El Cuervo

I'm not deliberately contrary.

Lamentations – Passion of Depression Review

By El Cuervo on November 18, 2022 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 18 comments

“In 2015, Singapore’s Lamentations demonstrated real potential with a debut entitled Echoes in the Wind. I’d always kept a weather eye on the Lamentations social media, but it took nearly 7 years for the sequel entitled Passion of Depression. 2022 sees the frontman Danny Jacob now collaborating with the members of his sister band Monotheist, and boasting a host of guest musicians including members and ex-members of Cynic, Extol, and Black Crown Initiate. Their Bandcamp page suggests that the band may now be based in the US, and I remained excited to hear how things had progressed with such a long period of gestation.” Lamentations of the wicked.

Sede Vacante – Conium Review

By El Cuervo on November 3, 2022 in Reviews, Gothic Metal, Symphonic Metal, 15 comments

“Certain assumptions will be made about gothic/symphonic metal bands. They will be fronted by a woman. They will prioritize strings as the most important melodic instrument. They will be Finnish. In the case of Sede Vacante and their sophomore release entitled Conium, these are at least partly right. You’ll note the female singer centralized in the band photo below. Strings do indeed feature. But the one sheet informs me that the band is both Finnish and Greek. What a revelation! Dusk aspiration.

Parius – The Signal Heard throughout Space Review

By El Cuervo on October 10, 2022 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, 37 comments

““This reeks of your elitism.” The words that every self-important purveyor of opinions at AngryMetalGuy.com wants to hear. As a fan of all things progressive and experimental, Philadelphia’s Parius was recommended to me by our esteemed editorial staff. Their third record entitled The Signal Heard throughout Space tells the conceptual tale of a space traveler journeying to respond to a distress signal. Parius examined rock operas from Jesus Christ Superstar to Ziltoid the Omniscient in producing five albums’ worth of music, subsequently distilled into these 60 minutes.” A month at the opera.

Abhor – Sex Sex Sex (Ceremonia Daemonis Anticristi) Review

By El Cuervo on September 25, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, 11 comments

“Cometh the day, cometh the dissemination of yet more black metal. I am reliably informed by the album’s one sheet that Abhor and their new release entitled Sex Sex Sex (Ceremonia Daemonis Anticristi) is “anticipated.” Quite by whom is unclear, considering that these Italians have toiled in obscurity for 8 albums across 27 years without generating much in the way of “buzz.” It also seems unnecessary to include biographical information about the band when confronted with such a title. I couldn’t resist the allure of Sex Sex Sex irrespective of the band producing it, such is my delight at the premise of satanic copulation.” Sexy beasts.

Taxi Caveman – Galactic Slope Review

By El Cuervo on September 11, 2022 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, Stoner Metal, 15 comments

“I’ll not proclaim any prior knowledge of this band, nor even a particular affinity for their advertised genre of stoner metal. These Polish gents were selected on the bases of an excellent name and central conceit of an album featuring just 2 tracks over 30 minutes. Over that length of time, I was at least assured that it would not be too taxing to review Taxi Caveman. Interestingly, Galactic Slope is described on its one sheet as a sophomore bridge between their debut and third album, the expression of which suggests to me that it’s not a substantial release in its own right. Given there are but 2 tracks, and at great risk of editorial wrath, I’ll take each in turn.” Crazy taxi.

Dreadnought – The Endless Review

By El Cuervo on August 23, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, 45 comments

“Briefly summarizing Dreadnought’s music is impossible. You could clip a 5-minute passage from anywhere on The Endless and encounter something different from any other 5-minute passage. But, in short, the key ingredients include progressive, post and black metal, and also jazz. Occasionally shimmering guitars, looped rhythms and a dense, textured approach lean into post-genres, while the overall package is delivered through rangy, expansive songs which demonstrate progressive proclivities.” Endless dread knots.

Barbarian – Viperface Review

By El Cuervo on August 9, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 14 comments

“Some metal bands progress through their career; their origins marked by unbridled energy and the rawest material of their lives, they develop to assimilate more influences and sand their edges into a smoother product. Some metal bands do not. They bluntly hammer the same music into listeners’ brains, relentlessly seeking the Riff of Power. Italy’s Barbarian put the fist in knuckle-dragging metal, battering the world with heavy music.” Red meat for meatheads.

Box – Cherry Blossoms at Night Review

By El Cuervo on August 5, 2022 in Reviews, Post-Metal, Thrash Metal, 14 comments

“Madam X and Steel Druhm wield immense power over promo distribution. Their headline genre summaries dictate whether a promo will be chosen for review or not. Among the detritus of adjectiveless “stoner metal” and “old school black metal,” the memorable “thrash prog with darkwave” stood out like a beacon. Such description is conferred on Oregon’s Box and their record entitled Cherry Blossoms at Night.” Cherry orchards and cold lakes.

Narakah – Nemesis Cloak Review

By El Cuervo on July 6, 2022 in Reviews, 23 comments

I always enjoy reviewing grindcore. You can rely on its pace, energy and brevity, ensuring that it won’t be a chore to summarise. Narakah, sporting just a couple of other releases under their belt, has arrived in 2022 with a 20-minute “full-length” album entitled Nemesis Cloak. Despite this band’s relative youth, the members include alumni of a host of Pittsburgh metal and hardcore groups, including Slaves BC First Day Dead and Meth Quarry.” Cloak of Grinding.

Saor – Origins Review

By El Cuervo on June 22, 2022 in Reviews, Folk Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 45 comments

“We’re now a decade into Andy Marshall’s uniquely Scottish take on metal, blending furious black metal with majestic melodies and Scottish folk instrumentation. Saor is an experiment which has demonstrated great results, with the likes of Aura and Guardians being some of the strongest folk/black metal albums of the 2010s. 2019’s Forgotten Paths was solid but easily my least favorite release, but with a new decade comes a new record called Origins. Is it a return to Saor’s roots, or does it represent a new beginning?” Roots, icy roots.