Reviews

Record reviews

Serious Black – Mirrorworld Review

Serious Black – Mirrorworld Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 31, 2016 in 2016, AFM Records, International Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 35 comments

“I can’t believe it’s already been a year since Serious Black’s fantastic debut As Daylight Breaks. An album that proved dream teams can exist and can work. Not only that, but this supergroup achieved it via a style that rarely receives RotY nods from yours truly. Urban Breed, et al. even had El Cuervo singing along to tunes like “High and Low” and “Sealing My Fate” whilst leaving the AMG restrooms in terrible condition for the n00bs to clean up. And now, a year and change later, Serious Black is back with Mirrorworld.” Clean up in Aisle Trve!

Neurogenic – Ouroboric Stagnation Review

Neurogenic – Ouroboric Stagnation Review

By Saunders on August 30, 2016 in 2016, Comatose Music, Reviews, Slam, Slam, 22 comments

“Although death metal forms a sizable chunk of my metal rotation, it’s often maligned offshoot, brutal death, can prove a more awkward pill to swallow and a difficult style to get right. Too often brutal death bands over focus on the sheer obliterating brutality and over-the-top extremity, where decent songwriting becomes an afterthought.” auralboric stagnation?

Running Wild – Rapid Foray Review

Running Wild – Rapid Foray Review

By Steel Druhm on August 30, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, SPV, Steamhammer, Heavy Metal, 66 comments

“The pirate’s life is not for everyone. Extensive travel, oft unprofessional coworkers and arcane profit sharing arrangements conspire to limit the talent pool and keep opportunities scarce. None of that ever mattered to Running Wild. They took to the trade like a duck to water and from 1987 onward they’ve kept the marauder’s flag flying almost nonstop through hard times and rough seas. Rapid Foray is the third release since their 2012 “reformation” and as on Shadowmaker and Resilient, they’re not looking to reinvent the parrot.” Rum and rummer.

Hellbringer – Awakened from the Abyss Review

Hellbringer – Awakened from the Abyss Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on August 29, 2016 in 2016, Australian Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 88 comments

“Much like veganism, not liking Slayer is completely beyond my comprehension. Why would anyone deny themselves the great stuff which food and metal have to offer them? Once you reach either point of denial, why not fully commit and start only listening to records with a 2 or below on the DR and/or AMG scale, only drinking wine that comes in an oversized juice box, or talking about philosophy exclusively with stoners? If you, for some reason or another, feel the utmost need to deny yourself the pleasure of indulging in great things, you’re in luck!” If you’re not into Slayer, you are not my friend!

F.A.M. – Human Cargo Review

F.A.M. – Human Cargo Review

By Mark Z. on August 29, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Deformeathing Records, Grind, Polish Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 21 comments

“I recently heard from a coworker that lobster meat only has to contain about 2% actual lobster to be labeled as such. Often when you’re biting into a cheap lobster roll, you’re actually eating monkfish – a bottom dwelling creature that looks like a cross between a dog turd and a deep sea anglerfish that got run over by a dump truck. Why bring this up? Well, if Polish grindcore quartet F.A.M. are any indication, mediocre deathgrind albums work the same way.” Contents guaranteed to be fresh.

Vrtra – My Bones Hold a Stillness Review

Vrtra – My Bones Hold a Stillness Review

By El Cuervo on August 28, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Sentient Ruin Laboratories, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 32 comments

“There’s something about Vrtra that screams ‘the trve vndergrovnd.’ Maybe it’s the wholly capitalized stylization. Maybe it’s the ambiguous ‘V.’ Maybe it’s the dark artwork with wispy flecks of gray. Maybe it’s their sub-400 followers on Facebook. Maybe it’s that they play one of the least common fusions of metal genres. It’s definitely not their hometown(s) however, as they partly hail from the Bay Area, a home rooted in metal history. Yet thrash they reject: instead, My Bones Hold a Stillness is their debut attempt at encapsulating the towering stature of doom with blackened ferocity.” Maybe it’s that snazzy and indecipherable logo….

Banisher – Oniric Delusions Review

Banisher – Oniric Delusions Review

By Eldritch Elitist on August 27, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Deformeathing Records, Polish Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 29 comments

“Listening to Oniric Delusions this past week got me thinking about vanilla ice cream. It’s a dessert that’s not so much widely loved as universally accepted as a reliable standby to other, more complex dishes. Proper application of toppings however can transform this most mundane of treats into something special and unique. When I learned that Banisher hails from Poland and markets themselves as extreme death metal, I couldn’t help but raise my expectations at least a little.” Poland is for death lovers.

Inquisition – Bloodshed Across the Empyrean Altar Beyond the Celestial Zenith Review

Inquisition – Bloodshed Across the Empyrean Altar Beyond the Celestial Zenith Review

By Angry Metal Guy on August 26, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Black Metal, 70 comments

This post was removed due to Dagon’s involvement in a number of explicitly Nazi projects and events. If you were unaware of this, now you know. Armed with that information, I encourage you to not support Inquisition or any Nazi band. The reason this is important is because financial support for Neo-Nazi groups often comes via the white power punk and metal music scenes and, therefore, cutting off financial support to these bands may be a meaningful way to counteract the ability to organize.

Sodom – Decision Day Review

Sodom – Decision Day Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 24, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Reviews, SPV, Steamhammer, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 48 comments

“As you get older, reminiscing becomes part of everyday life. Especially those pushing thirty, forty, fifty years old. Times were simpler in the old days and, while we’re wiser now, there’s a sense of envy for those days of ignorance. In 2016, AMG Industries, Inc. gives Sodom’s thirty-year-old self an opportunity to look back at baby pictures. A few weeks ago we got an YMIO on Obsessed by Cruelty and now we get 2016’s Decision Day.” That baby was mighty ugly. So what’s the adult version looking like these days?