Happy Metal Guy reviews the thrashy new Revocation EP while also revealing his love of naked and vulnerable things and his sadistic urge to torture insects. Lock up the cats and small animals and bring in the psycho-therapists.
Reviews
Record reviews
Enslaved – RIITIIR Review
Enslaved has really secured its position in the highest tear of metal bands in the world. Though they started out long ago in the second wave of Norwegian black metal, nothing they’ve done since the late 90s has really represented that faction of their existence. Instead, they’ve become one of metal’s shining examples of a transition from the extreme to the progressive. While doing more to maintain their extremity than a band like Anathema or Katatonia have done, the band’s last full length Axioma Ethica Odini and their EP The Sleeping Gods both lacked extremity while pushing out the borders of the band’s progressive bona fides. I wasn’t sure of what to make of Enslaved’s RIITIIR when it first arrived – but while the record is ostensibly different than the band’s previous work, that mellow, bong-water stain of ’70s progressive rock continues to push further and further from their black metal roots. For the better?
Savage Annihilation – Cannibalisme, Hérésie et autres Sauvageries Review
When Madam X heard this album was full of sick, inhumane grind, she wanted to taste the blood in her mouth as she enjoyed the carnage. When that didn’t happen, she got very unhappy. Lesson for the day: never deprive Madam X of her blood tasting!
Hellwell – Beyond the Boundaries of Sin
Manilla Road is an institution in the metal world and deserve many accolades. However, their last album bummed Steel Druhm out bigtime. Now, Hellwell, the Manilla-fueled side project of Mark Shelton is here to right the wrongs and kill with songs. Steel Druhm is happy again and back in the Cthulhu cult where he belongs. Join him…
Sybreed – God is an Automaton Review
Lord Doom is here to bend your ear about Swiss Modern metallers Sybreed. It’s Djenty, mechanical and heavy. Pummeling is the watch word.
Die Hard – Conjure the Legions Review
I hope you all remember where you left your skull tanks…cause here’s more re-thrash!! Extra old school re-thrash is the game, and Die Hard is the name. Steel Druhm generously takes time away from lipsticking swine to discuss the album with you.
Blut Aus Nord – 777 – Cosmosophy Review
I wake up and look around me. The dark-red ice is still coating the interior of the church. This can only mean one thing – I am still trapped within the nightmare.
Hooded Menace – Effigies of Evil Review
Ah, what could be better than nasty, heavy-as-hell Finnish doom-death to ease the transition from summer to fall. In case you haven’t heard, winter is coming…
Down: Down IV Part I: The Purple EP Review
F.A.G. lets his Down fanboyism run amok as he discusses Hurricane Katrina, drugs, the Bayou and good old fashioned metal. Long live NOLA!
Evocation – Illusions of Grandeur Review
Evocation once walked amongst the likes of Dismember and Entombed. Now, they travel the road to common melo-death and some (Steel Druhm) are not pleased by this switcheroo. Send him beer and beef jerky so he can get through these difficult times.