Dr. A.N. Grier

Shine on you crazy (King) Diamond.

Ghost Avenue – Impact Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 26, 2017 in 2017, Heavy Metal, Norwegian Metal, Pitch Black Records, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 16 comments

“It goes without saying that to enjoy music reviewing, you have to also enjoy the discovery and research of an album just as much as writing about it. And that doesn’t mean just the good records from your favorite bands. It means every album you get your hands on. But, even if I could review just the good records and albums from my favorite groups, I’m not sure I would want to. I have to say, while I love reviewing records from my go-to groups, there’s something fun and stress-free about grabbing a record from an unknown band. It’s like watching the World Series between two teams you don’t care about.” Zero drama metal.

Wolvennest – Wolvennest Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 20, 2017 in 2017, Austrian Metal, Belgian Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Rock, Van Records, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Rock, 18 comments

“Back in December of 2015, Der Blutharsch and the Infinite Church of the Leading Hand released a three-track offering called The Wolvennest Sessions. A year later, a reconstruction occurred and two of those three tracks were Botoxed and sent scurrying away to a new home. At this new home, these two ditties partnered with three new friends to produce a five-track debut of ambient music clocking in at fifty-five minutes. Within this handful of tracks lies a hint of black, a little doom, and a touch of rock that sends the listener tumbling headlong down Wolvennest’s drug-induced rabbit hole.” Holes, nests – this has it all.

Helheim – landawarijaR Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 13, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Viking Metal, Black Metal, Viking Metal, 35 comments

“I think everyone feels a little relief when a year comes to an end. I’m not quite sure why this is—considering that January 1st is just as busy as December 31st—but the phenomenon is real. Be it my real job or my fake one, there’s plenty to get done before the year’s end. Between grading and submitting them, there was still the task of cataloging promos this year’s records and preparing for the Season of Lists.” AMG is the ONLY job!

Draugsól – Volaða Land Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 10, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Death Metal, Icelandic Metal, Reviews, Signal Rex, Black Metal, Death Metal, 14 comments

“It’s no secret that—following a legacy now two decades old—black metal is synonymous with Scandinavia. For most, this refers to Norway and Sweden, but, depending on who you ask, this may also include Finland and Iceland. Regardless if these countries meet the rules for the “Scandinavia” tag, they have a plethora of black metal bands, with legacies all their own. And I thank that goat-headed deity for that.” Feeling Scandinavia, looking frozen tundra.

Mistur – In Memoriam [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 9, 2017 in 2016, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Melodic Death Metal, Norwegian Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Viking Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Viking Metal, 97 comments

“If you look back through the top ten archives of the site, you’ll find it’s not uncommon to see a band on a list that was never reviewed by us. If a promo doesn’t come through our hand-hewn bone doors, it doesn’t get reviewed. But, even with that rule in place, there’re just too many promos arriving on a weekly basis to catch them all. What is uncommon is an album that not only landed on a couple lists but also took the top spot.” The embargo must be broken!

Uprising – Uprising [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 8, 2017 in 2016, Black Metal, German Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Wolfsgrimm Records, Black Metal, 24 comments

“Why we would be receiving a promo (with a 2017 release date) for a record that has been out since March of 2016 is beyond me. Well, it’s not beyond me because this sort of thing happens all the time. Sometimes it occurs because of a band’s recent signing and re-release of that album or, other times, it’s because a new distribution deal sends the record overseas. Regardless the reason for the delay, I couldn’t pass up a last-minute TYMHM for Uprising’s self-titled debut.” Another minor gem from us to you. Now buy us a beer.

Insulters – Metal Still Means Danger Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 5, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Reviews, Spanish Metal, Thrash Metal, Unholy Prophecies, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 20 comments

“Do you smell that? No? Breath deeper? Now do you smell it? Nope, it wasn’t me or the dog. That is the flatulence of another year. Forced out the sphincter of 2016, 2017 promises to be better than the worm-ridden large intestine it was shat from. Actually, twenty-seventeen doesn’t promise shit.” Doc loves the smell of blackened sphincter in the mourning.

Master’s Hammer – Formulæ [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 22, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Czech Metal, Jihosound Recordings, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Black Metal, 20 comments

“Well, it’s finally here. After months of harassment by many of our more aggressive commenters, my review of the newest Master’s Hammer record has arrived.” Now leave us alone, you creepers!

Arcade Messiah – III [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 15, 2016 in 2016, Irish Metal, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Rock, Stereohead Records, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Rock, 37 comments

“As I sit here on a snow-covered porch, watching the snow dissipate below the rising sun, it dawns on me just how much I dislike the term “post.” I hate Post-It notes, post holes, fence posts, and (the worst offender of them all) post-hole diggers. I hate the terms “post” (position), “flagposts” (they’re fucking “flagpoles”), and “man-posts” (penises). But, for how much I hate all these terms, I hate post-black, post-rock, post-hardcore, and post-metal the most.” Post no bills (or man-posts).

Dark Portrait – A Harrowing Atrocity Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 15, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Gothic Metal, Greek Metal, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Xperiment XIII, Black Metal, Gothic Metal, Symphonic Metal, 23 comments

“It was with great reluctance that I took Dark Portrait’s A Harrowing Atrocity for review. It’s nothing against the band, but with the end of the year deadlines looming, TYMHM articles to write, and a top-ten list to hash out, there is little time for those unfortunate albums whose label thought it appropriate to release in the blackest month of the year.” From the promo dead pit comes…blackness.