3.5

Intöxicated – Röck ‘n Roll Hellpatröl Review

By Madam X on May 6, 2013 in 2013, 3.5, German Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Speed Metal, 6 comments

“Like your speed metal served up fast, loud and dirty with a Lemmy-like grunt? How about dripping in Venom? Like their English counterparts, Intöxicated’s Germanic brand of metal unleashes ten tons of pent-up instrumental and lyrical debauchery and intends to raise eyebrows and drop jaws. In other words it’s heavy as fuck, uncompromisingly raw and you’ll either love it or be disgusted by it.” Find out what Madam X thinks of German speed metal, alcohol, sex, partying and motorcycles, all in the name of keeping you (our fine metal brethren) informed.

Acolyte – Alta Review

By Natalie Zed on April 30, 2013 in 2013, 3.5, Black Metal, Death Metal, English Metal, Mordgrimm, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal

“Alta is the debut full-length released from progressive black metal band Acolyte. Their sound is slightly challenging to put a finger on; their primary influences are clearly extreme, blackened metal bands like Deathspell Omega, Enslaved, and even French black metal experimenters Blut Aus Nord, but the sound they produce has a groove-based, classic heavy metal simplicity that belies their more progressive interests.” Natalie gives a quick breakdown on the debut from progressive black metallers Acolyte and how their old sound matches their new style. On an unrelated note, that’s one ugly cover!

Hexvessel – Iron Marsh Review

By Steel Druhm on April 27, 2013 in 2013, 3.5, Finnish Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Svart Records, Progressive Metal, Stoner Metal, 8 comments

“Things seem to come on threes, be they good, bad or some combination thereof. As proof of this cosmic law, this week has graced me with three examples of stoner/doom/retro music: Ghost, Spiritual Beggars and now Hexvessel. I hadn’t heard of this oddball, psychedelic group of Finns until their No Holier Temple album last year, and I found myself quite taken with their folksy, trippy and hypnotic take on 60s and 70s rock.” And now they’re back with an EP that tells the rest of the story! Are you ready for more Finnish forest folk? You better be!

Pessimist – Death from Above Review

By Happy Metal Guy on April 21, 2013 in 2013, 3.5, German Metal, MDD Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 5 comments

“The artwork is so typical and the title, silly and banal as hell. Even a cursory glance at the pointy band logo should immediately hint at which metal sub-genre this band belongs to, but hang on for a second and hold back that derisive snort…” Oh no!? What’s Happy Metal Guy going to say? The suspense has got to be killing you…

Woe – Withdrawal Review

By Natalie Zed on April 13, 2013 in 2013, 3.5, American Metal, Black Metal, Candlelight, Reviews, Black Metal, 2 comments

“Founded in New Jersey but based for most of their existence in Philadelphia, Pennsylania, black metal band Woe have been peddling their particular brand of utter bleakness since 2007. Originally a solo project created by current vocalist and guitarist Chris Grigg, by the time their second record Quietly, Undramatically was released in 2010 Woe had established a full lineup — which has still undergone many shifts in the past few years. The version of Woe that has come together to create Withdrawal is very different from the incarnation that produced either of their last two records, and it shows.” If you don’t think Philadelphia is a logical birthing ground for nihilistic black metal, you haven’t been to Philly. Natalie Zed will now take you on a tour of Woe’s soundscapes. Keep your arms in the bus at all times.

Deathchain – Ritual Death Metal Review

By Dr. Fisting on April 10, 2013 in 3.5, Death Metal, Dynamic Arts Records, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Uncategorized, 6 comments

“I first heard Finnish death metallers Deathchain nearly a decade ago, when a friend introduced me to what he described as “just crazy fast-ass death metal” (I’m paraphrasing here). His statement was accurate — at the time, the band’s style was straightforward and riff-driven, played at lightning speed with a heavy dose of thrash influence. Despite liking it a lot, I failed to keep up with the band’s progress over the years. Turns out this is a huge error on my part, since Deathchain has apparently evolved into a dark, weird death metal beast while I wasn’t paying attention.” A Finnish death metal band goes from “evil” to “more evil,” and Mr. Fisting rejoices. Grab a beer and begin the Fisting Dance!

Atrocity – Okkult Review

By Madam X on April 8, 2013 in 2013, 3.5, Black Metal, Death Metal, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Napalm Records, Rating, Releases, Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Metal, 12 comments

“Yes, Atrocity have indeed lived up to their name and not in the way one hopes for in death metal, technical, melodic or otherwise. They’re the band that brought out the very un-metal Werk 80 consisting of ‘metalled up’ covers of 80’s pop songs. Oh and wait for it they didn’t stop there, 11 years down the line they doubled the atrocity with the release of Werk 80 II (a double album offering) – I have to ask why?” Steel Druhm joins Madam X in asking why a death metal band chose to make their name doing novelty covers of 80s pop hits, but hey, who are we to judge? Now they’re doing real death metal again and Madam X kinda digs it.

Noumena – Death Walks With Me Review

By Steel Druhm on April 3, 2013 in 2013, 3.5, Death Metal, Finnish Metal, Haunted Zoo Productions, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 19 comments

“Steel Druhm has been banging the drum for little known Finnish act Noumena for quite some time. Ever since stumbling on them, I’ve been a huge fan of their brand of morose, melodic death and I spin their Absence and Anatomy of Life albums all the damn time at Casa de Steelo. In fact, I think Anatomy of Life stands as one of the finest examples of melo-death every recorded. It had all the quintessentially Finnish “dead puppy under the Christmas tree” melancholy you’ve come to expect from countrymen Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum and Rapture, mixed with the guitar wizardry of early In Flames and rounded out with haunting female vocals (and winning guest vocals from Tuomas Tuominen of Fall of the Leafe/Man-Eating Trees to boot).” If you like Finnish melo-death (and you should), you had best join Steel Druhm’s drum circle as he sings the praises of this long overlooked band.

Persefone – Spiritual Migration Review

By Angry Metal Guy on March 31, 2013 in 2013, 3.5, Death Metal, Djent, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Death, Reviews, ViciSolum Productions, Djent, Melodic Death Metal, 17 comments

Persefone is in a bit of a strange position; a darling of the underground progressive metal scene, while still not being particularly well known. Formed in 2003, these Andorran prog metallers have a sound deeply influenced by the ’90s melodeath, progressive black and prog scenes including Opeth, Borknagar, Arcturus and Symphony X. In 2004 they released their debut record Truth inside the Shades and followed up quickly in 2006 with the epic Core. But it wasn’t until 2009 when Persefone blew the world of progressive metal up with Shin-Ken. The record was long, in-depth and gripping — with a unique sound palette that still hit home with metal fans. Technical, sprawling and unique Shin-Ken set the bar for Persefone tremendously high.

Echtra – Sky Burial Review

By Natalie Zed on March 29, 2013 in 2013, 3.5, American Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Reviews, Temple of Tortorous Records, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 0 comments

“Sky Burial is the third-full length album from atmospheric black metal/folk/drone group Echtra, who hail from Olympia, Washington. The record, which is composed of two twenty-three minute tracks entitles “Sky Burial I” and “Sky Burial II,” forms the first instalment of a conceived trilogy of albums entitled The Passage Cycle. Each of these three records will deal with “sloughing off the mortal coil” in some way, and the transition from one state of being to the next. Echtra is a solo project, all elements performed by the eponymous multi-instrumentalist, though Echtra is joined by guest musicians for rare live performances.” Can you ignore a one-man, folksy black metal project from the Great Northwest? You Echtra ass you can’t! Natalie Zed explains why this is worth your precious time.