Kenstrosity

Destroying AMG's metal cred from within.

Damnation’s Hammer – Unseen Planets, Deadly Spheres Review

By Kenstrosity on February 25, 2019 in 2019, British Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Massacre Records, Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, 71 comments

“As per the usual and against all wisdom, I judged an album by its artwork. I liked the high detail monochrome planet-scape. I liked the logo. I liked the name of the album. And just like that, all requirements for entry into TheKenWord’s listening queue lined up in perfect syzygy. Anyway, here I am with Damnation’s Hammer and their sophomore record, Unseen Planets, Deadly Spheres, knowing absolutely nothing about the band or their sound other than that they call the UK home and that their label tags them “heavy metal.” What do I discover? This is far more complex than just “heavy metal.” Yet, it’s all so simple. Let me explain.” Crouching planet, hidden sphere.

Cold Colours – Northernmost Review

By Kenstrosity on February 22, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 49 comments

“It’s at times like these—wherein I pick up something from the promo bin of a genre which I haven’t visited in a while—that I am reminded of my indiscriminate taste in metal. In this instance I have selected Northernmost, the fifth installment of atmospheric death-doom from Minneapolis quintet Cold Colours. This will be my first foray into Cold Colours’ music, and my hope was that Northernmost could light a fire within me to check out everything the band released over their over-20-year span.” Terminal ennui.

Backstabber – Conspiracy Theorist Review

By Kenstrosity on February 14, 2019 in 2019, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Death Metal, 38 comments

“Oh Canada. How doth thee provideth the world oodles of death metal. The country never seems to run out of new bands to show off every year. Usually I can expect good things from most of those bands, too, which is all the more impressive. To kick off the new year ov death metal, I abducted Québécois Backstabber and their self-released debut Conspiracy Theorist. Ten tracks (seven proper, three instrumental) of modernized death metal with a politically charged message of subterfuge and paranoia sounds like an interesting proposition. Can these guys sell me their scandals, or will they simply appear to me as loonies in tin-foil hats?” Watch the skies.

Asgrauw – Gronspech Review

By Kenstrosity on February 5, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Dutch Metal, Heidens Hart Records, Melodic Black Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 75 comments

“I look upon the squiggly logo lightly imposed upon a dusky, yet colorful landscape and I realize that almost a half an hour has passed. Boy where does the time go? I finally break out of my trance and hit the play button, having queued up Asgrauw’s third offering, Gronspech. Well, I could have seen that coming miles away; this is quintessential 90’s black metal. Normally I feel ambivalence towards this particular strain. It drains me, the grating guitars and the wanton shrieks sapping my will to continue more quickly than most other subgenres of metal might. But this time I am finding myself once again entranced by what Asgrauw have on display.” Blackness from the land of orange.

Vandor – In the Land of Vandor Review

By Kenstrosity on January 28, 2019 in Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 87 comments

“When I was a teenager, one of my favorite albums was DragonForce’s Inhuman Rampage. Cheesy and criminally overproduced as it was, I thought it was too cool for school. But since that point in my life, I’ve acquired a more stringent set of standards for my power metal sweet tooth. Vandor—a five-piece founded by brothers two in Gothenberg, Sweden—here put forth their bid for a spot on my power metal rotation with their self-released debut In the Land of Vandor. Does it live up to my increasingly strict parameters?” Power moderation.

Lemuria – The Hysterical Hunt Review

By Kenstrosity on January 14, 2019 in 2019, Belgian Metal, Black Metal, Massacre Records, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Black Metal, Epic Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 149 comments

“It would probably surprise nobody to learn that my background as a metalhead began with symphonic metal. Somehow (read: through a series of ill-advised sessions of reckless YouTube binges) I discovered it during the early days of high school. Symphonic metal enlivened me and became my gateway into this marvelous metalverse. Today I return to that hallowed ground upon which my transformation manifested. Waiting there for me is Lemuria—a symphonic black metal band from Belgium, est. 1999—with their third epic The Hysterical Hunt.” Night hunt at the opera.

Odious Devotion – Odious Devotion Review

By Kenstrosity on January 4, 2019 in 2018, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Wolfspell Records, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 25 comments

“Every now and again I crave to venture forth into uncharted territory, at least as it pertains to my musical imbibements. I yearn to take in new music totally blind, without expectations or prior knowledge of the artist or the genre. Thankfully it’s December, a month where a decent crop of obscure bands creep out of the darkest corners of the metalverse, one of whom are newcomers Odious Devotion. I suspected that I would uncover little about this band other than that they were Finnish, played black metal, and were ready to drop an eponymous debut just before Christmas. Despite best efforts, my suspicions proved well-founded.” Suspicious minds.

Feral – Flesh for Funerals Eternal Review

By Kenstrosity on January 3, 2019 in 2018, Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Transcending Obscurity, Death Metal, 84 comments

“I never get sick—except during Christmas and New Year’s. It never fails. Every. Single. Holiday. Season. Thankfully, I have Feral with their latest drop to keep me warm and energized as I cough my lungs out. Flesh of Funerals Eternal is the band’s third full length effort, and these Swedes are here to prove that they are exactly as their name suggests: frantic, vicious and unrelenting death metal.” Cat scratch blood fever.

Burial Oath – Subjugation of the Bastard Son Review

By Kenstrosity on December 19, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Black Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Black Metal, 68 comments

“As I zip maniacally through these hallowed halls with Cleveland, Ohio’s Burial Oath’s second offering Subjugation of the Bastard Son, I can’t help but feel karma sneaking up on me. Surely, for all of the crimes and indecencies I have committed here, this new shadowy thing I’ve snatched will mark my last acquisition before the Mvppety One obliterates me in a singularity of hate and caliginosity.” Into Crypts of Muppets.

Silent Stream of Godless Elegy – Smutnice [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Kenstrosity on December 16, 2018 in 2018, Czech Metal, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, Redblack Productions, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, 33 comments

“Those of you who have been following Angry Metal Guy’s Emporium of Curiosities since its inception may recognize this folk-doom metal band: Silent Stream of Godless Elegy. If you remember, His Overlordiness’ criticisms of their 2011 record, Návaz, regarded in no small part its lack of x-factor. While I only just discovered Silent Stream of Godless Elegy this year, I went back to hear their older records and I would agree; they lacked that intangible quality. Smutnice, however, resonates with me so completely I fear for the structural integrity of my bones.” Everflowing Silent Streams.