Reviews

Record reviews

Mortillery – Shapeshifter Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 19, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 49 comments

“I would be a goddamned liar if I said I were a longtime fan of Canadian thrashers, Mortillery—and those who commented on last year’s Unleash the Archers review can contest to this. However, after diving deep into the band’s back catalog, I can wholeheartedly admit that, in a single week’s time, I am a diehard fan of this band. And for the first time in awhile, I will not be sent to the AMG basement for my poor taste in metal or forced outside to scrape the dead armadillo carcasses hanging from the grilles of the staff’s Prius’.” We’ve actually moved your desk down there.

The Order of Israfel – Red Robes Review

By Steel Druhm on May 18, 2016 in 2016, Doom Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Doom Metal, 23 comments

“The Order of Israfel’s 2014 debut Wisdom became a bit of a sleeper for yours truly. I gave it a positive review and saw the potential, but didn’t expect to return to it quite as much as I have. The combination of classic doom with tough biker rock proved hard to ignore and though it missed my year end lists, it’s become a regular part of my “free range” listening time.” Free Steel Druhm!

Vainaja – Verenvalaja Review

By Grymm on May 17, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Svart Records, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 76 comments

“In 2014, Finnish three-headed beast Vainaja dropped a megaton bomb in the form of Kadotetut, leveling the ears of those who bore witness to their hymns, and placing themselves in a comfortable 3rd place spot on my year-end list with their mix of Celtic Frosty atmospherics and Asphyxiating tremolo doom. The story of a long-lost book of desecrations, sacrificial rites, and other blasphemous acts set to a bone-crushing doom/death backdrop, was both addictive and effective. Two years later, another tome has been unearthed.” Books cause nothing but trouble.

Katalepsy – Gravenous Hour Review

By Kronos on May 16, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Reviews, Russian Metal, Unique Leader, Death Metal, Slam, 15 comments

“Slam’s audio palette isn’t especially varied. The death metal setup – already instrumentally optimized for a pretty particular group of timbres – tuned down and sometimes pitchshifted into an almost inaudibly low register doesn’t give you much to work with in terms of tone diversity, which is why so many slam bands have tight, grating snares and so many slam riffs go all in on pinch harmonics. And when Katalepsy go all in, I mean all in.” Go big or go home.

Assassin – Combat Cathedral Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 15, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Reviews, SPV GmbH, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 14 comments

“I feel ashamed to admit it, but I had never heard Germany’s Assassin before grabbing their new release, Combat Cathedral. Which is sad considering they have been in the scene for some thirty years. This, however, is understandable if one looks at the band’s sporadic release schedule (which is nonexistent between 1988 and 2005).” German thrashers will even fight on holy ground!

Whispered – Metsutan: Songs of the Void Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on May 14, 2016 in 2016, Finnish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Redhouse Finland Music Publishing, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 38 comments

“Remember when Tom Cruise got cast as The Last Samurai in 2003? Some people on the Internet really do, and take time out of what must be a rich and fulfilling life to vomit up prose so salty it gives Dutch licorice a run for its money. Naturally it’s made into a sociopolitical issue, but I’m going to leave that alone because I’m not a fifth-rate hack who feels compelled to use the metal blog I write for as a soapbox to spew typo-laden opinions on contemporary politics and the like. Anyway, Mr. Cruise remained The Last Samurai for about a year, because in 2004 Finnish Samurai metal band Whispered came into existence.” Eat it, Tommy!

Vektor – Terminal Redux Review

By Dr. Fisting on May 13, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Earache Records, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Progressive Metal, Thrash Metal, 124 comments

“Arizona thrashers Vektor hold a special place in my cold black heart, as their previous album Outer Isolation was one of my very first reviews for this esteemed website. Crazy to think that that was five years ago, and crazier still is that Vektor has not released any new music in that half-decade — practically an eternity in today’s climate of short attention spans and equally short tour/record/tour cycles. Fortunately, Vektor has finally rewarded their fans’ patience with a lengthy, almost impossibly dense record called Terminal Redux.”

Iron Savior – Titancraft Review

By Steel Druhm on May 13, 2016 in 2016, AFM Records, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 23 comments

“Nothing clings quite so tenaciously to life as a Germanic metal band. Think about it for a moment – all the big names in 80s Kraut thrash are still active, along with nearly all of their 80s power and traditional acts. In essence, Teutonic metal is harder to kill than nail fungus and just as unsightly. Though Iron Savior didn’t come into existence until 97, they’ve proven typically resilient and hard to eradicate.” German metal can’t be stopped, German metal can’t be topped.

Blaze Bayley – Infinite Entanglement Review

By Angry Metal Guy on May 12, 2016 in 2016, English Metal, Reviews, 33 comments

Blaze Bayley’s solo records have become a perpetual state of promise and terror. Turns out Infinite Entanglement is more promise than terror, if you’re keeping track at home.

Suidakra – Realms of Odoric Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 12, 2016 in 2016, AFM Records, Black Metal, Folk Metal, German Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 44 comments

“As pointed out by our highly esteemed El Cuervo, Suidakra is perhaps one of the most productive bands on the planet. Including this year’s Realms of Odoric, the band has dished out twelve albums in nearly twenty years (including an early-career period where the band was releasing an album a year).” With so much productivity, are these guys the anti-Necrophagist?