German Metal

Stormwarrior – Norsemen Review

By Holdeneye on November 29, 2019 in 2019, German Metal, Massacre Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Power Metal, Speed Metal, 60 comments

“Aeons ago, long before I answered the casting call to write for this prestigious hostile work environment or had even commented on a review, I was but a reader and lurker of the site. Even then, I imagined that I might one day find my name written upon the sacred digital stone of AMG’s “About” tab. I fancied that I might form an inseparable bond with one Swordborn, the site’s apparent resident cheese custodian. In my fantasies, we’d frolic together through meadows like metal Cupids, firing 4.0’s and 4.5’s at power metal albums all willy nilly, laughing all the while.” Oh, so this is one of those fanfics.

Coronatus – The Eminence of Nature Review

By Emya on November 25, 2019 in 2019, German Metal, Massacre Records, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Symphonic Metal, 18 comments

“The Eminence of Nature is Coronatus’ ninth studio album. Before claiming this album as my own for review, I performed my usual quick search on the AMG site to see which one of my coworkers was historically responsible for dishing out either love or distaste in response to Coronatus’ eight other albums. Had to be either Twelve or TheKenWord given their public and overzealous love of the cheesiest of the symphonic metals. I was pleasantly surprised to see “No results for ‘Coronatus’ Try another search?” pop up on my screen. Eight albums and not one was covered by AMG?!” Bad omens.

Krater – Venenare Review

By Holdeneye on November 11, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Eisenwald Records, German Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 67 comments

“Germany’s Krater began their black metal journey in 2003, and the 16 years since have seen the band in a constant state of evolution. After a debut that tended towards the pagan side of black metal, 2011’s Nocebo saw Krater moving in a more aggressive second-wave direction, and 2016’s Urere built upon that sound by adding more melodicism and wrapping it in a clear and powerful production. Venenare is the culmination of this evolutionary process, incorporating many different styles and sounds picked up along the way but at the same time transcending descriptive labels and tags by appearing as pure, unadulterated black metal.” Blackened pot luck.

Nevaria – Finally Free Review

By Twelve on November 6, 2019 in 2019, Dr. Music Records, German Metal, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, 20 comments

“I’m sure you figured it out from the cover art: yes, it’s me again, and I’m reviewing yet another female-fronted symphonic metal band. Why am I doing this to myself? How did I offend Steel Druhm, and when will he let me off the hook? All excellent questions for another day. For now, let’s focus on Nevaria, a Bavarian group releasing their debut full-length, Finally Free.” Freedom from mimicry.

Dissorted – The Final Divide Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 2, 2019 in 2019, Black Sunset Records, German Metal, MDD Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 14 comments

“What am I supposed to do if I can’t look at a band’s country of origin and judge them accordingly? What the fuck am I supposed to do as a reviewer if I can’t take one of my Sodom reviews, copy-and-paste it into the blog, and change the band name and album title? Don’t worry, dear reader. It’s no problem. I’ll, instead, steal some adjectives from Steel‘s Death Angel reviews and verbiage from AMG‘s Iced Earth ones to pen my writeup of The Final Divide. That’ll work.” Plague of plagiarism.

Shrine of Insanabilis – Vast Vortex Litanies Review

By Grymm on October 21, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, German Metal, Reviews, World Terror Committee, Black Metal, 7 comments

“This year, I learned that anonymity can only carry you so far in life. Ask Mr. Tobias Forge or either of the two proposed leaders from two of the bazillion Batushkas out there how that all panned out in the end, at least in terms of legal issues. And since their debut album, 2015’s impressive-if-repetitive Disciples of the Void, we’ve learned that Shrine of Insanabilis are German, and that their drummer, Serpenth, also played in Acherontas. Ah, well, so much for mystery.” He would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn’t for you meddling kids.

Negator – Vnitas Pvritas Existentia Review

By Doom_et_Al on October 17, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, German Metal, Massacre Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 16 comments

“You know that feeling when you’ve entrusted someone you don’t know to do a job, and you realize early on that they are capable and competent and that, for this particular task at least, you don’t have to worry? Listening to Negator’s latest effort, Vnitas Pvritas Existensia, is a lot like that. Within the first 5 minutes, you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into: furious, no-nonsense Germanic, occult black metal (with a distinct paucity of U’s in the song titles).” Goats til Sunday!

Gemini One – Per Aspera EP Review

By Twelve on October 2, 2019 in 2019, Barhill Records, Doom Metal, German Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 13 comments

“How many funeral doom bands thrive on the chilling output of their vocalists? Needless to say, the answer is “it depends.” To each their own, and every band is different, right? Today I’m honing in my focus directly on Gemini One, a German duo with their fourth EP, Per Aspera. Doom? Check. Vocals? No. An enjoyable listen? Read on.” Horror-scopes.

Akando – Attack from Ambush Review

By Twelve on September 28, 2019 in 2019, Boersma Records, German Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 19 comments

“I was always fascinated by Native American history and culture. Of course, the version I had in childhood was the over-edited one, in which the native inhabitants of my country simply (and vaguely) disappeared one day, to eventually evolve into the society that dominates the land today. As I aged, my appetite to learn finally overcame the primary school version of events. Today, I’m always glad to see an effort made to tell this saddest of stories to large audiences, and extra happy when those large audiences are heavy metal fans.” Warrior spirit.

Fvneral Fvkk – Carnal Confessions Review

By Steel Druhm on September 24, 2019 in 2019, Doom Metal, German Metal, Reviews, Solitude Productions, Doom Metal, 58 comments

“If there was ever a case of a band’s name totally not fitting their style, we’ve found it here with Fvneral Fvkk. When I see that godawful moniker all I can think of is some lo-fi garage black thrash band that sounds like a demon in a metal trash can getting thrown down steel fire stairs. Luckily, this is not what you get here. Made up of members from Crimson Swan, Ophis and Fäulnis, the band operates under Ghostly aliases, and on their debut full-length they deliver a stunningly effective slab of bleak, despondent doom metal in the vein of Warning and Solitude Aeturnus, with a heavy Woods of Ypres influence making it all the more gloomy and glum.” What’s in a name?