3.0

Dark Tranquillity – Construct Review

By Steel Druhm on May 21, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Century Media, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 22 comments

“I’ve been waiting for this one for some time. As a big Dark Tranquillity fan, I’ve weathered their style shifts and experiments with more commercial and more “modern” sounds. While 2010s We Are the Void was respectable with a few killer cuts, I ended up really liking the extended extras that were included on the limited edition release (which eventually became the Zero Distance EP). That group of songs encapsulated what modern-day DT does best: create melodic, but cold, sterile, modern death metal. I really wanted them to continue in that direction on Construct, but they thought otherwise.” Do the last of the Gothenburg titans finally fall victim to time and tide or can The Tranquil Ones keep the flame of melodic death alive?

Decaying – The Last Days of War Review

By Steel Druhm on May 17, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Death Metal, Finnish Metal, Hellthrasher Productions, Reviews, Death Metal, 2 comments

“I’m not one to suggest there can ever be too much war metal, and while Bolt Thrower has ground to a halt for the time being, there are plenty of bands trying to keep the flame of strife and global conflict alive. Hail of Bullets may be the most prominent at the moment, but the recent Just Before Dawn debut is good enough to challenge them for world domination. Finland’s Decaying also have a tank in this battle, and their 2012 Encirclement album was a well done, Bolt Throw-y dose of ugly death metal with a heavy war theme and vocals that could easily pass for those of the great Martin Van Drunen (Hail of Bullets, Asphyx, ex-Bolt Thrower, ex-Pestilence etc.). Now they’re back with The Last Days of War and hoping to carve off a bigger piece of the war market.” Steel Druhm loves him some war metal, so what does he think of the new battle-ready opus from these Finnish vets?

Surgeon – Chemical Reign Review

By Dr. Fisting on May 16, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, Releases, Reviews, Uncategorized, Unsigned Bands, 0 comments

“The awesomely-named Surgeon is a trio from Philadelphia, and according to them, they play progressive metal with a touch of doom. Their second album is out this week and goes by the very metal name of Chemical Reign. I was unable to find any trace of their first album on the Interwebs, and as it turns out, “Surgeon” is not the most Google-friendly of band names (although I now know where to get a gastric bypass done).” So how does a doom-prog band from the City of Brotherly Love sound? Is there some malpractice going on in the songwriting department? Mr. Fisting will explain all after his procedure.

Entrails – Raging Death Review

By Steel Druhm on May 11, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Death Metal, Metal Blade, Swedish Metal, Death Metal, 7 comments

“In the retro Swedish death sweepstakes, you can’t get much more committed than Sweden’s Entrails. Having been around in one form or another since the original wave of Swede death, they weren’t able to release anything until 2010s Tales From the Morgue. While I went quite gorilla shit over that platter and its 110% pure Entombed worshipping awesomeness, I was let down by their The Tomb Awaits follow-up, which seemed watered down and lacking in the raw charm of its predecessor.” Can Entrails recapture the glory of their (of more accurately, Entombed’s) debut? Does anyone even care that they changed their logo?

SuidAkrA – Eternal Defiance Review

By Noctus on May 9, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, AFM Records, German Metal, Reviews, Viking Metal, Viking Metal, 14 comments

“It’s true, going into any Viking metal-related band and expecting innovation is an exercise in futility. With Eluveitie basically making the same album over and over again and Ensiferum getting more clichéd and boring with every passing record [How dare you??? — Steel Druhm], not to mention countless other bands putting out forgettable records; they all tend to blur into one. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for SuidAkrA though — a band that offers all the enjoyment of bands of Ensiferum’s ilk, but with none of the cringe-worthy theatrics and clichés.” Noctus takes to his Viking soapbox to praise SuidAkrA and bury such luminaries as Ensiferum. Seems like a good way to get a broadsword in the skull, but that’s his way.

My Dying Bride – The Manuscript Review

By Noctus on April 28, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Death Metal, Doom Metal, English Metal, Peaceville, Rating, Releases, 3 comments

“You really have to hand it to My Dying Bride. This 23 year old band have stuck to their guns unlike any other band of their kin – not only by staying true to their death-doom roots without much in the way of deviation, but by their sheer amount of unwavering activity. Especially when you consider the other British death-doom pioneers of their ilk, both Anathema and Paradise Lost, going down different paths to musical pastures so far detached from their roots, you’d be forgiven for thinking they’re a completely different band than the gothic pessimists of they began life as. My Dying Bride, however, has had a core sound since their very first album and aside from minor experimentation here and there it’s remained very much the same.” While consistency is the hobogoblin of little minds, it seems to work for these UK doom-mongers. Noctus analyzes if consistency kills or thrills on their new EP.

Centuries – Broken Hymns Review

By Natalie Zed on April 22, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, American Metal, Reviews, Southern Lord, Hardcore, 1 comment

“Recently signed to Southern Lord, Florida-based hardcore act Centuries combine the frenzy of hardcore with emotive metalcore, hardcore punk ferocity and even some d-beat heaviness. After participating in SXSW, the band are currently holed up in Greensboro, North Carolina to record their next record (and full-length debut) for the venerable American label, Southern Lord. In advance of that all new release, indie label Halo of Flies is releasing Broken Hymns, a collection of all of their available work to date. The record includes material from their Creation/Extinction 7”, a split EP with Patsy O’Hara (from which the titular track of this record comes) and another split with Homestretch, as well as four original songs.” Natalie Zed is here to tell us about some hardcore punk, which we don’t normally deal with. Be diverse and read it!

Magister Templi – Lucifer Leviathan Logos Review

By Madam X on April 19, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Cruz Del Sur, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Norwegian Metal, 2 comments

“There aren’t a lot of bands out there that come close to duplicating King and co’s brand of malevolence. From his piercing falsetto and his operatic shrieks to his mid-range torturous screams and evil growls, King Diamond owns! Norwegian based, NWOBHM-inspired Magister Templi combine occult, doom flavored lyrics reminiscent of Venom and Mercyful Fate with upbeat, power chord infused melody along the lines of Mercyful Fate and Pagan Altar to arrive at a groovy platter of satanic malarkey.” Nobody likes malarkey, or hokum for that matter, but that doesn’t stop Madam X from hailing the King and reporting how Magister Templi robs the musical grave of the immortal Mercyful Fate (if they’re immortal, why do they even have a grave??). That’s like a desecration of souls!!

Cathedral – The Last Spire Review

By Steel Druhm on April 17, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Doom Metal, English Metal, Reviews, Rise Above Records, Doom Metal, 1 comment

“So this is the end of the road for Lee Dorrian’s long-running psychedelic doom experiment. Looking back on Cathedral’s career, they’ve certainly delivered some entertaining, diverse albums while helping make doom cool and interesting again. While I always favored their earlier, less trippy stuff like Forest of Equilibrium and The Ethereal Mirror, their subsequent releases always had something worth investigating. So how does the ringmaster choose to lower the final curtain on his Carnival Bizarre? By returning to the beginning and re-introducing us to the raw, crushing doom that put them on the map in the first place.” Please remove your hats and bow our heads as we mourn the passing of modern doom giants, Cathedral. Steel Druhm will provide the eulogy and you’re all welcome to join us afterward in the graveyard for refreshments.

Memory Garden – Doomain Review

By Steel Druhm on April 15, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, 4 comments

“I’m a sucker for the name “Memory Garden.” I love the classic Trouble song with that title and I’ve always appreciated this group as well. Part of the moniker love is due to having worked in a cemetery bearing that name during grad school (yes, Steel Druhm was a legitimate grave-digger), but the talent, class and polish of this outfit doesn’t hurt none either. These Swedes play a type of progressive doom that sounds like a mix of Candlemass, Memento Mori, Nevermore and Lansfear with some similarities to the material off Tad Morose’s classic A Mended Rhyme. Never too slow and dirgey, they infuse just enough traditional and power metal ideas to move things along and they bring an exceptionally high level of musicality to the table so everything goes down smooth as buttered silk.” Proggy, melodic doom should sound good to even the most attention challenged of metal fans. Even moss peeping, anti-doomers like AMG himself might enjoy the tasteful stylings of Memory Garden.