Reviews

Record reviews

Zaum – Eidolon Review

By Eldritch Elitist on October 26, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Doom Metal, I Hate, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, 23 comments

“Anyone who’s made this blog a regular haunt knows there are several “don’ts” many of us consider when we review albums: don’t bloat your album length, don’t brickwall the damn thing in production, and so on. Far be it from me as a probational scribe to suggest a new entry for our Tome ov Rules, but after listening to sophomore effort, Eidolon, from Canadian doomers’ Zaum, I’ve settled on a new guideline for my personal rulebook: when writing a full-length album, don’t put all of your stock in only two massive songs.” A good rule is a good rule, regardless of its source.

40 Watt Sun – Wider than the Sky Review

By Grymm on October 26, 2016 in 2016, British Metal, Doom Metal, Not Metal, Radiance Records, Reviews, Rock, Doom Metal, Not Metal, 25 comments

The world became a much darker place in 2009 when UK doom upstarts Warning disbanded after only two albums. When word got out that guitarist and vocalist Patrick Walker would form a new project called 40 Watt Sun with fellow Warning bandmate Christian Leitch, doomsters the world over panted with anticipation. What many people hoped would be a continuation of the morose path constructed by Warning’s farewell album, 2006’s criminally underrated Watching from a Distance, instead were met with softer, but no less intense, waters with The Inside Room. Five years and several label woes later, the band returns with their self-released second album, Wider than the Sky.” Watch the skies (from a distance).

Testament – Brotherhood of the Snake Review

By Steel Druhm on October 26, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 135 comments

“2016 will go down as the year 80s thrash legends struck a blow for the AARP crowd. It’s the year Anthrax, Megadeth and Death Angel all shook off the dust and complacency, releasing shockingly good albums, and in what may be the final sign of the Apocalypse, even Metallica seems poised to drop something marginally listenable next month.” Next stop: Apocalyptic City!

Principality of Hell – Sulfur & Bane Review

By Mark Z. on October 25, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Greek Metal, Osmose Productions, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 8 comments

“Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong decade. Every time I think back to the pop culture of the 90s, all I remember is boring daytime television and lazy post-grunge blaring on the radio. In contrast, the 80s seemed much more exciting — the jeans were tight, the horror movies were actually good, and extreme metal was first clawing its way into existence via stacks of battered demo tapes and tattered home-printed zines. Greek trio Principality of Hell apparently felt the same way.” It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times??

Hail Spirit Noir – Mayhem in Blue Review

By El Cuervo on October 24, 2016 in 2016, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Greek Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Psychedelic Rock, 37 comments

“Tensions remain, not just between Greece and the overlords of the EU but within the country: between those who support the economic freedom conferred by greater government spending and those who advocate fiscal responsibility. It’s in this turmoil that Mayhem in Blue was written.” Frugality breeds insanity.

Darkrypt – Delirious Excursion Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on October 24, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Indian Metal, Reviews, Transcending Obscurity, Death Metal, 25 comments

“Darkrypt was helpfully labelled as an Indian “dark death metal” band when I got the promo, which is great to know because I really thought a band named after a portmanteau of darkness and a dark underground tomb was going to be bright, poppy stuff in the vein of Carly Rae Jepsen.” I heard they’re doing a split.

Istvan – Istvan Review

By Zephyrus on October 23, 2016 in 2016, Aural Music, Doom Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, 16 comments

“Not once have I ever blasted the roach or taken a toke. I have never smoked the bowl, nor have I mowed the grass. I puffed a magic dragon once, but I’m pretty sure that was in kindergarten and isn’t relevant to the discussion at hand. Yet, for some reason, I’ve always been drawn to stoner rock and metal. Is being stoned a prerequisite to proper enjoyment of the genre?” No grass, no pass.

Poltergeist – Back to Haunt Review

By Treble Yell on October 23, 2016 in 2016, Pure Steel Records, Reviews, Swiss Metal, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 10 comments

“In a dimly lit basement sits an easel covered by a dust-kissed veil. Beneath it reveals a portrait illustrating denim-clad, leonine-tousled men. Their faces are sunken and scored, their skin sallow and mottled. Whilst the painting’s subjects may be cruelled by time, the actual bands portrayed here are instead brimming with life, churning out quality music that belies their age.” The olde can still be bold(e).

Debackliner – Debackliner Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 22, 2016 in 2016, French Metal, Heavy Metal, Pitch Black Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 10 comments

“Debackliner is the second French group in a week for me. The first was the excellent Ars Moriendi—a one-man, black metal act focused on the Frenchy weirdness of bands like Spektr and Blut aus Nord. But, Debackliner is something else. It’s not a one-man band, it’s not black metal, and it’s not anything you were expecting.” Is there a French connection?

Black Yet Full of Stars – Black Yet Full of Stars Review

By Ferrous Beuller on October 22, 2016 in 2016, International Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Rockshots Records, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 29 comments

“There’s no doubt about it, in this burgeoning world of myriad metal sub-genres, an unlucky few have been branded as default pejoratives. We’re all guilty of it to some degree: nu metal, metalcore, deathcore… basically anything with a core, all sneered at and vilified down the length of our long, elitist noses. It saddens my iron bones to find that power metal seems to be suffering the same fate. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but there can be no denying the scene’s quality output.” Up with power!