Kenstrosity

Destroying AMG's metal cred from within.

Kollapse – Sult Review

By Kenstrosity on June 22, 2021 in Reviews, Hardcore, Post-Hardcore, Post-Metal, 22 comments

“Far be it from me to start my analysis with a conclusion, but Sult is a cool record. Kollapse’s sound lacks the same sonic density of most of the extreme metal scene, but Sult deals heavy blows to the cranium just as well without all that. Part of that is due to the meaty bass tone, which bustles about the record with all the grace of an angry bull on anabolic steroids. That’s a good thing, by the way. Additionally, riffs abound across these tight forty-one minutes, discordant and dissonant as often as they are stripped down.” Sult yourself.

Firienholt – By the Waters of Awakening Review

By Kenstrosity on June 14, 2021 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Dungeon Synth, 19 comments

“Firienholt sound pretty much exactly as you’d expect based solely on this album art. Falling somewhere in the center of a Venn diagram split between atmospheric black metal, symphonic folk-ish metal, and dungeonsynth, By the Waters of Awakening offers an experience that not only relaxes and soothes, but also evokes a desire for bone-chilling winter to return forthwith. Tambourines, flutes, strings, trumpets and French horns, and glistening synths decorate a light dusting of blackened frost across a wondrous landscape of mournful melodies and heartfelt verses. This is not an album for headbanging.” Serenity now!

Mental Cruelty – A Hill to Die Upon Review

By Kenstrosity on May 24, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Deathcore, Melodic Black Metal, Slam, 72 comments

“Everyone loves a good comeback story. For German brutal deathcore quintet Mental Cruelty, their comeback story begins in 2018, wherein they rolled up on your beach brandishing a weapon of divine destruction named Pergatorium. Then, Inferis dropped less than a year later. To my dismay, that record abandoned much of what made Pergatorium fun and compelling, instead resorting to cheap genre tricks, lifeless breakdowns and unsatisfying symphonics. Looking back, I probably overrated Inferis by a half-point, such was my disappointment with the album after such a strong debut. Enter third installment A Hill to Die Upon.” Obsessed by (Mental) Cruelty.

Book of Wyrms – Occult New Age Review

By Kenstrosity on May 4, 2021 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 9 comments

“In my review for sophomore effort Remythologizer, I criticized the band’s use of fluffy instrumentals, the lack of structure in their songwriting, and propensity to abandon their best ideas before they had a chance to bloom. Most of those detractors are absent from Occult New Age, and it makes a world of difference.” Diet of Wyrms.

Crypts of Despair – All Light Swallowed Review

By Kenstrosity on April 19, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 24 comments

“The album title, the artwork, the music—it all fits the image of a virulent black cloud looming over an entire world, extinguishing the sun and stars only to then extinguish the life of all that is flesh and bone. Catastrophic riffs swirl through murky depths spattered with trem-picked abrasions, retched guttural emanations gurgle alongside bloodcurdling shrieks, and the world around them disintegrates amongst the falling ash as is their will. Lithuania quartet Crypts of Despair deals in the kind of metal that is not to be survived.” Grave new world.

Bushido Code – The Ronin Review

By Kenstrosity on April 14, 2021 in Reviews, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 17 comments

“I’m a sucker for odd combos. Purple and yellow for an action movie poster instead of the boring and overused red-blue scheme? Sign me the fuck up. A crossover that’s actually also a convertible? I think that’s fucking stupid but sign me the fuck up anyway. So when I saw that Pennsylvania/North Carolina quintet Bushido Code’s debut The Ronin came with the thrash metal tag, artwork that looks like a cross between Overwatch concept art and West Coast style graffiti, and stitched together with Japanese samurai themes which may or may not extend somewhat beyond pure aesthetics, I felt compelled to cover it.” Lone Wolf and club.

The Beast of Nod – Multiversal Review

By Kenstrosity on March 30, 2021 in Reviews, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 17 comments

“The Beast of Nod’s Vampira: Disciple of Chaos was one of the coolest indie death metal albums back in 2018. The icy hunk of sharp, odd prog-death featured unique songwriting, delightfully insane humor, an entertaining story with fascinating characters, and a thousand hooks sharpened with intent to kill. Wild seems an apt descriptor, especially when you take into account the extensive lore that the project created to accompany their musical arm. While rough around the edges at times, that first icebreaker put The Beast of Nod on my map, and the maps of several more of our writers.” Nod plod.

Unflesh – Inhumation Review

By Kenstrosity on March 29, 2021 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 43 comments

“Unlike the New Hampshire trio’s debut Savior, which ranks among my earliest Bandcamp purchases, Inhumation flows like hot blood through open veins. Where the debut rode through a chaotic blizzard of technicality, Inhumation builds upon an ensemble of tight, catchy riffs, blackened leads and throbbing bass counterpoint. Drama drips from the walls of this cathedral of melodic tech-death. Excess has been excised from the exercise, exhibiting only that which enhances the experience.” All hail the Unflesh.

Mare Cognitum – Solar Paroxysm Review

By Kenstrosity on March 15, 2021 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 71 comments

“There’s atmospheric black metal, and then there’s Mare Cognitum. Two sides of the same planet. On the former, the sphere is completely devoid of life, eroded by endless recycling of ideas to the point of being uninhabitable. Then you have Mare Cognitum, a one-man force of nature who consistently releases quality material. Mastermind and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Buczarski’s side of the atmoblack world thrives against the eroding tides of time.” Renewable energies.

Autarkh – Form in Motion Review

By Kenstrosity on March 9, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Electronic, 60 comments

“My taste in metal rapidly expanded after Autarkh’s mastermind Michel Nienhuis obliterated my understanding of the universe with his atom-blasting Dodecahedron project. Crushing dissonance met twisted melody and horrific atmosphere in a package that was challenging but morbidly inviting not once, but twice. Autarkh falls far from that tree, not at all a continuation of Michel’s past efforts. This I respect and encourage.” Form before function.