Reviews

Record reviews

Gloryhammer – Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards Review

By Angry Metal Guy on September 28, 2015 in 2015, English Metal, Napalm Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 134 comments

“I have been accused of being boring and touchy because I dislike parody heavy metal bands. Whenever a band like Steel Panther or The Darkness shows up, I get defensive. “Metal is alive and well,” I argue, and honestly, there are bands that are putting out great power metal and hard rock that gets ignored by mainstream press outlets that rave over parody bands and they sell lots of records. I also tend to get annoyed by comedy lyrics; for the most part those songs are funny once or twice, but after a while they just stop being funny and they become uninteresting because, well, that’s the point. Put this together, and a parody band seems like it should have a lot of strikes against it here at Angry Metal Guy. Not only are Steel Druhm and I firmly anti-fun, but I’m defensive about metal because I don’t want real, talented metal bands getting short shrift next to bands who are just making fun of the sound.” Fun will be had.

Annihilator – Suicide Society Review

By Steel Druhm on September 28, 2015 in 2015, Canadian Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, UDR Music, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 56 comments

“Those who’ve been around the blog a while know I’ve been feudin’ and beefin’ with Annihilator for so long, even AMG thinks my mind is gone. I’ve taken their past few albums to task because I know they’re capable of so much more than the half-hearted, formulaic party thrash they’ve delivered for the better part of their 26 year career.” Can’t we all just get along?

VI – De Praestigiis Angelorum Review

By Grymm on September 27, 2015 in 2015, Agonia Records, Black Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 38 comments

“VI. Yes, yet another band with a name that’s not easily Google-able, but after a month of nothing but doom and “space metal,” I decided I was due for some rather bleak, black artistry. What I didn’t know upon grabbing De Praestigiis Angelorum for review was that the band was comprised of former members of Antaeus and current members of Aosoth and The Order of Apollyon.” It’s like a French pasty full of kvlt!

Ares Kingdom – The Unburiable Dead Review

By Al Kikuras on September 26, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Death Metal, Nuclear War Now! Productions, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 25 comments

“In the case of Order From Chaos, the band’s demise wasn’t due to ego or vague musical differences, it was by design. The plan was to release three full-lengths and then fold and that’s precisely what they did. Rather than even remotely overstaying their welcome, they went out on the highest and grimiest note possible.” And their heroic decision begat this face ripper.

Blacklisters – Adult Review

By Roquentin on September 25, 2015 in 2015, English Metal, Handshake Inc, Hardcore, Non-Metal Metal Things, Reviews, Hardcore, Noise Rock, Non-metal Metal Things, Post-Hardcore, Punk, 17 comments

“Leeds-based foursome Blacklisters’ sophomore release Adult is a cynical punch in the face accompanied by a sardonic smile. An eruption of sickening bile gestated for years in pools of angst spat by generations of punk, hardcore, and noise bands.” If you’re like me and don’t like clowns, this cover creeps you out.

Serial Butcher – Brute Force Lobotomy Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on September 25, 2015 in 2015, Belgian Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Unique Leader, Death Metal, 52 comments

“No amount of misdirecting ledes or rhetorical flourishes can hide the fact that you already know Belgium’s Serial Butcher is a death metal band and Brute Force Lobotomy is a death metal record.” Thus endith the lesson.

Morbid Slaughter – A Filthy Orgy of Horror and Death Review

By Mark Z. on September 24, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Peruvian Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 23 comments

“I imagine the band spreading their metaphorical buttcheeks to draw in the atmosphere of first-wave acts like Hellhammer and early Bathory, letting it fester in their intestines long enough to give it their own unique stench.” It must be Enema Thursday!

Magister Templi – Into Duat Review

By Madam X on September 24, 2015 in 2015, Cruz Del Sur, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, 22 comments

“When nearly half of your band includes key Svarttjern black metal misanthropes, a marriage of Pagan Altar and King Diamond’s heavy metal Mercyful Fate-alism is not what you expect to burst forth from your speakers. And yet it does.” In the Olde School you still need chalk and fountain pens.

The 3rd Attempt – Born in Thorns Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 23, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 48 comments

“When I heard Tchort put together a black metal band that combined elements of Carpathian Forest and Blood Red Throne with those of Gorgoroth, Immortal, Bathory, and even Motörhead, I nearly shat myself. After a decade trying to fill the empty crater in my achy-breaky heart with more of Nattefrost’s sadomasochism, I’m stoked to hear the master-behind-the-riffs unleash a sultry combination of all he is; black thrash, blackened rock ‘n’ roll, Scandinavian death, and a variety of surprising twists.” Its time to strap on the assless chaps again and take a run through the forest.

Mantric – Sin Review

By El Cuervo on September 23, 2015 in 2015, Loyal Blood Records, Norwegian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 6 comments

“Composed largely of musicians from Extol’s old line-up, Mantric took up the progressive mantle with technical fervor on 2010’s The Descent. They’re now back with Sin – one of those difficult-to-categorize modern metal releases.” More prog for you wankers!