Self-released

Flidais – Kazador Review

By GardensTale on December 3, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, 19 comments

“Judging a book by its cover is an age-old tradition, despite the advice of moms everywhere. Albums are much the same. For instance, if the cover is a black passe-partout around a black and white figure, with a logo I can’t read, it’s usually a one-man black metal band. With the name of an ancient Celtic goddess and an album cover more lilac than the air freshener aisle in the local Wal-Mart, Flidais seem intent to have you believe they play some sort of flowery hippie folk metal, like the Grateful Dead with more distortion.” Lilac is the new black.

Krepitus – The Eyes of the Soulless Review

By GardensTale on November 30, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 9 comments

“Metal fans collect sub-genres like Barbie dolls: in a huge assortment of flavors, often mildly disturbing, and most pleasant when pulled apart and recombined. It’s almost strange when a band plays a sub-genre straight and usually we cover up our embarrassment by transforming ‘death metal’ into something like ‘old school Swedish death metal.’ Luckily, I have no such problems, because Krepitus play one of the more prevalent genre combos: death thrash.” Mix n’ thrash.

Clouds – Departe Review

By Steel Druhm on November 16, 2016 in 2016, Doom Metal, International Metal, Reviews, Self-released, 47 comments

“Sometimes a piece of music is entirely about a single, specific feeling, be it rage, joy or sadness. Departe, the second album by atmospheric post-doom super group Clouds, is definitely about the latter, and it attempts to drown the listener in a vast sea of chilling, cloying melancholy without offering the slightest hint of hope or beam of light. Formed by members of The 11th Hour, Eye of Solitude, Rapture, Barren Earth and Shape of Despair, the line up reads like doom royalty and their vast experience helps make this one of the bleakest, most depressive listens of this year or any other.” Got something in your eye? You’re about to.

Dead Conspiracy – Dead Conspiracy Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on November 13, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 6 comments

“It shouldn’t surprise you that Dead Conspiracy plays the sort of death metal that has little in common with modern incarnations of it or even Morbid Angel, but rather sounds like over the top thrash. My first impression was a less punky war metal or Possessed on speed but with less cool solos.” From the days when every town had Seven Churches.

Hemina – Venus Review

By GardensTale on November 12, 2016 in 2016, Australian Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 71 comments

“Album length is an ongoing discussion here at Angry Metal Guy, with one side arguing for more material and the option to listen in parts or mix tracks into playlists, and the correct side arguing for self-editing, trimming the fat and creating a cohesive listening experience.” Revise, revisit, remove.

Shark Infested Daughters – These Tides, Our Tombs Review

By El Cuervo on November 8, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Self-released, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 26 comments

“It seems misogynistic violence is on trend in metalcore. Feed Her to the Sharks led the aquatic way with Zombies Ate My Girlfriend chomping in its wake, both exacting satisfying chugs and saccharine melodies unto the metal public in a reasonable throwback to the All That Remains– or Bullet For My Valentine-dominated scene from the mid-’00s. Now Shark Infested Daughters steps up to invoke unpleasant images of ravaged women with their debut, These Tides, Our Tombs.” Please don’t feed the freakin’ sharks!

Northern Crown – The Others Review

By Steel Druhm on October 7, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Doom Metal, 123 comments

“When I saw the promo descriptor for Northern Crown’s debut, The Others listing it as “epic doom,” I took a flyer and grabbed it. You never know when you’ll stumble across the next While Heaven Wept or Atlantean Kodex, and I’d want to plunder all the glorious metal cred such a discovery would impart, while lording it over staff members in the AMG break room. So is this the doom juggernaut you’ve been waiting for? I can’t formulate the beginnings of a sensible answer to that question.” Steel be flummoxed.

Chariots of the Gods – Ages Unsung Review

By Dr. Wvrm on September 16, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Self-released, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 40 comments

“Every metal-head has their watershed moment; whether that’s Master of Puppets, Symbolic or actually Watershed, that magic album taps you on the shoulder and says “young poser, let me show you the way to trveness.” Chariots of the Gods bills itself as melodic metal with In Flames as its top influence, I’m feeling cautious yet optimistic.” Get ready to chug.

Narnia – Narnia Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 7, 2016 in 2016, Neo-Classical Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Swedish Metal, Power Metal, 71 comments

“It’s not every day that you see C.S. Lewis’ name in a metal review. But a Lewis cameo is inevitable when reviewing a band called Narnia. If you’ve never heard the band before, I bet you’re picturing seven full-album concepts based on Lewis’ Narnia saga. Well, put those thoughts away because they’re wrong. This Swedish power-metal outfit does indeed have seven records, but not a single one of them is a front-to-back concept. There are the occasional Narnia-influence songs but, for the most part, the band uses Lewis’ folklore as an instrument to spread the word of God; and not in a subtle way.” I think you’ve been lion!

Tardive Dyskinesia – Harmonic Confusion Review

By Kronos on September 6, 2016 in 2016, Djent, Greek Metal, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Djent, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, 32 comments

“I’ve commented before on the excellence of select album covers and continue to keep an eye out for the very best of the bunch, often discovering new music simply on the merits of a killer Bandcamp icon. After all, if you’re an independent band with little in the way of PR, it pays to invest in a jacket that gets a listener’s proverbial foot in the door. Such seems to be the strategy of Tardive Dyskinesia, who know that even if you have a poor memory for names, at least you’ll remember this face.” Face-palm.