2011

Saeculum Obscurum – Into the Depths of Oblivion Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 19, 2011 in 2011, 3.0, Death Metal, German Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Thunderblast Records, Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 1 comment

As you can tell, my resolution for 2011 was to review more obscure and underground music that no one has ever heard of. I want you to know that this means that I am reviewing like everything I get, if it’s possible, and really I’ve had some good luck and some really fucking horrendously terrible luck. I’m going to say that Saeculum Obscurum falls on the good side of the luck barrier. I figured with a name that means “The Dark Age” and a logo by the mighty artist and logo magnate Christophe, this one deserved a fair shake at least.

Defiled – In Crisis Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 18, 2011 in 2011, 4.0, Death Metal, Japanese Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 0 comments

I’ll admit it, I’m a biased motherfucker. When I think of Japan, I think of anime and J Pop and bands like over-the-top shit like X Japan and the crazy clown lookin’ girls, not brutal death metal bands like Defiled. I guess I should have learned this lesson already from bands like Gore Beyond Necropsy and Sigh and others who break against this stereotype in their own way, but no, my bias remains. Though I guess you can really say that Defiled is over-the-top, as they are an excellent, but also very brutal and pretty technical death metal band that is releasing their fourth full length. However, I can say that I was right surprised to get this record since I had no idea it was coming out and it has been 8 years since their Season of Mist debut Divination. But whether or not I had warning, Defiled has put out another ball breaking slab of death metal crushingness.

Ben Levin Group – Pulse of a Nation Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 17, 2011 in 2011, 4.5, Avante Garde, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Unsigned Bands, 3 comments

I’m not accustomed to being short for words when I write a review. It’s something that happens pretty rarely because I tend to form such strong opinions about things. And given how much shit I’ve been listening to lately for this website, it’s really cool to be able to get my hands on something that has this kind of exciting personality, but let me tell you now, I’m not sure if I’m up to the job of actually doing this record justice with my descriptions. So if for some reason you don’t feel particularly inspired after this to go out and check out this record then ignore that impulse, and check it out anyway.

Silent Stream of Godless Elegy – Návaz Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 15, 2011 in 2.5, 2011, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, 1 comment

The world of music is so big and this Angry Metal Guy is really so very, very small. This is my excuse for having never listened to Silent Stream of Godless Elegy before receiving this record from Season of Mist. And really, I think I probably should have at least checked them out before. Having formed in 1995 they’ve been playing a variety of folky, doomy metal that, to be honst, I’m surprised wasn’t picked up by Napalm Records back in the day when they were on their kick of picking up every female fronted band ever. But I digress [What? Me digress? – AMG].

Stratovarius – Elysium Review

By Steel Druhm on January 14, 2011 in 2011, 3.0, EarMusic records, Finnish Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 20 comments

Stratovarius is a name synonymous with European power metal and right up there with Gamma Ray and Helloween. Over the course of their long recording history they’ve created stellar examples of the style and several of their albums reside on my all time power metal playlist (Destiny, Visions, Episodes, Fourth Dimension, Infinite). Along with these past successes, Stratovarius had their share of ups and downs, including their infamous and acrimonious split with founding member/guitarist/chief songwriter Timo Tolkki (Revolution Renaissance). Both before and after this split, Stratovarius released some uneven albums and went through a phase where they indulged in bloated, overly orchestrated symphonic styles and for many long time fans, this was regrettable (Elements Parts I and II). While 2009’s Polaris seemed to right the ship, Elysium shows considerable backsliding toward these past missteps. While still a decent album with some great moments, it fails to rise anywhere near the level of past triumphs and ultimately bogs down amid ponderous pacing and overwrought orchestration.

Belphegor – Blood Magick Necromance Review

By Steel Druhm on January 13, 2011 in 2011, Austrian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Nuclear Blast, Record o' the Month, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 8 comments

I’m pretty sure loads of people were waiting for this one with baited black breath. Well, the wait is over and Austrian black/death mongers Belphegor have exceeded expectations to unleash a truly monstrous opus of blasting and burning to blight and ravage all the lands. Prepare thyself for one of the more intense, epic and fucking GREAT blackened death metal albums to come around in a while. Taking the best of both the black and death metal genres and stitching them together into a tentacled, writhing mass of gelatinous evil, Belphegor has created one mercilessly heavy yet strangely melodic beast with Blood Magick and Necromance and in the process, eclipsed the entirety of their past works (no easy feat since their previous releases were very good indeed [note: very good (3.5) is indeed the rating I gave Walpurgis Rites: Hexenwahn – AMG). In case it didn’t come across, I love this album!

Against the Flood – Against the Flood Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 12, 2011 in 1.0, 2011, Deathcore, Eurocore, Reviews, Siege of Amida Records, Deathcore, Metalcore, 11 comments

So apparently the UK has a lively metalcore and deathcore scene that is being picked up and flown around the world right now. Against the Flood is one of those bands that sits right on the border between the two genres (which are basically just one genre if you look at their girl jeans and stupid hair cuts) and who have taken from me nearly 60 minutes of my life that I will never, ever, ever, ever get back. As a punishment, I will pee on them publicly, from my blog (and wait for their stupid oaf fans, and buddies, to come here and insult me).

New Moonsorrow = <3

By Angry Metal Guy on January 12, 2011 in 2011, Blog Posts, Epic Metal, Finnish Metal, Folk Metal, Spinefarm, Viking Metal, 3 comments

So, the new Moonsorrow track has been put up on YouTube in (count them) TWO videos ’cause Moonsorrow writes songs that are TOO LONG FOR YOU(TUBE)! The release dates are: UK Feb 21 Finland Feb 23 Germany, Switzerland, Austria Feb 25 Rest of Europe Feb 28

Sirenia – The Enigma of Life Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 11, 2011 in 1.5, 2011, Doom Metal, Norwegian Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, 25 comments

So, I must admit, I was excited to hear this new Sirenia record. For whatever reason I’d not spent much time getting to know the band of former Tristania founding member Morten Veland and I guess I figured that Sirenia had to be pretty good ’cause, well, I’m willing to give people who have done cool shit the benefit of the doubt. Of course, it’s been a decade since the band formed and I’ve never had the kind of intrinsic motivation to actually go out there and try to learn the about the band, and after listening to The Enigma of Life I’m pretty damn glad I never wasted my damn time [see the final note, however – AMG].

Legion of the Damned – Descent Into Chaos Review

By Steel Druhm on January 10, 2011 in 2011, 3.5, Death Metal, Dutch Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 1 comment

Steel Druhm is a famously soft touch for a mean and angry thrash album. Because of this well know thrash predilection, I’ve celebrated the entire catalogue of Dutch death thrashers Legion of the Damned because these guys can really bring the pain. Over four albums, LOTD (formerly known as Occult) have consistently crafted intense, punishing thrash in the vein of old Slayer and Sodom mixed with the more modern death metal approach of bands like The Crown. They certainly aren’t reinventing the thrash metal genre in any way but they always produced quality material. Happily for thrash mavens, after a three year hiatus they manage to keep the spiked ball rolling with Descent Into Chaos and give yet another lesson in violence and aggressive thrashality.