Itchymenace

Swollen opinions that scratch the surface
The Howling Void – Into Darkness Ever More Profound [Things You Might Have Missed 2023]

The Howling Void – Into Darkness Ever More Profound [Things You Might Have Missed 2023]

The Howling Void is a one-man project from San Antonio Texas. Into Darkness Ever More Profound is their seventh album and first in four years. I haven’t delved deeply into the rest of the catalog, but the prevailing sound is atmospheric funeral doom. There are flirtations with more folksy elements and instrumentation, but the vibe is always slow and introspective.” Rage against the Void.

Silent Tiger – Twist of Fate Review

Silent Tiger – Twist of Fate Review

“As we’ve established, Silent Tiger are a band that excels at album cover artwork. Their 2020 debut, Ready for Attack, saw their feline mascot stealthily emerging from the chilled, blue haze of a Bob Ross painting. Not to rest on the laurels of that bar-setting accomplishment, Silent Tiger crushed all other comers with the artwork to Twist of Fate.” Crouching tiger, hidden schmaltz.

Prong – State of Emergency Review

Prong – State of Emergency Review

“It was 33 years ago that a young, impressionable Itchymenace was in Musicland and noticed the artwork on Prong’s breakthrough album, Beg to Differ was by Pushead, the same dude who did the Metallica shirts. Thinking it must be good by association, I immediately purchased the cassette and eagerly placed it in my Walkman. It wasn’t love at first listen but there was something there. While not as polished sounding as …And Justice for All or Master of Puppets, the riffs were good in a different way. They had a raw edge that eventually won me over. Subsequent albums would convert this reviewer into a life-long fan and seeing Prong in 1995 solidified my opinion that they were unsung heroes of the metal world. Fast forward to 2023 and Steel Druhm waving the latest release under my nose along with threats to not “Virgin Steele” it. Poke, prod, Prong.

Vandenberg – Sin Review

Vandenberg – Sin Review

“Here I go again, going down the only road I’ve ever known – reviewing 80s era metal heroes trying to recapture lightning in a Zima bottle. If you had MTV in 1987, then, in-between Tawny Kitaen’s automotive gymnastics and David Coverdale’s expertly waxed chest, you witnessed Dutch guitar maestro, Adrian Vandenberg play one of the most iconic solos of the era.” Heart burn redux.

Nuclear Winter – Seagrave Review

Nuclear Winter – Seagrave Review

“The first thing that interested me about Nuclear Winter is that they’re from Zimbabwe. I don’t know much about Zimbabwe, and I’ve never reviewed or even listened to a record from Zimbabwe, but I thought that maybe metal produced there would have some unique sounds and textures. I quickly found that not to be the case. Seagrave sounds like a thousand other European symphonic power metal-type records.” Uranium graves and winter burials.

A Dark Halo – Omnibus One Review

A Dark Halo – Omnibus One Review

“What is cyber metal? That’s the question that I got stuck on as I was snorkeling through the dregs of the promo bin and came across A Dark Halo’s sophomore album, Omnibus One. I had never heard of this band (billed as cyber metal) before but maybe they were all robots or some sick shit like that. A quick scan of the liner notes further whetted my curiosity with mention of “a fierce display of ludicrously heavy guitars.” Since I love anything that’s ludicrous and I love heavy guitar, it seemed like I had found a golden nugget in a sea of turds.” Cyber warriors.

Virgin Steele – The Passion of Dionysus Review

Virgin Steele – The Passion of Dionysus Review

“It seemed like a fun challenge. Like the kid you dared to eat a tater tot after its been up someone else’s nose, I couldn’t resist the temptation to take on 79 bloated minutes of excessive, symphonic concept metal from one of Long Island’s unsung legends. Maybe it’s masochism, maybe it’s the need for attention, maybe it’s a Fight Club-like desire to stand outside the door long enough with my boots and shirts that Steel Druhm will invite me in to Project Mayhem and I’ll get a Judas Priest promo. Either way, the boss was clearly done with Virgin Steele after his previous, less-than-flattering reviews and no one else was touching this thing.” Steel avoidance.

Danava – Nothing But Nothing Review

Danava – Nothing But Nothing Review

“Are you ready to have your face scorched? Danava may sound like a brand of European yogurt but there’s no fruit on the bottom here, just shards of broken beer bottles and rusty guitar strings. The band is a fierce and feisty quartet from Portland who deliver new waves of metal by the spiked wheelbarrow load. Get your tetanus shots before spinning Nothing But Nothing because there’s plenty of jagged, gnarly riffs to lock your jaw wide open in wonder. Looking like Spinal Tap and sounding like Di’Anno era Maiden, these boys have packed their bong with a heavy strain of metal, stoner rock and prog and forged a record that will make you want to drag race your carpeted van up the rainbow bridge and straight into Valhalla.” Nothing but RAWK.

Outlaw – Reaching Beyond Assiah Review

Outlaw – Reaching Beyond Assiah Review

Outlaw is a young band hailing from Sao Paulo, Brazil by way of Hamburg, Germany. They play a dense, melodic style of black metal. Or is it a more blackened style of melodic death metal? I confess this is one of those times where I’m not sure what to call it. Their third full-length album, Reaching Beyond Assiah may have a title that reduces Dr. Grier to boyish snickering, but make no mistakes, it has plenty of brutal riffage to kick your Assiah.” Breaking the jaw, breaking the jaw.