Madam X

Den Mother ov Evile.

Bethlehem – Bethlehem Review

By Madam X on November 29, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Doom Metal, German Metal, Industrial Metal, International Metal, Polish Metal, Prophecy Productions, Reviews, Russian Metal, Uncategorized, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Industrial Metal, 26 comments

“With Christmas just around the corner, it gives me wry amusement that Bethlehem are about to unleash their latest slab of blackened thrash on the unsuspecting masses. Tis the season and Bethlehem are in a very giving kind of mood!” Grim yule tidings.

In Flames – Battles Review

By Madam X on November 14, 2016 in 2016, Melodic Death Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 119 comments

“Those that have followed In Flames from the very beginning, know that the Swedes have a divisive melodic death discography that extends nearly as long as my arm. From the 90s to the 00s it’s difficult to believe that today’s In Flames is even the same band.” En fuego or down in flames?

Black Hole Generator – A Requiem for Terra Review

By Madam X on November 14, 2016 in 2016, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 7 comments

“Give this some thought for a second: you’re putting together a black metal dream team, who would it include? I wonder how many of you would arrive at noted producer and Vulture Industries’ frontman – Bjørnar E. Nilsen, and guitar aficionados Arve Isdal (Enslaved, I, Audrey Horne) and Gjermund Fredheim (Taake, Orkan).” Super groups doing stranger things.

The Black Scorpio Underground – Necrochasm Review

By Madam X on October 22, 2016 in 2016, Ambient Metal, American Metal, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Husk Records, Industrial Metal, Prison Tatt Records, Reviews, Ambient Metal, Black Metal, Industrial Metal, Noise Metal, 16 comments

“There are some albums that scream out for a review… Opeth’s Sorceress was certainly in no danger of being overlooked. We toyed with you a little, made you wait, but it was on the cards you’d get a review – eventually. The Black Scorpio Underground’s Necrochasm will never be one of those “sought-after” albums. In fact, it’s tough to even mention these two bands in the same review, purely because they’re complete opposites.” Scary has a sound.

Eschatos – The Grand Noir Review

By Madam X on October 6, 2016 in 2016, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Latvian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Starwolf Records, Black Metal, Progressive Metal, 24 comments

“It’s been said by some that Moldova sucks, but when it comes to metal, Latvia does not! Hailing from Latvia’s capital city (Riga), Eschatos have been constructing their brand of avant-garde/progressive black metal since 2012.” Better black than red.

Pain – Coming Home Review

By Madam X on September 21, 2016 in 2016, Industrial Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, Industrial Metal, 46 comments

“I’ve never quite got my head around open-plan office space and those waist-height cubicles. Yes, your hive of corporate activity looks wonderful photographed from seven different angles; prominently displayed on your enterprises website. Oh and let’s not forget about the collaboration! But what’s the cost? Stress-induced irritability, hostility towards creativity and productivity, anxiety and ongoing health issues. Oh wait, collaboration just flew out the window… Where am I going with this? Music. More specifically, metal. Pain have proved themselves inconsistent over the years and as with most things in life, with the good comes the bad.” Good pain, bad pain, you know we’ve had our share….

Unbegotten – Proem of the Unborn Review

By Madam X on August 13, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Forever Plagued Records, Reviews, Spanish Metal, Black Metal, 20 comments

“The phrase “Spain is different!” seems to roll off the tongue of many a Spaniard. And rightly so; as a country its culture, cuisine and even the architecture, are markedly recognizable in flavor, style, look and feel. So how does that relate to Unbegotten’s debut release Proem of the Unborn? Have these mutinous Spaniards turned against their Spanish roots? Or have they perhaps added a little Flamenco or maybe some Latin pizzazz to their black metal offering?” Spain’s Unbegotten isn’t that different after all…

Spire – Entropy Review

By Madam X on August 5, 2016 in 2016, Ambient Metal, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Ambient Metal, Black Metal, 9 comments

“Believe it or not the life of a music reviewer is not as glamorous as one would think. Yes, from time to time you’re invited to the likes of Thor’s Rock Opera in some trendy part of New York City, you’re jet-setting off to Chicago with tickets to Alehorn of Power IX, or you’re the first to get your grubby mitts on Swallow the Sun’s new triple album. Outside of those jaw-dropping moments though, reviewing consists of picking some unknown band/album off the promo sheet with your fingers tightly crossed hoping that what’s going to burst out of your monitors isn’t going to suck monkey balls. Aussie ambient/black metallers, Spire, was one of those random, finger-crossing, hope-for-the-best-expect-the-worst moments.” Sometimes you win and sometimes….

Caïna – Christ Clad in White Phosphorus Review

By Madam X on July 18, 2016 in 2016, Ambient Metal, Apocalyptic Witchcraft, Black Metal, English Metal, Reviews, Ambient Metal, Black Metal, 25 comments

“Dante Alighieri once said “The path to paradise begins in Hell.” Andy Curtis-Brignell and Laurence Taylor, the backbone of Caïna, hold these powerful words true and no album makes this more apparent than their new outing – Christ Clad in White Phosphorus.” If you’re going through Hell, keep going.

Sink – Ark of Contempt and Anger Review

By Madam X on June 20, 2016 in 2016, Drone, Finnish Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Svart Records, Drone, Non-metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Progressive Rock, 45 comments

“Just like death and taxes, you can count on Svart Records to artfully bestow the weird and the wonderful. Ark of Contempt and Anger’s promo blurb begins by saying that ‘Sink have once again created an oddly compelling and strangely enchanting album that is truly in a league of its own.’ Add to that, Sink promises rich and complex compositions woven with enigmatic lyrics, and I’ll admit I had a hard time resisting this.” Plus there’s a cute dog on the cover!