Diabolus in Muzaka

If you're not into Live in Leipzig, you are not his friend.
Jungle Rot – Order Shall Prevail Review

Jungle Rot – Order Shall Prevail Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on July 1, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Death Metal, Hardcore, Reviews, Victory Records, Death Metal, Hardcore, 29 comments

“Looking at my calendar whilst putting my finishing touches on this review, it’s one day after the official release date of Jungle Rot’s latest record Order Shall Prevail and the digital presses have ceased for the day. Some slight lateness matters little; the album’s been up for streaming, and those interested have doubtlessly heard it already and those uninterested have continued not to care one iota about its existence. Jungle Rot produces a specific type of music that caters solely to their established audience, and Order Shall Prevail doesn’t mess with the formula.” The lords of Neanderthal death are back, if you care.

Abyssion – Luonnon Harmonia Ja Vihreä Liekki Review

Abyssion – Luonnon Harmonia Ja Vihreä Liekki Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on July 1, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Crust Punk, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Svart Records, Black Metal, Crust Punk, 15 comments

“Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: in an alternate universe where musical ideas are themselves beings, three idea-beings walk into a bar. The first one is incredibly boring and pretentious yet still quite popular, and his name is Nachtmystium P. Floyd. The second is loud and already drunk, and his name is Rattus Kaaos; upon spying him the bartender mutters “raucous Finnish punk” under his breath. The third is Ornassi Pazuzu, who categorically refuses to stop droning on about anything and everything psychedelic. The nightly cover band got food poisoning, so there was an impromptu call for music. These three all wanted to jam so went up together, played, and wondered if they should keep this gig up. They did, and now we have Abyssion.” Good bar to avoid on cover nights.

I Am the Trireme – Gnosis: Never Follow the Light Review

I Am the Trireme – Gnosis: Never Follow the Light Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on June 26, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Black Metal, HPGD Productions, Metalcore, Reviews, Black Metal, Metalcore, 30 comments

“Electing to join the I Am the Wooden Object Club before The Table Himself even did, I Am the Trireme’s name can be described as “I am the Phoenician, ancient Greek, or Roman naval vessel with three rows of oars.” Luckily they didn’t pick that one, but in the spirit of needlessly long names, they’ve called their first full-length Gnosis: Never Follow the Light. We know right off the bat that these guys can produce pretentious sounding names for things, but that’s not what we’re here for; we’re here to see what they bring to the Hetfield musically.” We are also the table. And the oar bench.

Thornesbreed – GTRD Review

Thornesbreed – GTRD Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on June 20, 2015 in 2015, Art of Propaganda, Black Metal, Death Metal, German Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 11 comments

“To pilfer a phrase from the revered postmodern philosopher Christopher B. Bridges, “there’s something wrong if you can’t stand still.” If his words are to be taken at face value, Germany’s Thornesbreed must have sensed a problem in their sound. Consisting of competent but unexciting death metal, their 2003 debut The Splendour of the Repellent was followed up eight years later in 2011 by the 273.15 Degrees Below Freezing EP, which can, for the sake of expediency, be described as “Profanatica but not as good.” 2015 sees the band releasing their second full-length in the form of the enigmatically titled GTRD, marking another step in the band’s perpetual musical wanderings.” Wandering, meandering and change for change’s sake. Is that a recipe for success?

Blaze of Perdition – Near Death Revelations Review

Blaze of Perdition – Near Death Revelations Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on June 16, 2015 in 2015, Agonia Records, Black Metal, Polish Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 18 comments

“Metal addresses death regularly, running the gamut from cartoonish violence to sobering reflection, but ultimately we do our best to avoid reflecting on the most pressing death in our lives: our own. The fragility of life and our ever-present drift toward death is sometimes thrust into one’s immediate vision, forcing them to confront the terrifying final frontier for every human being. Such was the case for Polish black metal band Blaze of Perdition, who were involved in a terrible road accident in 2013 which tragically took the life of bassist Ikaroz and left vocalist S. and drummer Vizun seriously injured, with the former temporarily in a coma. Near Death Revelations, the band’s third studio album, sees men who witnessed the death of a friend and faced their own put this harrowing experience to music.” Music from the tunnel of light sounds pretty interesting.

Mefitic – Woes of Mortal Devotion Review

Mefitic – Woes of Mortal Devotion Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on June 10, 2015 in 2015, Death Metal, Italian Metal, Nuclear War Now! Productions, Reviews, Death Metal, 31 comments

“We don’t know what “progressive” truly entails anymore, what is or isn’t really black metal seems to always be up for debate, and through the salt and the flames I’m still confused as to how “brutal death metal with hardcore breakdowns” somehow isn’t deathcore. Eyes already glazed over?” Incantation worship…again.

Vargnatt – Grausammler Review

Vargnatt – Grausammler Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on May 28, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Eisenwald Records, German Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Shoegaze, 22 comments

“After a slobbery storm of critical fellatio that even the Farmer’s Almanac would’ve had a tough time predicting, Deafheaven’s Sunbather ended up toppling Kanye West’s Yeezus as the mainstream’s champion of unbridled artistic genius in 2013. Far from the first band to follow the post-black-gaze muse, the near-consensus on Deafheaven’s supposed brilliance was monumental, creating a prime climate for followers to begin putting their own spin on the style.” Sigh…. Deafheaven is creating clones again, and they are sunbathing!

Chabtan – The Kiss of Coaticue Review

Chabtan – The Kiss of Coaticue Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on May 18, 2015 in 2015, Deathcore, French Metal, Metalcore, Mighty Music, Reviews, Deathcore, Metalcore, 19 comments

“>We’re all familiar with the uncanny valley, yes? When something bears most of the aesthetic qualities of a living being, but a few crucial little details are off and the whole thing gives you the heebie-jeebies? Metal has such a valley, and the ambiguous beast called “modern metal” lives there.” We know you all secretly love deathcore.