Record reviews
“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!
“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….
“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?
“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.
“Malthusian studies began at AMU in late 2013 with the offering of MMXIII (BLKM – 131126), an introductory course in psychedelic black metal with emphasis on atmosphere and a prerequisite of Altar of Plagues (BLKM – 130425)….” Get your syllabus and read it!
“Forgotten Tomb aren’t new to black metal and they’re a dish best served cold. Following the disbandment of his earlier project (Sacrater), Ferdinando “Herr Morbid” Marchisio masterminded what we now know as Italy’s Forgotten Tomb.” Is it possible Forgotten Tomb forgot something important?
“The first thing that came to mind when this death metal Colombian necktie of an EP came across my radar is the similarly-titled 2007 King Diamond album, Give Me Your Soul…Please. Like every King release of the past few decades, a disappointing slab that folks bolstered up higher than they should have because we all love King so damn much.” But is this a diamond in the rough?
“Longtime readers of this blog know that I have a fraught relationship with Enslaved. Once one of my favorite bands, these Norwegian Viking metallers’ releases between 2003’s Below the Lights and 2008’s Vertebrae make for one of those unbroken strings of heavy metal glory that few bands ever unleash. Unfortunately for me, since 2008’s masterpiece, the band has released two records (Axioma Ethica Odini and RIITIIR) which left me cold.” So, what’ll it be? Will In Times be another disappointment for Ye Olde Angry Metale Guye?
“I don’t think it’s any secret that I love me some good ole fashioned black metal. I like it old and cold, trebly and chaotic, raspy and harsh. When done correctly, not even the above-average, desert temperatures can keep my spine from growing cold or force me to remove my Darkthrone hoodie.” Leave it to Satan to keep spines frosty and cold.
“Rogga Johasson gets more time in the AMG spotlight than any other artist (yes, even including Jorn the Mighty). With more musical projects than anyone can keep track of, the man is everywhere in the Swedish death metal scene all at once, all the time. The Grotesquery is yet another of his myriad projects, this one teaming him with death metal legend Kam Lee (Massacre, Denial Fiend) and members of Demiurg….” Dick Tracy meets John Wayne Gacy? Could work…maybe. And stick around for the surprise bonus!
