Reviews

Record reviews

King Goat – Conduit Review

By Angry Metal Guy on March 23, 2016 in 2016, Doom Metal, English Metal, Epic Metal, Reviews, Unsigned Bands, Doom Metal, 44 comments

“King Goat hails from the mid-sized English city Brighton, the embodied karmic inverse of the Great Storm of 1703. Conduit, the band’s debut album, is a self-released album that they call “progressive doom metal.” The record consists of 5 long songs, is 42 minutes long and marks the band’s first release since two EPs from 2013. Most readers here are aware that I am not an epic consumer of doom metal, but Conduit spoke to me immediately. This band of Britons have crafted an album which successfully blends dark atmosphere, soaring vocals, ponderous builds, and an epic feel that compels a listener forward.” Candlemass-core no more!

Rimfrost – Rimfrost Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 22, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Non Serviam Records, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, 53 comments

“Because the chances of getting another release worth a damn from Immortal are about as likely as my Writer o’ the Year award, I have no other choice but to look elsewhere for my Immortal Thirst Quencher. But where can I find that iciness that somehow defines Immortal but no one else? From whence shall I procure melodic black metal that taps into my heart and freezes my veins into blood Popsicles?” These are the kind of hard questions that get you a doctorate!

Demonstealer – This Burden Is Mine Review

By Grymm on March 21, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Demonstealer Records, Indian Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Metalcore, Thrash Metal, 26 comments

“In my almost three years of reviewing for AngryMetalGuy.com, very few things surprise me anymore. Yet, while doing research for This Burden Is Mine, the second album by Indian one-man project Demonstealer, I hopped onto their Facebook page, and realized just how prolific one Sahil Makhija, aka The Demonstealer, is. Not only is he the guitarist and vocalist on here (as well as in his main band, Demonic Resurrection), but he also runs his own eponymous record label (which is also India’s first extreme metal label). He also has his own online cooking blog. In fact, the first thing I saw on Facebook was was a link to a YouTube video for making bacon cake. I didn’t know such a concoction of magnificence even existed on this lowly plane, proving that magic does indeed manifest on Earth.” Bacon cake impresses even the jaded staff of AMG.

Endless – The Truth, the Chaos, the Insanity Review

By El Cuervo on March 21, 2016 in 2016, Brazilian Metal, Power Metal, Power Prog, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 9 comments

“Latin American metal is cruelly under-represented on the world stage, lacking the major label support of their European and North American counterparts. The exception to this seems to be power metal, with figureheads such as Angra and Hibria having emerged from Brazil’s urban jungles. A compatriot to these names, Endless has been limited by a spotty output of only 2 albums in around 20 years but their third full-length is now due and calls itself The Truth, the Chaos, the Insanity. Power metal though it is, drawing on the Europower formula, the riffy rhythm guitars land it somewhere close to Symphony X’s prog-power.” Well, how could this be bad!?

Hammer Fight – Profound and Profane Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on March 20, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 9 comments

We can argue about what the dividing line between metal and hard rock is until the cows come home, involve the cows in the argument until we feel like steaks, and then argue over some rare 16 oz. deliciousness and a wonderful glass of Cornet. But a satisfying conclusion will never be reached. New Jersey’s Hammer Fight and their sophomore record Profound and Profane are intent on making this fight even more difficult by walking the dividing line with the precision of a man who’s just consumed fifteen beers and is intent on doing a balancing act using the lines in the dive bar parking lot. Regardless of genre tags, what we’re all concerned with here is whether or not Hammer Fight is the life of the party or the unfortunate soul who pukes in the punch bowl and falls asleep on the staircase.

Izegrim – The Ferryman’s End Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 19, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Dutch Metal, Listenable Records, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 10 comments

“For those new to Izegrim, it only takes a few descriptive words to describe these Dutch metallers. What if I described the vocalist as a blonde woman with raspy, deathy vox? What if I categorized their sound as melodeath with thrashy breakdowns? What if I described their mission as causing inner-ear damage and venue deconstruction?” I know what you’re thinking: NIGHTWISH!

Sunburst – Fragments of Creation Review

By Angry Metal Guy on March 18, 2016 in 2016, Greek Metal, Inner Wound Recordings, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 52 comments

“It’s well known that I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with power metal and progressive/power. Some of my favorite bands ever—Symphony X and Blind Guardian the most obvious among them—fall into this category, and I keep an ever-watchful eye peeled for new additions to my catalogue. Yet the genre is also plagued by some serious annoyances for me. First, many of the most popular vocalists are people who I find nigh-on unlistenable (Warrel Dane). Second, unlike my esteemed colleague and dictatorial collaborator Lieutenant Corporal Steel Druhm, I find that much of the music being produced within this scene just isn’t terribly heavy. Bands that others worship—see Anubis Gate—feel washed out and bland, offering up little “metal” to keep me engaged.”

Atlantis Chronicles – Barton’s Odyssey Review

By Kronos on March 18, 2016 in 2016, Apathia Records, Death Metal, Deathcore, French Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Releases, Reviews, Deathcore, Melodic Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 27 comments

“It’s bands like this that keep Pär Olafsson employed. While it appears that 2014’s lampooning of less-than ballsy artwork nearly shamed the sphere out of existence, bands are still very much in the market for both cities and the color purple, and nobody does them better. As you might expect, Atlantis Chronicles are a modern death metal band whose bio describes them as having “a strong ocean’s mysteries theme,” although the true mystery here is how that name wasn’t already taken by a series of young adult fantasy novels.” Yeah, well. That can’t be good.

Ill Omen – Æ.Thy.Rift Review

By Mark Z. on March 17, 2016 in 2016, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Nuclear War Now! Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 20 comments

“Sometimes the right setting is everything for a metal album. Fortunately for myself, through a pretty atypical series of life events I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy several records in environments that bring out their absolute best. I’ve listened to Ahab while snuggled below decks on a three-masted barque sailing in the North Atlantic, I’ve listened to Wolves in the Throne Room while hiking the lush forests of the Pacific Northwest, I’ve listened to Baroness while cruising through the humid towns of southeastern America, and I’ve listened to The Acacia Strain while cleaning my toilet. But Æ.Thy.Rift, the third album from Australian one-man black metal project Ill Omen, isn’t one of those albums that just benefits from a proper listening environment – it demands one.” So…give it up!

Cobalt – Slow Forever Review

By Madam X on March 17, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Profound Lore Records, Reviews, Black Metal, Sludge Metal, 39 comments

“How does one sit down and write a followup album when your discography includes not only Eater of Birds but Gin? The former regarded as “2007’s landmark album” and the latter acclaimed as “a pillar in American extreme metal.” Colorado’s Cobalt put themselves in that very position, and I suspect the process saw them battered and bruised in places they never thought possible.” It’s tough to be a trendsetter.