, the other two may, or may not, have been instrumental in its creation. I make no promises.” Essential ingredients.