Heavy Metal

Elden – Nostromo Review

By El Cuervo on January 31, 2020 in 2020, Fuzzorama Records, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Stoner Metal, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, Stoner Metal, 10 comments

“I selected Nostromo by Elden on the basis of being both a literature and sci-fi nerd (Joseph Conrad’s 1904 novel and Alien, respectively, though Alien itself is referencing Conrad by naming its ship Nostromo), hoping the resultant album would invoke a similarly strong response. How fare these Swedes when embarking in their own vessel called Nostromo?” In space no one can hear you nerd.

Ironsword – Servants of Steel Review

By Steel Druhm on January 24, 2020 in 2020, Alma Mater Records, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 38 comments

“Before mastering the steel, you must first master yourself. Yet mastering oneself requires the mastery of epic metal. This is the riddle of trveness, and why your journey has brought you here to this Ironsword review. Portugal’s most trve of metal bands have long toiled to forge the perfect sword with which to lay waste to posers and the defenders of false metal. In their quest for metal supremacy they traveled the Manilla Road to the ends of the world.” Steel away the night.

Blessed Black – Beyond the Crimson Throne Review and Album Premiere

By Huck N Roll on January 16, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Stoner Metal, 59 comments

“Album premieres are a gimmick. At least that’s what I thought until I had the chance to showcase this lovely example of epic/doom/stoner metal courtesy of up-and-coming Cincinnati rockers Blessed Black. Of course, to review an album is one thing, but to premiere that album, it better be worth clicking on more songs than just the single, and that’s certainly the case here.” Blessed luck.

Haunt – Mind Freeze Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 13, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Reviews, Shadow Kingdom Records, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 51 comments

“Yet, as simple as their style of ’80s NWOBHM is, it’s not like fans have to absorb much from one Haunt record to the next. But the fear of too-much-too-soon lingers. With repeat listens, If Icarus Could Fly didn’t quite live up to Burst into Flame. This leaves a big question mark for this year’s Mind Freeze. Will this new album continue the gentle decent? Or is Mind Freeze Haunt’s Master of Puppets? You’ll have to see what happens next!” Haunting the clickbait.

Mystic Prophecy – Metal Division Review

By Holdeneye on January 8, 2020 in 2020, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Rock of Angels Records, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 62 comments

“Back in 2007, I ran across the Myspace page of a band called Mystic Prophecy. My fire for trve heavy metal was still in its incipient stage at the time—a time that saw Manowar, Iron Maiden, and Iced Earth as my favorite bands—so when I heard “Demon’s Blood” and its immense bottom-end power metal attack on that soon-to-be-obsolete social media platform, I was giddy.” MySpace prophecies.

War Dogs – Die By My Sword Review

By Huck N Roll on January 8, 2020 in 2020, Epic Metal, Fighter Records, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Reviews, Spanish Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 26 comments

“Now we can get down to brass tacks, which in the case of War Dogs is a tasty combination of old Iron Maiden, Manilla Road, and maybe a hint of Visigoth.” Dogs with swords.

Brothers of Metal – Emblas Saga Review

By Holdeneye on January 6, 2020 in 2020, AFM Records, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 128 comments

Truth be told, there’s a decent chance that I wouldn’t be here writing within these hallowed halls without Brothers of Metal. You see, back in 2017 I was a mere lurker at AMG, and might have been content to continue in that capacity if I hadn’t seen a commenter recommending Prophecy of Ragnarök, the debut from the aforementioned Swedes. I checked it out and fell so hard for its sometimes hilarious, sometimes deadly serious take on Norse-mythologized folky power metal that I felt compelled to create a Disqus account just so I could express my thanks to the recommender.” Brother hugger.

The EP, Split, and Single Post Part II [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By El Cuervo on December 24, 2019 in Ambient, American Metal, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Deathcore, Doom Metal, English Metal, Heavy Metal, International Metal, Italian Metal, Scottish Metal, Spanish Metal, Synthwave, Technical Death Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Thrash Metal, Ambient, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Speed Metal, Synthwave, Technical Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 29 comments

Did you miss all the rest of the crucial EPs, splits and singles in 2019? We’ve got you covered again, broheim.

Rose Tint: El Cuervo’s Discoveries of 2019

By El Cuervo on December 23, 2019 in American Metal, Blog Posts, Danish Metal, Dutch Metal, English Metal, French Metal, Heavy Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, NWOBHM, Progressive Rock, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 56 comments

“Following my last couple of year-end lists, it should now not come as a shock that I spent more time fleshing out my historical knowledge of music than my contemporary knowledge. In honor of my abject failure in keeping my eye on the present, I have received approval to document my ever-deeper plundering of previous decades in an article detailing my favorite older records which I first heard in 2019.” Old things, young ears.