Saunders

Unleashing Hell from Down Under: Blood, sweat, venom & beers

Myrkur – M Review

By Saunders on August 18, 2015 in Black Metal, Danish Metal, Folk Metal, Relapse, Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Post-Metal, 66 comments

“Danish one woman black metal project Myrkur burst onto the scene in a shroud of mystery with her debut self-titled EP last year. When her identity was revealed to be New York based artist Amalie Bruun of indie-pop duo Ex-Cops, the fickle factions of the wider metal community were seemingly more concerned about her apparently dubious metal cred than the frigid blast of old school Norwegian black metal, post-metal atmospherics and melancholic folk the EP delivered.” Damn those fickle factions to Hell!

Majestic Downfall – …When Dead Review

By Saunders on August 11, 2015 in Death Metal, Doom Metal, Mexican Metal, Pulverised Records, Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 6 comments

I don’t know of many downfalls that could be described as majestic, nor had I previously crossed paths with these Mexican mercenaries, the brainchild of Jacobo Córdova from Zombiefication and various other underground bands. Perusing their background I discovered Majestic Downfall have been kicking round the traps for the best part of a decade, with …When Dead marking their fourth Long Player. Doom and death go together like ebony and ivory.

Chemical Burn – Raining Anvils Review

By Saunders on August 8, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Groove Metal, MegaSonic Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 5 comments

“Bust out your steel umbrellas, it’s raining fucking anvils! The thrashing Bay Area trio Chemical Burn return a decade after releasing their Bury Your Demons debut with an album that is not quite what it seems.” Do you like groove metal and rap-metal shoehorned into your thrash? Uh huh, that’s what I thought.

Lamb of God – VII: Sturm Und Drang Review

By Saunders on August 2, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Groove Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Uncategorized, Groove Metal, 36 comments

“As post-Pantera flagbearers for delivering modern American metal to the masses, Virginia’s Lamb of God has garnered similar levels of commercial success and popularity while keeping their heads above water as their profile has snowballed. Even in the face of inevitable detractors, Lamb of God’s workmanlike dedication and impressive work ethics on the road has firmly established the divisive veterans as one of metal’s most (commercially) adored and successful bands during the post-millennium era.” Is this a new beginning or the Lamb of La Mancha?

Dew-Scented – Intermination Review

By Saunders on June 22, 2015 in 2015, German Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 12 comments

“Apart from boasting the wimpiest band name this side of Raunchy, Germany’s Dew-Scented have built a substantial body of work since releasing their debut album Immortale back in 1996. Drawing influence from classic German thrash bloodlines and manipulating them into their own deathlier take on modern thrash, the band has plugged away through an almost comical amount of line-up changes to arrive at their tenth full-length album, Intermination.” Should you do the Dew?

Feral – Where Dead Dreams Dwell Review

By Saunders on June 2, 2015 in 2015, Cyclone Empire, Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Death Metal, 16 comments

“The festering stench of classic Swedish death metal is surely one of the most comforting and addictive scents in the metalverse. Try as I might to disregard the bulk of subpar bands pedaling the oversaturated style where bands are so often prone to lazily ripping off their idols with blatant plagiarism, when the words ‘old school Swedish death metal’ are thrown about I generally sit up and take notice.” Fun Fact: you can’t spell Feral without fear.

Feared – Synder Review

By Saunders on May 26, 2015 in 2015, Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Thrash Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 4 comments

“Swedish musician Ola Englund is a busy fellow. Between stints helping rejuvenate The Haunted on their solid return to form platter Exit Wounds and breathing a glimmer of life into the caveman corpse of Six Feet Under on their Unborn album, Englund has also built a solid and prolific output with his main band, Feared.” Sometimes simple death is good death.

Secrets of the Sky – Pathway Review

By Saunders on May 17, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Doom Metal, Metal Blade, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, 16 comments

“It’s a rare occurrence when a band completely floors me with a debut release. Not just show bright glimmers of potential mind you, but seriously blindside me with a sound that is fresh, unique and remarkably well developed for a first release. Such was the case when Oakland’s Secrets of the Sky seemingly emerged from nowhere with their brilliant opus To Sail Black Waters in 2013.” The hype is strong with this one.

Obsequiae – Aria of Vernal Tombs Review

By Saunders on May 10, 2015 in 20 Buck Spin, 2015, American Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, Uncategorized, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, 30 comments

“Minnesota’s medieval enthusiasts Obsequiae emerged from the ashes of Autumnal Winds and created an immediate impact in the underground metal scene with their exhilarating debut Suspended in the Brume of Eos. Now nearly four years following the debut, the trio of Tanner Anderson (guitars, bass, vocals), drummer Andrew Della Cagna and Spanish musician Vicente La Camera Mariño have written a monumental follow-up that takes their musical vision to its next logical progression.” Is this the black metal Album of the Year? The metal Album of the Year? Time will tell.

Acid King – Middle of Nowhere, Center of Everywhere Review

By Saunders on April 17, 2015 in American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Svart Records, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, 9 comments

“The stoner doom warriors, led by vocalist/guitarist Lori S. finally returned to the studio after a self imposed hiatus following the release of their excellent III long player a decade ago. The result is this anticipated fourth full-length album, entitled Middle of Nowhere, Center of Everywhere. So where do Acid King stand in 2015? Has a lengthy period of gestation resulted in a drastic detour from their long established and rarely tweaked formula?” Prolific they are not, but back they are.