Who would have thought that an icy wasteland would be good for the music community, it seems ice inspires insane speeds and death metal! A few weeks back, in my review of Kontinuum’s Earth Blood Magic, I commented on the metal kick-assery that’s making its way out of Iceland (and in particular Reykjavík), and at the time of their review another band aggressively caught my attention, doggedly refusing to let my mind rest! In true shit-happens style I ended up missing their release date and now you have a retrospective review of Beneath’s Enslaved by Fear [I feel shame at my tardiness].
Reviews
Record reviews
Weapon – Embers and Revelations Review
Steel Druhm has a sordid history of black metal bashing. Now he turns his bitter attention to the new opus by Weapon. Will Embers and Revelations avoid his typical blackened butt spankery? They better hope so; the man has an iron hand.
Anaal Nathrakh – Vanitas Review
Anaal Nathrakh is a name that commands mucho respect in the frowny, downy world of black metal. Happy Metal Guy tells us if Vanitas keeps the flame of blackness burning bright in the dark of the winter night. Hey, that rhymed!
Ill Niño – Epidemia Review
As Karmic revenge for throwing things at Ill Niño, Fisting Andrew Golota is forced to listen to their new album. It seem they’re the same nu-metal band he once threw stuff at. So much for progress!
Antropomorphia – Evangelivm Nekromantia Review
Madam X gets all the hot, nasty necro-metal! Here, she examines whether tales of necro-lesbianism make for a great album. The answer just might surprise you!
Daemonicus – Deadwork Review
Swedish retro death is as common these days as reality shows about fat, uneducated hoarders. Steel Druhm appreciates both trends, so he’s happy as a pig in shite over the Dismember-worship demonstrated by Daemonicus on their second album, Deadwork.
Loch Vostok – V: The Doctrine Decoded Review
So last year (that’d be 2011 for everyone reading this review in 2013 and forward) I discovered Loch Vostok’s record Dystopium a few months after it was released and did a Things You Might Have Missed entry about it. But given that it was last year, I was surprised when I saw that the fecund Teddy Möller and crew had already produced a new record and that it was sitting in my inbox. Now, granted, I didn’t get to it nearly quickly enough (since it’s already out), but I thought I’d drop in and let you know that a) it’s out and b) what I think of it. I like it, but not as much as Dystopium. There, now you don’t need to read any further!
Retro-spective Review: Lethal – Programmed
We haven’t had a retro review for some time and Steel Druhm is here to fix that. Diving deep into the archives, he points an aproving finger at long forgotten, Queensryche-influenced rockers Lethal and their excellent debut, Programmed. With all the spit and shit flying between Geoff Tate and his former band, you’re gonna need this if you want a taste of good, old fashioned Ryche ‘n roll.
Fullforce – Next Level Review
Confession Time! Steel Druhm has been wracked with guilt since underrating the first Fullforce album. Now he finally gets a chance to atone as he reviews the new opus by this melodic metal supergroup from Sweden.
The Gathering – Disclosure Review
The Gathering were once a metal band and much beloved by Steel Druhm. Now, they’re more like a goth-rock act and Steel’s affections have cooled significantly. Can the new opus rekindle the love that once burned with the heat of a thousand suns? Tune in for all the latest romance and gossip!