“2015 has been the Year of Black Metal, hasn’t it? Coincidentally, it’s also the Year of the Goat in the Chinese Zodiac, so it would make sense.” A high tide raises all goats.
Reviews
Record reviews
Khors – Night Falls Onto the Front of Ours Review
“Well, you have to hand it to these wacky Ukrainians. Though Khors may never become a household name, they may have sewn up the title of worst ESL offenders ever. I mean, just look at that title.” Review gives information onto the head of you.
Akhlys – The Dreaming I Review
This post has been removed because it promoted Nazi or Nazi-adjacent metal bands or musicians. We apologize.
Apocalyptica – Shadowmaker Review
“I felt some remorse back in 2013 that I didn’t make more effort to review Apocalyptica’s Wagnerian tribute (Wagner Reloaded), an album that’s seen me through many long flights between South Africa and New York. Along comes Shadowmaker, Apocalyptica now have a dedicated vocalist as Franky Perez (ex-Scars on Broadway) takes his spot in the limelight and I get a chance to make right.” These guys lasted way longer than you expected, didn’t they?
Tribulation – The Children Of The Night Review
“Although they began as progenitors of fuzzed-out Entombed-style death metal, Sweden’s Tribulation has been on a trajectory towards smarter, more structured music since their second record, 2013’s The Formulas of Death. Their latest album boasts the Dio-worthy title The Children Of The Night.” Tribulation is a tricky little wicket. You never know what they’ll do next.
Killer Refrigerator – The Fridge and the Power It Holds Review
“Hi, I’m Diabolus in Muzaka. You’ve probably read some of my musings on metal music in this space. I come to you today not just as a reviewer, but as a man who has been affected second-hand by appliance violence. Laugh at the cover or concept here all you like, but having witnessed a close friend’s assault by an appliance gone rogue, I see Killer Refrigerator as selfless visionaries using metal to bring us this message of our pending appliance-driven annihilation.” Honey, that appliance just called me an asshole!
Infernal War – Axiom Review
“Infernal War are a pissed-off bunch. Formed in 1997, the Polish blackened-death quintet’s sole two full-lengths – 2005’s Terrorfront and 2007’s Redesekration – are essentially blastbeat-fueled blitzkriegs against Judeo-Christianity, and are probably the two angriest and most hate-filled albums ever recorded.” Hate is a negative emotion. Prepare to enter the Negative Zone!
Sulphur Aeon – Gateway to the Antisphere Review
“AMG’s Law of Diminishing Recordings is a cruel mistress. She delivers a cold left hook to the smiling face of over-optimism, reminding us time and time again that in no way does a great record necessitate a great follow-up. Through this we learn the value of cautious optimism, reasonable expectations, and keeping a cool head when looking forward to an upcoming release. In most cases, that’s how I approach new music from a band I’m already excited about. Sulphur Aeon releasing a new record is decidedly not “most cases.”” Watch the oceans. The truth is out there….
Royal Thunder – Crooked Doors Review
“Riding a wave of turbulence generated from the relationship break-up between Parsonz and lead guitarist Josh Weaver, along with a couple of line-up shifts, Crooked Doors represents a melancholic, tumultuous and emotion-charged chapter in Royal Thunder’s career, where relationship fractures have been patched up in the name of unity, while the scar tissue remains raw and sensitive.” Break ups make for good metal? Who knew?
Kiske/Somerville – City of Heroes Review
“Here we have another project band from Frontiers Records which appears to be trying to duplicate the success of the Russell Allen and Jorn Lande pairings. Like those albums, the music here is written by Magnus Karlsson, this time with the help of his Primal Fear band mate, Mat Sinner, and as usual, it walks the line between melodic power metal and radio-ready hard rock. Essentially, this is Allen/Lande with Michael Kiske and Amada Somerville standing in. How you feel about that will depend on the extent of your love for the former Helloween golden boy and the erstwhile queen of symphonic metal backing vocals (Avantasia, Aina, et al).” Do you need to take things down a notch and relax? This might help.
