Death Metal

Viscera – Obsidian Review

By GardensTale on March 14, 2020 in 2020, British Metal, Death Metal, Deathcore, Reviews, Unique Leader, Deathcore, 29 comments

“In Hollywood, there’s a phenomenon called ‘twin films.’ Sometimes movies released around the same time have an uncannily similar plot, even though they’ve been in production around the same time and couldn’t have copied one another. A few well-known examples include Armageddon and Deep Impact, Antz and A Bug’s Life, and The Prestige and The Illusionist. Now, considering the frequency of release and inherent similarities, this isn’t really a thing in metal, but it still gave me pause when I noticed I was about to go through the second Unique Leader techy deathcore release with wav format tracks in just a handful of weeks.” Guts check.

Ruin Lust – Choir of Babel Review

By Cherd on March 12, 2020 in 20 Buck Spin, 2020, American Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 19 comments

“The few times I’ve run reconnaissance to the front lines of war metal—sometimes called bestial black metal—it hasn’t exactly inspired me to take up arms. On paper, the bastard child of grindcore and raw black metal sounds like fun, but the unrelenting frenetic assault often turns tedious for this reviewer. I don’t mind dense music, but I like it smart, and that’s not really war metal’s MO. “Then why are you reviewing a war metal album?” the insolent reader may ask. I’ll tell you, though you deserve no such courtesy.” Towers of noise.

Rotting Kingdom – A Deeper Shade of Sorrow Review

By Twelve on March 12, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Boris Records, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 10 comments

“The death-doom umbrella is one that I use on occasion, but have never fully committed to. I understand the premise, of course, and I’m convinced that the style can work very well, but I’ve yet to be truly inspired by a sample of the craft. Generally speaking, I’m happy for my music to be fast and angry or slow and sad. Still, when you like a thing and you like another thing, it’s hard to resist trying those things together and seeing what results. These were my rough thoughts as I entered Kentucky’s Rotting Kingdom to sample their debut album, A Deeper Shade of Sorrow.” Sad City.

Vulcano – Eye in Hell Review

By Mark Z. on March 11, 2020 in 2020, Brazilian Metal, Death Metal, Mighty Music, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 16 comments

“Over the years the band lost some members, went on hiatus from 1991 to 1996, and released a slew of albums that never seemed to generate as much fanfare as their debut. Other than some curious midnight listens of Vengeance, I certainly hadn’t heard anything from the group until I came across Eye in Hell while rifling through the promo bin. Freshly signed to Mighty Music, this is the the band’s eleventh studio album and shows sole founding member Zhema Rodero joined by a new drummer and a trusted cohort of musicians who’ve been with the group for a few years now. Almost four decades into their existence, do Vulcano still scorch your ass or are their brutal eruptions long behind them?” Nighttime eruptions.

Afterbirth – Four Dimensional Flesh Review

By Kronos on March 10, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Death, Reviews, Slam, Unique Leader, Death Metal, Slam, 61 comments

“Welcome to my ass. We won’t be long. I’ve gathered us here today before my review of the brilliant new Afterbirth record because I didn’t want to drag you through here in the middle of it. Suffice it to say that my critique of Afterbirth’s The Time Traveler’s Dilemma has proven unassailably correct: Afterbirth should get right back on the horse, they should keep exploring their progressive tendencies, and they absolutely should record with Colin Marston. Probably no thanks to my scolding they have. Four Dimensional Flesh is a triumph, one of the most charismatic and original death metal albums you’ll ever hear.” Ass above, so below.

Earth Rot – Black Tides of Obscurity Review

By Holdeneye on March 5, 2020 in 2020, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Black Metal, Death Metal, 122 comments

“Last month I sampled an advance track for Earth Rot’s third full-length album, Black Tides of Obscurity, and I rather enjoyed what I heard. And now that I’ve spent some significant time with the full record, I have to say that I’m completely blown away. Black Tides of Obscurity is the sound of a band that believes the answer to the question “Should we play old school Swedish death metal or true Norwegian black metal?” is an emphatic “YES!”” Rot n’ roll.

Beast of Revelation – The Ancient Ritual of Death Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on March 4, 2020 in 2020, Death Metal, International Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Death Doom, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 8 comments

“Beast of Revelation involves Bob Bagchus, one of my favorite metal drummers and a foundational member of Asphyx. Bagchus knows what he likes, and conveniently I tend to like that stuff too. Also included are AJ van Drenth who handles guitar and bass, and Incantation’s John McEntee on vocals. Unsurprisingly, I’m reminded of Asphyx and its related side project Grand Supreme Blood Court, mixed with Incantation’s “comeback” era.” Death in the family.

Black Royal – Firebride Review

By Ferrous Beuller on March 2, 2020 in 2020, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Sludge Metal, Suicide Records, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, 38 comments

“Firebride is wed to nothing less than the almighty riff. Where Lightbringer swore fealty to doom tempos and a penchant for expansion, these elements have now been pressured into a stable compound with the kind of force that sunders flesh from bone.” Nice day for a charred wedding.

Vredehammer – Viperous Review

By Grymm on March 2, 2020 in 2020, Black Metal, Death Metal, Indie Recordings, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 61 comments

“In years past, metal music took its sweet-ass time in order to drop us the good stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I do like a good, slow burn, but usually we (and by proxy, you) usually don’t hear anything jaw-droppingly good until later in the year. Not 2020, man. Barely into our third month, and we’ve already got strong contenders for Album o’ the Year, and it doesn’t seem to let up anytime soon. And now, we’ve got the much-anticipated Viperous by Vredehammer, an album everyone here at AMG’s been anticipating since Violator knocked us all on our collective ass back in 2016.” Bow down to the Snakehammer.

Drown – Subaqueous Review

By Steel Druhm on February 27, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Prophecy Productions, Reviews, Death Metal, Funeral Doom, 40 comments

“Funeral doom was never a genre I willingly embraced or ever truly “got,” but as I grow older I seem to be finding more and more affinity for it. Perhaps that’s because I’m getting closer to picking out caskets for my own funeral, or maybe age has slowed me to the point where I can better appreciate other slow things, like turtles and the US legal system. Whatever the case may be, Subaqueous, the second album by Drown, is helping bring me around on this most niche of genres.” Death in the water.