Iron Bonehead Productions

Calyx – Vientos Arcaicos Review

By Master of Muppets on May 23, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Spanish Metal, Black Metal, 55 comments

“Maybe an album haunts you with its recollective ghosts, maybe a certain genre only dances with you in the frozen dark of a winters night, maybe that song left a scar that only bleeds when you hear the words. The marks and meanings, the songs and sounds… These things vary uniquely from person to person, but we all experience this phenomenon in some way or other. Spain’s Calyx have added yet another piece to my own perpetually expanding puzzle of music mandated mindsets. To wit, their debut Vientos Arcaicos (“Archaic Winds”) makes me want to turn the lights off, smoke my brains out, and play Skyrim til the Nordic cows come home.” Nordic cows will kill you and everyone you love.

Ringarë – Under Pale Moon Review

By Eldritch Elitist on March 23, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, International Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, 49 comments

“This may be unthinkable for those who comment on every single black metal review about how they can’t get into the genre, but for me, black metal can be one of the most relaxing styles of music. Not all black metal, of course—trying to take a Sunday siesta with Imperialist blaring would be an impossible task. In the genre’s most atmospheric forms, however, the ambient-like stream of muffled tremolo riffs and blast beats can be utterly calming. Ringarë certainly falls within this realm, but with a twist: they build off the foundation of old school symphonic black metal, the sort pioneered by Limbonic Art and early Dimmu Borgir.” Icy fields of feelz.

Blue Hummingbird on the Left – Atl Tlachinolli Review

By Lokasenna on February 8, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Black Metal, Crepúsculo Negro, Iron Bonehead Productions, Nuclear War Now! Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, 185 comments

“Blue Hummingbird is a quartet of musicians billing themselves as the War Chapter (natch) of LA music collective Black Twilight Circle, a darling bunch of indigenous-blooded Hispanic musicians dedicated to speaking evil truth to power, in this case the colonialism that so decimated their ancestors’ cultures. Fucking shit up along the way is obviously a plus. However, where other members of BTC have released albums, Blue Hummingbird have released only an EP and contributions to splits across a near-decade career, all to substantial buzz.” Fire birds.

Musmahhu – Reign of the Odious Review

By Angry Metal Guy on February 3, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Death Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, 98 comments

“Reign of the Odious is the debut album from Musmahhu, a one-man metal project helmed by a man known only as Swartadauþuz. Reign of the Odious integrated itself perfectly into my mood playlist, however, and made for a chaotic emotional outlet.” Feelz the pain.

Graves – Liturgia da Blasfemia Review

By El Cuervo on February 1, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 90 comments

“Portuguese black metal had a bumper year in 2018 simply by virtue of the release of Gaerea’s debut album called Unsettling Whispers, which ranged from very good to great. It may not have made the cut for my year-end list but it’s an accomplished listen which drags various blackened scenes from the past twenty-five years into its melting pot. The prospect of further Portuguese debutantes, masquerading under the name Graves, was therefore enticing and it was with interest that I selected Liturgia da Blasfemia from the promo pool. With but a single demo under their belts this represents their first foray into the world of fully-developed releases.” Can you dig it?

Abyssous – Mesa Review

By Cherd on October 30, 2018 in 2018, Death Metal, Doom Metal, German Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 36 comments

“Abyssous play death doom with an emphasis on the former, eschewing mournful melodies in favor of punishing riffs that oscillate between rapid fire brutality and a leaden, persistent throb. In this way, they’re contemporaries of Temple of Void and Spectral Voice, who each set tongues wagging with their respective albums last year.” Throbbing persistence.

Eadem – Luguber Review

By Lokasenna on October 21, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Dutch Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, 27 comments

“There are phrases one never expects to encounter, phrases that raise more questions than they could answer on their own. One such phrase is “free jam black metal.” It raises such pressing questions as “why,” “who,” “how does such a thing come about,” and, of course, “…why?” The Netherlands’ Eadem offers no explanations, only their art.” Art for art’s sake.

House of Atreus – From the Madness of Ixion Review

By Mark Z. on October 16, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Death Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Death Metal, 115 comments

“We’ve all been there. You find a new band and everything seems great. Their riffs are sick, their songwriting is tight, and they have an ample discography for you to explore. But then, something starts smelling foul. They have a record called Incorrigible Bigotry. They have a song called ‘Hereditary Taint.’ They have a lyric that talks about a foreign warrior being ‘unable to grasp the shortcomings of his brood.’ Suddenly, it dawns on you: your new favorite band is fucking racist.” Hate lives outside the Hall.

Runespell – Order of Vengeance Review

By Lokasenna on July 14, 2018 in 2018, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, 35 comments

“Like most of my peers, I try to spread out my metal listening; variety being the spice of life and all that. Despite this, however, I frequently find myself short on new black metal. Instead, I return to old standbys; kvlt, traditional and the bravely exotic. Unfortunately, the promo sump is rarely a good way to fix this problem, as so few black metal bands are interested in innovating. This is particularly true at the offices of our friends at Iron Bonehead, an established where ingenuity isn’t welcome. Still, Australian studio-project Runespell’s sophomore release—Order of Vengeance—is at least less baffling than the last Australian black metal act I covered, pulling firmly from the Norwegian second wave with smatterings of other scenes and styles to keep things from growing stale.” Leftover Norway.

Embrace of Thorns – Scorn Aesthetics Review

By Grymm on June 26, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Greek Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 17 comments

“You’ve all heard the adage about variety and spices, right? Variety keeps things fresh and interesting. After all, if Colonel Sanders only used one herb and/or spice for his fried chicken, would it taste as lively? What am I getting at? Greece’s Embrace of Thorns dropped off their fifth album, Scorn Aesthetics, into my hot little paws. I’ve listened to this album at least five times. I’ve listened to it on my way to and from work. I’ve also lit candles, darkened my living room, and rotated the house cats for freshness and spirit-warding. What did I find?” The spice must flow!