Reviews

Record reviews

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?

Winterhorde – Maestro Review

By Angry Metal Guy on May 11, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Israeli Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, ViciSolum Productions, Melodic Black Metal, 43 comments

Winterhorde is why labels want bands to release every two years. Back in September of 2010, I reviewed the band’s album Underwatermoon and really enjoyed their well-composed, interesting melodic black metal. My only complaint was that the lyrical tropes felt a little paint-by-numbers coming from an Israeli band; but the music was incisive and gripping. That was, however, six years ago. In that time Winterhorde got signed by Sweden’s ViciSolum Productions—moving on from being the only good band on their previous label’s roster—turned over four members of their band, have continued to develop their sound. I also managed to forget that they exist in the rush of my everyday life, which is why putting out a new album every six years is probably a bad strategy.

Enthean – Priests of Annihilation Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on May 11, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Unsigned Bands, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 17 comments

“Instead of my usual modus operandi of writing something about food and/or beer and relating it to the band and/or record in question, I’m switching things up a bit and kicking this off with mentioning my biggest issue with American melodic black-ish/death-ish crew Enthean’s new full-length Priests of Annihilation. Writing this review, I kept coming back to G.K. Chesterson’s idea that we don’t have a lack of wonders, but a lack of wonder. This record, as I see it, is a reflection of that.” Is technicality the enemy of wonder?

Teloch – Thus Darkness Spake Review

By Grymm on May 10, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Saturnal Records, Black Metal, 3 comments

“Progress can be a hard thing to accept. Whether you’re talking about laws being made, a review being worked on, or something just as simple as changing up your daily routine, throwing any type of wrench into the gears to liven things up a bit can be met with an unreasonable amount of resistance from certain people. Case in point? Finland’s Teloch.” Progress is for posers!

Savage Master – With Whips and Chains Review

By Steel Druhm on May 9, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Heavy Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 26 comments

“As soon as I heard note one of this thing I knew I was in for it. I’d end up falling in my 80s nostalgia hole preaching to the very small choir of 45-plus geezers who grew up on this kind of raw, simplistic proto-metal. Praising this would inevitably lead to abuse from my youthful AMG peers and readers while further cementing my rep as a metallic fossil, but what can a middle-aged Steel Druhm do?” My name is Steel and I have a metal problem.

Svarttjern – Dødsskrik Review

By Madam X on May 9, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Soulseller Records, Black Metal, 8 comments

“I’m a sucker for HansFyrste’s ghastly vocal style, he could probably read from the phone directory and I’d be very okay with it. The bug in my ear took effect around Ragnarok’s Malediction and it only got worse when I discovered Svarttjern’s and later release Ultimatum Necrophilia. Thankfully it’s a solid 2-years beyond the release of Ultimatum, which means we get another shot of Svarttjern, decked out in all their bullet belt and corpse paint finery.” Phone directory grimness would be very kvlt.