Not Metal

Kraków – Amaran Review

By Madam X on February 11, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Drone, Norwegian Metal, Not Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Experimental Metal, Post-Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Metal, 9 comments

“Winter is being a Mr. Cold Miser and evenings like these cry out for a glowing fire, the dark notes of a glass of Malbec and some post-metal meandering gloom which, as luck has it, is Norwegian based Kraków’s claim to fame.” Cold and snow may be new to Madam X, but not post-metal. Or wine!

Kronos Comments: On Sampling Bias and the Seedy Underbelly of the European Metal Scene

By Kronos on February 8, 2015 in Black Metal, Blog Posts, Djent, French Metal, Groove Metal, Hardcore, Non-Metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Progressive Metal, Russian Metal, Unsigned Bands, Black Metal, Djent, Experimental Metal, Hardcore, Non-metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Progressive Metal, 16 comments

“Just about every day, Angry Metal Guy pushes out a review of an upcoming or recently released album, producing press for the album whether we love it or hate it. It exposes readers to a lot of material, but disadvantages artists who aren’t putting out music at any given time. Given a small temporal window, this creates a very biased sample of the music scene. I love reviewing albums, but a lot of great and criminally overlooked bands are in between releases right now, and it kills me to see their hard work go unseen. So in order to rectify their invisibility, they’re being talked about here, where you can be held captive by the unbreakable bonds of html and subjugated to my terrible opinions.” Next stop, Europe!

Steve Rothery – The Ghosts of Pripyat Review

By Roquentin on January 30, 2015 in 2015, English Metal, InsideOut, Not Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Not Metal, Progressive Rock, 17 comments

“If I were tasked to imagine what a typical instrumental progressive rock album led by a guitar virtuoso sounded like, I’d probably envision exactly the music that Steve Rothery and co. prepared for his first real solo album. Created with the help of fans through crowdfunding and riding on a wave of ideas cultivated for the better part of 30 years, The Ghosts of Pripyat once again shows just what kind of a creative mastermind and a driving force behind Marillion Steve Rothery actually was.” Instrumental prog rock? On a metal site? Yes!

Freddy and the Phantoms – Times of Division Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on January 24, 2015 in 2015, Danish Metal, Not Metal, Reviews, Target Group, 15 comments

“Many moons ago when I walked uphill in ten feet of snow both ways to get to secondary school. The music department was populated with insufferable dorks who would lecture anyone within earshot on music’s death and subsequent stinking decay post-1979. This snobbery still exists in the present day, and I’m left wondering exactly where this incredibly soundproof rock these people are demonstrably living under is located.” Come back baby, rock n’ roll never forgets.

Atlas Losing Grip – Currents Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on January 22, 2015 in 2015, Black Star Foundation, Hardcore, Not Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Hardcore, Not Metal, Punk, 16 comments

“Historically I’ve not been awfully big on punk, particularly in its more melodic forms. More recently, though, I’ve been warming to the genre. I’ve always loved grindcore, am increasingly enjoying crust and hardcore, and the past year has seen me revisiting – and, swipe me, enjoying – The Offspring.” Looks like it’s time for an intervention at AMG. Now where are the spiked bats?

23 Acez – Redemption Waves Review

By El Cuervo on January 7, 2015 in 2015, Belgian Metal, Mighty Music, Non-Metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Reviews, Hard Rock, 17 comments

“A little confession: I chose to review the appallingly-titled 23 Acez sophomore effort in a bout of vindictive malice after grappling with a particularly hateful Spanish literature essay. I was pissed off and envisaged venting on a poor rock band just trying to make their way in the world.” We hate, because we care. Not about you, but other important stuff.

Things You Might Have Missed 2014: Igorrr & Ruby My Dear – Maigre EP

By Madam X on January 5, 2015 in 2014, Ad Noiseam Records, Avante Garde, French Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2014, Non-metal Metal Things, 15 comments

“So you haven’t yet crossed paths with Igorrr’s prior works (Halleluja or Nostril)? Well then, where to begin!” Seems Madam X isn’t quite ready to let go of 2014 and the weirdness that came along with it.

Sans Soleil – A Holy Land Beneath A Godless Sky Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 22, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Doom Metal, Drone, Not Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Tofu Carnage Records, Doom Metal, Drone, Not Metal, Post-Metal, 6 comments

“How often do you think of an instrumental band that substitutes that wishful vocalist with the swooning leads of a viola? My guess is never. You never think of that. Well, the masterminds behind Sans Soleil thought about it for you.” My mom always says “if you have a viola, you have everything.”

Things You Might Have Missed 2014: Thine – The Dead City Blueprint

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 16, 2014 in 2014, English Metal, Not Metal, Peaceville, Progressive Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2014, Progressive Rock, 16 comments

“Down here at AMG, we work our asses off to bring forth “similar band” references and genre classifications, define the intentions and directions of an album, and even evaluate the recording/mixing/mastering processes of the release in order to satisfy the insatiable hunger of the AMG hordes.” And we dont always feel appreciated, so give us beer and hugs.

Things You Might Have Missed 2014: He Is Legend – Heavy Fruit

By Dr. Fisting on November 1, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Metalcore, Non-Metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Sludge, Things You Might Have Missed 2014, Tragic Hero, Alternative Metal, Hard Rock, Metalcore, Not Metal, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 9 comments

“Once upon a time, in the days of MySpace, there was a band called He Is Legend. They had the misfortune of association with the mid-2000’s metalcore scene, and worse yet, they had a long way to go in the songwriting department. Over time they went through awkward growth spurts, thankfully ditching their core trappings, but struggling with finding their own style.” Mr. Fisting rings in the holiday season with the very first of our “Things You Might Have Missed” recommendations, and this time, it’s all about the fruit!