International Metal

O.R.k. – Ramagehead Review

By Huck N Roll on February 27, 2019 in 2019, International Metal, Kscope, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Rock, 93 comments

“It’s not often that so-called super-groups stick around for more than one or two albums. Invariably, the novelty of working together wears off, and competing priorities pull members in other directions. That hasn’t been the case with multinational prog rockers O.R.k., though: Ramagehead is the band’s third album, appearing like clockwork almost two years to the day after their superb Soul of an Octopusrecord. The quartet remains unchanged as well: the big names are Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson) on drums and Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree) on bass, but guitarist Carmelo Pipitone and singer/composer LEF are not to be ignored.” Ramage Inc.

The Sabbathian – Latum Alterum Review

By Grymm on January 24, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Doom Metal, International Metal, Reviews, Svart Records, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 77 comments

“Back in the olden days of… er, 2012, Hour of 13 mainman Chad Davis teamed up with former Nàttsòl vocalist Anette Uvaas Gulbrandsen to form The Sabbathian, dropping a convincing three-song EP in 2014’s Ritual Rites. While musically it was a logical continuation of the Hour of 13 sound but with the angelic vocals of Gulbrandsen, Ritual Rites turned enough heads to leave those salivating for their unique brand of occult doom metal wanting more. But in those five years, so much Scoobie Doobie Doom occult metal has saturated the market to the point that all that’s missing from the albums are hoods, masks, and drawn-out lawsuits. Davis and Gulbrandsen know this, and on the long-awaited follow-up, Latum Alterum, an about-face was performed to steer clear of their contemporaries.” Devil in the details.

Them – Manor of the Se7en Gables [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Diabolus in Muzaka on January 10, 2019 in 2018, International Metal, Power Metal, Steamhammer, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Power Metal, 115 comments

“I have fond memories of poring over classic spooky stories like Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” or “The Tell-Tale Heart” at my grandmother’s house and being repulsed and fascinated with the characters, settings, and actions. I got hooked and read Poe’s short stories over and over. Metal is too gore-obsessed to reliably deliver the classic spooks, save for King Diamond… but he hasn’t put anything out since 2007. Who will deliver good old-fashioned spooky stories through the medium of metal?!” BOO(urns)!

A Hero for the World – Winter Is Here: A Holiday Rock Opera Pt. 2 Review

By Cherd on November 18, 2018 in 2018, International Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 53 comments

“I was heating up my standard n00b issue cup of mop water in the break room when I heard a commotion over at the hobo wine station. When I approached, the assembled staff writers fell silent and exchanged knowing glances with Steel Druhm. “N00b 17, how are you, my boy?” he said cheerfully. “N00b 7” I corrected, but he continued without acknowledging. “I have a special assignment for you.” He handed me a promo wrapped in red paper and smelling faintly of pine needles. My “gift” was Winter Is Here: A Holiday Rock Opera Pt. 2 (yes, part two) by power/symphonic metal band A Hero For the World. I could only stand dumbfounded as the writers launched into a drunken rendition of “Jingle Bells” and pelted me with pine cones.” Deck the n00bs.

Skull Pit – Skull Pit Review

By Lord Doom on November 16, 2018 in 2018, Heavy Metal, International Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 70 comments

“I was certain this promo was a trap when Steel Druhm gave it to me. Metal Blade Records on my 4th review?! There has to be something catastrophically wrong with whatever is inside this zip file. What I soon found out was that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with Skull Pit’s self-titled debut, but there’s a hell of a lot right with it.” Steel charity, iron n00b debt.

Clouds – Dor Review

By Steel Druhm on November 12, 2018 in 2018, Death Metal, Doom Metal, International Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 88 comments

“Life is pain. The human condition is one of brief, fleeting moments of joy hemmed in on all sides by the ever-present specter of death and loss. The loss of loved ones, the loss of safety and comfort as your aging body fails and falls to ruin, and ultimately, the frigid closure of death. Clouds writes every note of their music from this cold place at the edge of mortality, with the debilitating awareness of the darkness that hovers just past our tomorrows.” Cold, hard truths.

Serocs – The Phobos/Deimos Suite Review

By Kronos on November 1, 2018 in 2018, Death Metal, International Metal, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 103 comments

“By infecting the percussive brutality of Cryptopsy with a whiff of the counterpoint of Spawn of Possession, …And Then the Sky Was Opened won over our own Dr. Fisting. A good album, to be sure, but one which still came with a few production idiosyncrasies and shortcomings that kept it off of regular rotation for me. The Phobos/Deimos Suite is the tremendously talented band’s chance to finally get the formula right.” Suite but deadly.

Siege of Power – Warning Blast Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on September 4, 2018 in 2018, Crust Punk, Death Metal, Hardcore, International Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Crust Punk, Death Metal, Hardcore, 40 comments

“Warning Blast was set to be one unstoppable slab of doomy death metal. That is, until it wasn’t. Siege of Power are far more interested in playing some punk infused death-doom, or what it would sound like if death-doom musicians tried to start an old hardcore-adjacent band. Conveniently, this is almost exactly what Warning Blast represents.” Feel the crust.

Collapse of Light – Each Failing Step Review

By Steel Druhm on April 19, 2018 in 2018, Death Metal, Doom Metal, International Metal, Rain Without End records, Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 37 comments

“Personal loss and despair have always been prime fodder for doom metal. The style basically exists to simulate the experiences of grief, sorrow and deprivation, tearing open the worst emotions in human existence and daring us to confront them. When you stop and think about it, it’s hard to understand why anyone would seek such music out. We will all suffer genuine loss. We will all hurt deeply and profoundly, and sometimes we will never truly move beyond it. Why then would we seek out facsimiles of such heartache? I don’t have the answer, but I do know that Collapse of Light have come to expose all your deepest pain and sadness on their debut Each Failing Step.” Triumph in failure.

Mindwars – Do Unto Others Review

By Steel Druhm on April 13, 2018 in 2018, Dissonance Productions, International Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 45 comments

“Holy Terror was a special band. Though only active for a few short years, they released two of the best thrash albums of the 80s, mixing speed and real heaviness with both progressive and rock influences to create something truly unique. Those albums are among my most beloved and they never, ever sound stale. When I saw a band in the promo sump bearing the name of Mindwars (Holy Terror’s brilliant second album), with an album titled Do Unto Others (a song on that brilliant album), my curiosity was certainly piqued.” Psychic warriors unite!