Doom_et_Al

Mystic Circle – Mystic Circle Review

By Doom_et_Al on February 4, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, 22 comments

“In the 2010 Will Ferrell/Mark Wahlburg movie, The Other Guys, we get a glimpse of what it’s like to be the unglamorous backup to the main act. Ferrell and Wahlburg play second fiddle to Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson’s badass, heroic cops; the hard-working foil to the flashy heroes, who get far less respect and attention than they deserve. I imagine, when not getting up to the usual metal shenanigans, that the creators of Mystic Circle can relate to The Other Guys. Formed way back in 1992, Mystic Circle has, in various iterations, released seven respected, if not adored, studio albums before calling it a day in 2007, having never reached the heights of some of their contemporaries.” Satan in the circle.

The Mists From the Mountains – Monumental – The Temple of Twilight Review

By Doom_et_Al on January 30, 2022 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 40 comments

“If raw black metal, like Old Nick or Black Cilice, is 99% chocolate dissolved in disquietingly malodorous milk, then Monumental – The Temple of Twilight is 45% milk chocolate in milky milk, with neither too much, nor too little, sugar. And nothing else. This is the basic recipe, almost unaltered and unadorned. You’ve had this a hundred times before and the mileage you get from this collection will entirely depend on how fond you are of this stuff.” In the nightside eclair.

King Bastard – It Came From the Void Review

By Doom_et_Al on January 13, 2022 in Reviews, Doom Metal, 55 comments

“It’s become a joke in the AMG tea-room that stoner doom, while often quite enjoyable, very rarely stands out. The languid, hazy riffs and easy atmosphere make for music that flirts cheekily with memorability, but rarely commits to it. Part of the reason, I suspect, is that most of this music operates in a slightly blunted emotional frequency, reflecting the effect being stoned has on the listener. Enter New York foursome, King Bastard, with their debut It Came From the Void. Crashing in with all the subtlety of day-old bong water, it’s a trip all right. But it’s one you should consider taking.” Void bastards.

Doom_et_Al’s and Dear Hollow’s Top Ten(ish) of 2021

By Doom_et_Al on December 27, 2021 in Blog Posts, 126 comments

Lists are a gift and Doom_et_Al and Dear Hollow have presents to distribute. Prepare for tidings of anger and joy.

Violet Cold – Empire of Love [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Doom_et_Al on December 22, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2021, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 44 comments

“In a genre of music that is often deliberately controversial, the cover of Empire of Love by Violet Cold may be one of the most provocative of the year. But unlike other artists where this seems, at times, needless (ahem, Bloody Cumshot, ahem), Empire of Love’s provocation serves a serious and noble purpose. Mastermind Emin Guliyev’s native Azerbaijan has the worst human rights record for LGBTQI people in all of Europe. There is no protection for this community, and atrocities and hate-crimes against them are a depressingly regular occurrence. So to superimpose the Azerbaijan flag onto the pride flag is both a middle finger to his nation’s bigotry and hate, and a challenge to black metal fans who believe the subgenre must conform to their narrow interpretation of it.” Pride and justice.

Ancient Mastery – Chapter One: Across the Mountains of the Drämmarskol [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Doom_et_Al on December 14, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2021, Black Metal, 24 comments

“You’re going to be bombarded by TYMHM vying for your attention in the coming days/weeks, so here’s the elevator pitch for Ancient Mastery’s debut, Chapter One: Across the Mountains of the Drämmarskol: one man black metal band meets dungeon synth, but synth straight from “The Final Countdown.” Throw in a story about journeys and wizards, and a cover ripped straight from Paysage d’Hiver, and the signs are about as promising as a great deal from Honest Hal’s Used Motors.” What do we need to do to put you in this album today?

Hunters Moon – The Great Pandemonium Review

By Doom_et_Al on December 3, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, 24 comments

“Australia is trying to kill you. 21 of the 25 most venomous snakes in the world are found there. It features cone snails that shoot literal poisonous harpoons at your feet; stone fish covered in hundreds of perfectly camouflaged needles, just waiting for a tender limb to sink into; enormous box jellyfish; satanic, giant centipedes; cassowaries; malignant kangaroos; and some of the funkiest infectious diseases known to man. No wonder the metal from Oz is so goddamn righteous. Entering the fray, like a snake coiling around a Christmas tree (which happened this week), is black metal band, Hunters Moon. Formed way back in 2006, The Great Pandemonium is, somewhat startlingly, the band’s first full-length.” The fire down under the world.

Dauþuz – Vom schwarzen Schmied Review

By Doom_et_Al on November 21, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, 7 comments

“German black metal band Dauþuz (Death) have created an discography based on mining in Europe. Vom schwarzen Schmied (Of the Blacksmith) is their fourth full-length, following 2019’s Monvmenvm, which received the TYMHM treatment from this esteemed blog. An enthusiastic Muppet called it an underground (haha) gem, extolling its “psychotic vocals” and “plentiful riffs.” I was slightly less enamored, and found it an entertaining—if unremarkable—collection. Have this Germanic duo struck gold this time?” Dig dug.

Fornhem – Stämman från Berget Review

By Doom_et_Al on November 10, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, 24 comments

“What a month and a bit it’s been, huh? The notoriously stingy site that is AMG has suddenly begun handing out 4.0s and 4.5s like candy on Halloween. We’ve been awash with blazingly fast tech-death, weird disso-death, avant-garde black metal, stoner, and prog. Know what we haven’t had much of? Good ole fashioned black metal. You know what I’m talking about: the classic stuff. The records you put on when someone says they like “all genres of music.” The collections that scare your non-metal friends. Well, Fornhem is here to try to join the party with a refreshingly unpretentious platter of Nordic black metal.” No bergrets.

Hex A.D. – Funeral Tango for Gods & Men Review

By Doom_et_Al on October 26, 2021 in Reviews, Doom Metal, 12 comments

“Much like a first love, a first review will always hold a special place in your heart. I popped my AMG cherry on Hex A.D.’s cheeky 2018 offering, Netherworld Triumphant. While dad-metal isn’t usually my thing, the confident and eclectic blend of influences the band served up, ranging from Cathedral to Sabbath, may not have been original, but it sure was a lot of fun. 2020’s follow-up, Astrotongue in the Electric Garden, dialed up the sex references even further, doubled down on the psychedelia, and signposted a band on the cusp of something great. When Funeral Tango for Gods and Men dropped, I took one look at the zany cover and figured this was it: these Norwegians were ready to ascend.” Funerary fuzz.