Reviews

Record reviews

Esben and the Witch – Older Terrors Review

By Steel Druhm on November 4, 2016 in 2016, English Metal, Gothic Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Reviews, Season of Mist, 31 comments

“I’m not alone among the AMG staff in having fallen hard for The Gathering’s career defining Mandylion release back in 95. That platter combined elements of doom and goth rock in a way that had never been done before and created something haunting, sad and achingly beautiful. The band quickly drifted toward more commercial waters, and many (myself included) were left hungering for more of what Mandylion delivered. Perhaps that’s why my ears pricked up when I heard a snippet of the Older Terrors promo from hitherto unknown by me English three-piece, Esben and the Witch.” Oh, Mandy, you came and you found me an Esben….

A Province of Thay – Atonement Review

By Zephyrus on November 4, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Carrion Choir, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, Post-Metal, 36 comments

“Music is capable of many wondrous things. It can arouse the senses and instill emotion in even the most hardened of battle vesters. Its melodies can spark furious debate and vehement fervor in scenic sadboys and teeny boppers alike. Indeed, music is just about the only artistic medium that has ever successfully made me shed angry, metal man-tears.” It’s okay to cry. Now report to HR.

The Answer – Solas Review

By Akerblogger on November 3, 2016 in 2016, Hard Rock, Irish Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Hard Rock, 26 comments

“Ten years ago, The Answer released their fuzzified, blues-rock debut Rise. This Northern Irish four-piece rocked. The classic-rock influence was clear for all to hear yet there was enough raw energy for them to stand out; their sound having a vibrant vigor that did not seem forced. Fast forward ten years and five albums and The Answer have released their seventh full-length, Solas. This time the band have honed in on their Gaelic heritage, expressing a more subtle, more folk-inspired side to their sound.” Your mom thinks this is boss.

Hammerfall – Built to Last Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 3, 2016 in 2016, Napalm Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Power Metal, 33 comments

“Sometimes I wish AMG released audio reviews. If we did, the first thirty seconds of my review of Hammerfall’s Built to Last would be uncontrollable laughter. I mean, for fuck’s sake, they have a song called the ‘Twilight Princess.’ But, for all the laughter and poking fun I can have with Built to Last, Hammerfall have never let me down. Maybe it’s because I don’t expect that much from them, I have never taken them too seriously, and they have been pretty damn consistent for over twenty years.” BEWARE: Falling hammers.

Netherbird – The Grander Voyage Review

By Dr. Wvrm on November 3, 2016 in 2016, Black Lodge Records, Black Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, 16 comments

“With roots reaching as far back as Bathory, acoustic guitars have long subverted the conventions of traditional black metal, adding vibrancy to a scene born of minimalism. The last fifteen years have seen acoustic-laden acts like Agalloch and Panopticon transcend the genre with atmospheric forestscapes that owe a great deal to the Grandpa’s guitar. This evolution lit a new path through the early darkness of winter and allowed Netherbird to find fresh inspiration later in their career.” Evolve or die.

The Von Deer Skulls – The Rest Is Silence Review

By Ferrous Beuller on November 2, 2016 in 2016, Doom Metal, French Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Wraith Productions, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, 21 comments

“To state the obvious, it’s my allotted task to listen to music and quantify it as best I can so that your delicate, little shell-like ears can filter out the good, the bad and the downright ugly. Ironically, The Von Deer Skulls run the gamut of all three. When faced with a band billed as progressive post-doom, how on earth could my pretentious urges refuse?” Smell the skull!

Madder Mortem – Red in Tooth and Claw Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on November 2, 2016 in 2016, Dark Essence Records, Norwegian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 47 comments

“I was going to begin this review by referring to Madder Mortem as one of Norway’s best kept secrets, but I had no idea if that were true. It’s hard to judge how well-known a metal band is outside of one’s own group of heavy metal compadres, which is probably why I’m so often surprised by the billing of certain acts at certain German festivals (Feuerschwanz, anyone?).” Now featuring a popularity contest!

T.O.M.B. – Fury Nocturnus Review

By Lord Doom on November 2, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Industrial Metal, Peaceville, Reviews, Black Metal, Industrial Metal, 29 comments

“Makers of what they have referred to as “shadowy,” “blackened,” and “industrial” noise, T.O.M.B. ask in their own language of exploding synthesizers what would happen if, instead of making music haunted and cinematic, someone collected everything haunted and cinematic about metal and made it musical. Literally, this is a group that has crafted an entire album from samples recorded at famous insane asylums, and here on their newest release, Fury Nocturnus, they do their best to convince listeners they have found an even spookier space.” An experiment in terror?

Theocracy – Ghost Ship Review

By Steel Druhm on November 1, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Ulterium Records, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 55 comments

“Though I’ll admit to having steered clear of “Christian metal” over the years due to some silly, small-minded prejudices, there have been exceptions that slowly opened my eyes. Trouble began life as a “white metal” act and I still loved them intensely, and little known Barren Cross caught me in a weirdly inescapable web of hooks with their Atomic Arena album back in 88. Much more recently I was completely blown away by Theocracy’s 2011 opus As the World Bleeds, which mixed bombastic power with prog and classic metal in a way that suited me down to my nonspiritual bones.” It’s high time to get some religion!

Crucified Mortals – Psalms of the Dead Choir Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on November 1, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Death Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 7 comments

“Choosing what to do for Halloween is, in some sense, a lot like choosing how to be a metal band. You can try to deliberately frighten people, like Portal, be as provocative as possible, like Anal Cunt, flaunt your good feminine looks like the one member of Amaranthe anyone cares about, do something wacky and out-of-the-box like Troldhaugen, or you can throw on some old goblin mask and just go get drunk, loud and rowdy.” The goblins and ghosts are at the door.