Metal Blade

Týr – Hel Review

By Steel Druhm on March 6, 2019 in 2019, Faroese Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal, Metal Blade, Power Metal, Reviews, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 158 comments

“At the stony, windswept crossroads of Viking, folk, power and traditional metal sits Týr on a cottonwood throne bedecked with fishing nets and boat hooks. Hailing from the tiny Faroe Islands that sit between Iceland and Norway, these mysterious descendants of Vikings have impressed with their distinctive brand of genre hopping since their sophomore album Eric the Red came ashore in 2003. They’ve been uncomfortably quiet since 2013s outstanding Valkyrja, making Hel among my most anticipated releases of 2019.” Hel-o, is it me you’re looking for?

Downfall of Gaia – Ethic of Radical Finitude Review

By Mark Z. on February 6, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, German Metal, Metal Blade, Post-metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 115 comments

“Downfall of Gaia hit me hard in recent years, blowing me away with 2014’s Aeon Unveils the Thrones of Decay and 2016’s Atrophy. Both albums explored the idea of a world in decline with a combination of post-metal and black metal that proudly upheld the torch of the almighty (and sadly defunct) Altar of Plagues. Yet fifth full-length Ethic of Radical Finitude initially made me nervous due to its somewhat pretentious title and the fear that the German quartet had no tricks left in the bag.” Is the downfall upon us?

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.

Artillery – The Face of Fear Review

By Steel Druhm on November 14, 2018 in 2018, Danish Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 32 comments

“The fact that Artillery is still going always surprises me on some level. Though they were an integral part of the original thrash wave in the 80s, these once great Danes were always overshadowed by their American and German counterparts, never receiving their share of respect and fame despite the strength of albums like Fear of Tomorrow and By Inheritance. After taking off much of the time between 1991 and 2008, they reformed and have been relatively productive over the past 10 years.” Shellshock.

The Ocean – Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 29, 2018 in 2018, German Metal, Metal Blade, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Sludge Metal, Progressive Metal, Sludge Metal, 73 comments

“When I listen to The Ocean, I can’t help but think of Angry Metal Guy. Though I was a fan before (especially of fluxIon and the Precambrian double album), Noctus and Angry Metal Guy convinced me to take Pelagial seriously. That album soared through 2013, taking home the coveted AMG RotM award and AMG‘s end o’ the year spot. All year long, it never let up its hold on me. And it still hasn’t. It’s been five years and, now, I stand here holding Pelagial’s follow-up, Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic.” Teutonic plates are shifting.

Anaal Nathrakh – A New Kind of Horror Review

By Grymm on September 26, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, British Metal, Grind, Metal Blade, Reviews, Black Metal, Industrial Metal, 176 comments

“2018 marks an anniversary year of sorts. On November 11th, it will mark one hundred years since the end of World War I, a war that was supposed to end all wars, but instead introduced trench warfare and chemical weaponry, forever changing the landscape of combat to this day. To give attention to this, British duo Anaal Nathrakh, themselves celebrating twenty years as a band this year, crafted an album that gives respectful tribute to the writings, poetry, and the sheer terror that World War I brought to those who survived to tell it.” Dead in a ditch.

Revocation – The Outer Ones Review

By Kronos on September 24, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Death Metal, Metal Blade, Progressive Death, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Technical Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 214 comments

“In just over a month I’ll be celebrating (with metalcore, most likely) my fifth year writing for Angry Metal Guy’s family feedbag, and what better way to do that than with the latest LP from Boston’s own prog-death-thrash torchbearers, Revocation. My review of their self-titled album way back in 2013 was the first of my many ill-bred proclamations from these servers to you, and the band have done me a solid by producing material at a pace brisk enough to suit biennial navel-gazing.” Revoked.

Satan – Cruel Magic Review

By Huck N Roll on September 7, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Heavy Metal, Metal Blade, NWOBHM, Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 44 comments

“The honorable Dr. Fisting has been on an extended leave and the review of the new Satan record falls to me. Which is bad news for Satan: their previous two albums, each garnered a 4.5, a score the Huckster has never deigned to hand out. Already the deck is stacked against these venerable Brits.” Give Satan his due or die.

Monstrosity – The Passage of Existence Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on September 7, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Death Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Death Metal, 83 comments

“For what many people come to know nowadays as “Corpsegrinder’s old band,” Monstrosity has built a sterling reputation for themselves without the Cannibal Corpse front-beast. My first introduction to them was on Death…is Just the Beginning Vol. 2, but that was just one song. My true introduction was on 2007’s Spiritual Apocalypse, one of my favorite death metal records of that decade. Having not grown up in the prime era of Floridian death metal, the sound and the iconic Morrisound production style were awesome relics of a bygone time. With Spiritual Apocalypse, Monstrosity brought that time to the present; the Morrisound production was perfect, the songs were impeccable, and then… silence. That is, until now.” Now, Monstrous.

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.