Reviews

Record reviews

Powerwolf – Preachers of the Night Review

By Madam X on July 24, 2013 in 2013, 4.0, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Napalm Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 20 comments

“Who’s up for a wolfnado? Hit play, go on I dare you… The wolf-pack’s back and as luck would have it I freed up just in time to safely prise Preachers of the Night from Mr Druhm’s steely, far too cynical grip! For those of you that don’t already know and love Powerwolf’s brand of heavy or power metal they go for your throat with canines bared. Locking on with the speed and catchiness of HammerFall (Glory to the Brave era), with uncomplicated melodies, simple riffing and hugely delivered, shout-along choruses similar to those of Sabaton all the while capturing some of the atmosphere of King Diamond.” Madam X made damn sure Steel Druhm didn’t review this because he has a Powerwolf hunting permit. But can even she stomach all the theatrics and silliness that comes with a release from these overacting hurricanines?

Trouble – The Distortion Field Review

By Steel Druhm on July 22, 2013 in 2.0, 2013, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, 8 comments

Trouble is one of the best doom bands of all time, though they’ve never gotten the attention they deserved. Since this is their first release since 2007 and the first with new singer Kyle Thomas, we here at AMG felt it deserved not one, but two reviews. That’s right…DOUBLE TROUBLE!

Sinister Realm – World of Evil Review

By Steel Druhm on July 20, 2013 in 2013, 3.5, American Metal, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Shadow Kingdom Records, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 8 comments

“If there’s one type of retro metal I never tire of, it’s the kind that goes for the old school, traditional, “trve metal” sound from the early 80s like Cirith Ungol and Manilla Road. Of the few bands out there using this style as a main influence, my favorite is Sinister Realm (though Argus comes really close). I really enjoyed their debut, but they raised their game bigtime for 2011s The Crystal Eye opus and it ended up one of my favorite albums of the year. Utilizing a stripped down, zero-bullshit approach with a slight epic feel and incorporating doom, NWoBHM and early America metal influences, they found a winning formula and crafted some really memorable tunes.” Steel Druhm is old so it should come as no surprise he likes stuff that sounds old. Sinister Realm is old school, cvlt, trve and any other V instead of U word. So is this a match worthy of eHarmony?

Lord Dying – Summon the Faithless Review

By Alex Franquelli on July 19, 2013 in 2013, 3.5, American Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Relapse, Reviews, Sludge, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge, 1 comment

“It’s all about the modes of production. Our own lives follow prearranged paths and are shaped around certain dynamics; we are not even ‘what’ we produce, but rather ‘how much’ we render to society. And it all goes in circles. The past is gone but we cling to it and although we sometimes deny its intrinsic value, we end up imitating its excesses. Ever played Earth, Wind & Fire in your car stereo? Of course not! But only those who don’t own a car can be trusted when they say they didn’t zap when Daft Punk’s horrific, ghastly latest single horribly graced their radio’s frequencies. The same goes with metal. There is nothing new and what is new is not metal. Therefore Lord Dying have spawned a great record.” Alex issues forth on what is old, new, borrowed and blue and also reviews a pretty smacking records from genre blenders Lord Dying. Oh, that Alex!

Chthonic – Bú-Tik Review

By Madam X on July 18, 2013 in 2.5, 2013, Black Metal, Releases, Reviews, Spinefarm, Taiwanese Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 21 comments

“While first wetting my feet with black metal I came across Chthonic’s 9th Empyrean, Relentless Recurrence and Seediq Bale albums. I felt a distinct pull towards their use of traditional instruments, their dramatic, aggressive, melodic sound and their bleak, nihilistic undercurrent and for a fair while their screams gripped my attention. Eventually though I felt the inevitable allure for darker and uglier and sank deeper and into the blackness discovering Nattefrost, Carpathian Forest, Shining (Swedish), 1349, Marduk and so on and to be honest I got distracted and I guess I just forgot about Chthonic….” Will Madam X have a happy reunion with the once beloved Chthonic or has absence made the heart grow bitter? So much drama!

Ereb Altor – Fire Meets Ice Review

By Steel Druhm on July 17, 2013 in 2013, 3.5, Black Metal, Cyclone Empire, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Viking Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Viking Metal, 3 comments

“With little or no fanfare, the trolls of Viking/doom/folk/black metal known as Ereb Altor storm back from the frozen wastes with their hybrid sound and more tales from Norse mythology. Though they began life as an epic-sized, Viking metal act with a strong doom influence (check out By Honour because it’s badass!), they added more and more black metal over time, culminating with 2012s Gastrike opus. As before, they worship the sound and mood of Bathory’s Hammerheart opus (and to a lesser extent Twilight of the Gods) while also incorporating early Darkthrone influences and doom stylings similar to While Heaven Wept.” A fusion of Viking, black and doom metal pretty much sells itself, but Steel Druhm still showed up to grab a paycheck and examine the heady brew that Ereb Altor cooked up. Tastes like…wictory.

Philip H. Anselmo and the Illegals – Walk through Exits Only Review

By Dr. Fisting on July 16, 2013 in 2013, 3.5, American Metal, Groove Metal, Rating, Releases, Reviews, Season of Mist, Uncategorized, Heavy Metal, 5 comments

“The long-rumored Phil Anselmo solo album has been the subject of some extremely high expectations. Since day one, Walk Through Exits Only was billed as Anselmo’s return to hyper-aggressive, high-testosterone metal, a style which was largely created by him and has spawned countless imitators since. That’s great and all, except that Anselmo 1) hasn’t made a metal record in about a decade, and 2) has gone through some serious health issues since then. Can you blame me for being skeptical? More importantly, does Walk Through Exits Only hold up its end of the bargain.” The hype around any Anselmo solo outing is bound to be huge. Mr. Fisting Himself is here to give a hype-free breakdown because that’s how he rolls.

Mercenary – Through Our Darkest Days Review

By Steel Druhm on July 14, 2013 in 2013, 3.5, Danish Metal, Death Metal, Metalcore, NoiseArt Records, Reviews, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Thrash Metal, 15 comments

“Mercenary is a band that’s given me fits over their career. I was very much taken with their fusion of melodic death, power-prog and metalcore on early albums like Everblack and especially The Hours That Remain. Architect of Lies lost some of the charm the older stuff had and didn’t hit me as hard, but it was still decent. However, things really fell apart on their 2011 Metamorphosis release which came across like a generic mix of emo/screamo metalcore and pop. I wrote it off to the massive line up changes the band was weathering at the time and there were a few decent tunes that gave hope they could regain their footing on subsequent releases. Despite this half-hearted optimism, the eternal Law of Dimishing Returns suggested their best days were behind them and I wouldn’t find much to praise on their new album.” Can Mercenary get themselves back on track or is this another nose dive into metalcore hell? Steel Druhm has thoughts and conclusions.

Ancient Crypts – Devoured by Serpents Review

By Dr. Fisting on July 13, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Death Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Death Metal, 0 comments

“It’s common knowledge that some of the most raging metal music today is coming from South America. Countries like Peru, Chilé and Colombia are producing what seems like hundreds of awesomely raw death and black metal bands. They are insanely passionate about old-school metal, their love for Satan is strong, and they release ridiculously obscure demos that are always fun to chase down. Case in point: Chilean death metal duo Ancient Crypts, who have released a cassette-only death metal monstrosity entitled Devoured by Serpents.” South American death metal is like a fine steak. It’s bloody, but delicious. Join Mr. Fisting as he takes us on a trip to the crypts!

Cerekloth – In the Midst of Life We are in Death Review

By Madam X on July 12, 2013 in 2013, 4.5, Danish Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Rating, Releases, Retro Reviews, Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 2 comments

“Edvard Munch’s series of paintings, The Scream, has long held a fascination for me, from Munch’s depiction of the blood red sky to the raw emotion and suffering in the screamers eyes, as images they’re almost stifling to look at. Cerekloth have taken The Scream a step further. They’ve intensified the colors, honed in on the screamer, they’ve given you a passage into where this torture is coming from and they’ve added a bone chilling soundtrack – life meets art? Bursting onto the scene back in 2008 after putting blackened death outfit Church Bizarre temporarily on ice, the release of the debut EP Pandemonium Prayers saw Cerekloth added to Hells Headbangers for the release of a demo and an additional EP Halo of Syringes. And now a full 5 years later, Denmark based Cerekloth return with the Reaper in toe driving it home that death is a part of life, putting death and darkness back into death metal with In the Midst of Life We are in Death. Color me embarrassed for letting this devastating collaboration of aggression and chilling sensations slip through the cracks and go unnoticed!” Madam X gets extra dark and scary as she examines the painful and tortured death metal of Cerekloth. You wouldn’t like her when she’s super scary!