El Cuervo

I'm not deliberately contrary.
In Vain – Solemn Review

In Vain – Solemn Review

By El Cuervo on April 16, 2024 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 128 comments

“In Vain were clearly one of the most exciting Norwegian bands in the 2010s, boasting 2 great releases across Aenigma and Currents. The latter was even my Album o’ the Year for 2018, resulting in my unreasonable expectations for a sequel. For those unfamiliar, imagine a more varied and melodic version of Borknagar; a convenient comparator in a year that has also featured a new release from those guys too. And good though that record undoubtedly is, Solemn beats it hands down.” Vain and glorious.

Tarot – Glimpse of the Dawn Review

Tarot – Glimpse of the Dawn Review

By El Cuervo on April 8, 2024 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 27 comments

“Eight years between a debut and sophomore album is a lifetime for a band. Members can leave, personalities can change, influences can shift. Australia’s Tarot unveiled its first full-length release in 2016, drawing inspiration from the likes of Uriah Heep and Rainbow. Now they’re primed for Glimpse of the Dawn, a sophomore release nearly a decade in the making. But 50 years between a scene’s heyday and bands now imitating the style? That’s a literal lifetime for many humans. As much as this may wound my parents, the 70s were a long time ago. So what do I make of Tarot’s anachronous sound?” Old hand, big gamble.

Lionheart – The Grace of a Dragonfly Review

Lionheart – The Grace of a Dragonfly Review

By El Cuervo on March 17, 2024 in Reviews, Hard Rock, 18 comments

“Anyone already familiar with the most popular, debatably metal bands of the 80s (Def Leppard, Whitesnake) will understand what’s going on with Lionheart. Big power chords in the verses, big vocals in the choruses, crunchy but accessible riffs, and an overly of keyboards that sometimes take the form of a piano and sometimes something synthier. Dragonfly largely makes for an upbeat, easy-going sort of listen.” Lions and bugs and Brits, oh my!

The Moor – Ombra Review

The Moor – Ombra Review

By El Cuervo on March 13, 2024 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 26 comments

“Those who know me know that Opeth is one of my favorite bands. Those who know me well know that Still Life is my favorite Opeth record. Those who know me extremely well know that “The Moor” was the first Opeth track I heard. The prospect of anything remotely resembling their golden period of music from 1999 until 2005 is very exciting to me. It was on this basis that I chose to review Ombra by Italy’s The Moor, especially in light of the “progressive metal” tag on its one sheet.” Is less Moor?

Isenordal – Requiem for Eirênê Review

Isenordal – Requiem for Eirênê Review

By El Cuervo on March 7, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, 15 comments

“There’s one music quality I treasure above all else: dynamism. Without conscious thought I find myself drifting towards music in the promo pool promising varied or creative music. In the case of Washington’s Isenordal, the one sheet for their third full-length release, entitled Requiem for Eirênê, described music fusing funeral doom, black metal and neofolk. Few albums pledge such dynamism so I was eager to hear their take on this blend, and discover whether it would be as exciting as the description.” Dynamism or death.

Aureole – Alunarian Bellmaster Review

Aureole – Alunarian Bellmaster Review

By El Cuervo on February 9, 2024 in Reviews, Ambient, Atmospheric Black Metal, 23 comments

“What unifies the uniquely melodic take on funeral doom heard in Drown and the cavernous death metal of Tchornobog? The answer is Ukraine’s Markov Soroka, the multi-instrumentalist behind both projects, and also a third considered today: Aureole. Alunarian Bellmaster represents his third record under this title, but the first in 8 years.” Bells in a warzone.

Savaged – Night Stealer Review

Savaged – Night Stealer Review

By El Cuervo on January 31, 2024 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 39 comments

“Sometimes a band offers exactly what you want. One glance at Night Stealer by Savaged gave me all I needed to choose it from the promo dump. A roaring space panther scratching a moon in front of an exploding planet? This is exactly the volume-upping, beer-downing, old man-moshing palate cleanser that I needed after a black metal review. Though Spain may not be known for such loutish behavior, Savaged are keen to stake a place for it at heavy/speed metal’s dinner table.” Wild days, Savaged nights.

Vemod – The Deepening Review

Vemod – The Deepening Review

By El Cuervo on January 23, 2024 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, 21 comments

“The sophomore album can be a make-or-break moment. Does a band double-down on what made their first release remarkable, or dilute its impact and fade into obscurity? The Deepening by Vemod is such a record, although comes so long after the debut that the band might as well be new again. 12 years is a long gap and a long time in which a band may reinvent itself. The Deepening finds these Norwegians deepening their own lore through a new take on their original black metal – but has the gap afforded their new sound quality too?” Deep or sunken?