Swedish Metal

Brothers of Metal – Emblas Saga Review

By Holdeneye on January 6, 2020 in 2020, AFM Records, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 128 comments

Truth be told, there’s a decent chance that I wouldn’t be here writing within these hallowed halls without Brothers of Metal. You see, back in 2017 I was a mere lurker at AMG, and might have been content to continue in that capacity if I hadn’t seen a commenter recommending Prophecy of Ragnarök, the debut from the aforementioned Swedes. I checked it out and fell so hard for its sometimes hilarious, sometimes deadly serious take on Norse-mythologized folky power metal that I felt compelled to create a Disqus account just so I could express my thanks to the recommender.” Brother hugger.

Reveal – Scissorgod Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 2, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Sepulchral Voice Records, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, 23 comments

“No month of horror movies leading up to the big day. No romantic nights with Elvira. No King Diamond/Mercyful Fate marathons. But, I’ll be goddamned if Halloween escapes me before 2019 ends. So, instead of turkey preparations and being thankful for the useless shit in my life, November is my new October. And, as it turns out, there’s no one I’d rather spend it with than Reveal and their third concoction of mindfucking black and death, Scissorgod.” No safety scissors these.

Yer Metal Is Olde: In Flames – Colony

By Dr. Wvrm on November 26, 2019 in 2019, Melodic Death Metal, Nuclear Blast, Swedish Metal, Yer Metal Is Olde, Melodic Death Metal, 50 comments

“There is no part of me that would trade away the pain and disillusion of losing a childhood idol, of walking out on shitty setlist after shitty fucking setlist if it meant losing In Flames’ impact on my life, Colony in particular. It isn’t their best album; it certainly isn’t their most successful. Perhaps though, Colony encapsulates everything In Flames could and would become better than any other record could.” Burning playgrounds and scar diaries.

Avslut – Tyranni Review

By Mark Z. on November 25, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Osmose Productions, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, 17 comments

“I don’t like black metal. Not in its traditional form, anyway. Give some blakkened fukkin thrash or blakkened fukkin death and I’ll bang my head till my skull cracks open, but usually traditional black metal just leaves me shrugging. Often the riffs feel secondary to the atmosphere and it’s telling that a band like Mgla could get as big as they did with a shtick that was essentially “we play black metal, but with riffs you actually care about.” Of course, there are always exceptions. Swedish quintet Avslut earned some acclaim on forums I frequent with their 2018 debut Deceptis, which I enjoyed for its ability to work clever riffing into a traditional black metal template.” Riff tiff.

Avatarium – The Fire I Long For Review

By Steel Druhm on November 22, 2019 in 2019, Doom Metal, Nuclear Blast, Occult Rock, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Doom Metal, Occult Rock, 26 comments

“Just as with their last outing, Avatarium’s latest opus snuck up on me, having only learned of its imminent release a week ago. I’m not sure why this band escapes my metal detector/radar so effectively, but this 70s doom rock project founded by Leif Edling of Candlemass fame always makes for a pleasant surprise, as they’ve been quite impressive over their relatively brief life cycle. Health concerns have caused Leif to step away from the band more and more over the last few years, and on fourth album The Fire I Long For, he’s he’s been relegated to helping write a few songs.” Feel this fire.

Angry Metal Primer – In Flames

By Dr. Wvrm on November 17, 2019 in 2019, Angry Metal Playlist, Angry Metal Primer, Melodic Death Metal, Swedish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 39 comments

“Friends. (Wa)romans. Kvltrymen. I’ve come to bury In Flames, not to praise them.” Fvkking Fvnerals, man.

Örnatorpet – Vid Himinsenda Review

By Dear Hollow on November 13, 2019 in 2019, Ambient, Black Metal, Dungeon Synth, Nordvis Produktion, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Synthwave, Black Metal, Dungeon Synth, Folk, 21 comments

I have nothing against Dungeons & Dragons. I do, however, have an issue with the one kid who kept me from lesson planning by ceaselessly listing off statistics of his paladin and barbarian like I was supposed to know what the fuck he was talking about. I have a resentment toward the game thanks to that kiddo, unfortunately, so I’m already prejudiced against the relatively new genre of “dungeon synth.” While it began very ambitiously, taking cues from Medieval and Renaissance music and fantasy literature, bearing a black metal aesthetic, its role as a challenging and world-building style of dark ambient has been demoted as mere soundtracks of D&D campaigns everywhere. Örnatorpet seeks to add to the dungeon synth genre, hoping to whisk listeners away to a “forgotten realm, an arcane age.”” Dungeon lounge muzak.

Nocturnalia – III Winter Review

By Emya on November 6, 2019 in 2019, Folk, Reviews, Rock, Swedish Metal, The Sign Records, Dark Rock, Folk, 24 comments

“Self-proclaimed dark rock quintet Nocturnalia hail from Sweden and are in consequence largely inspired by the eerie and cold yet peacefully quiet atmosphere of harsh Scandinavian winters. The band claims to draw influences from both classic rock acts such as Rainbow and Black Widow and traditional folk music.” Cold and olde?

Cleric – Serpent Psalms Review

By Dear Hollow on November 4, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Raw Skull Records, Redefining Darkness Records, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Grind, 17 comments

“In Cleric’s own words, their second full-length is “Swedish-style death metal that mixes in the elements of doom that [they] used to play. Think Entombed mixed with Asphyx and pepper with a pinch of Candlemass.” If this is the recipe, boy oh boy, is it tasty.” Taste the Cleric.

Paganizer – The Tower of the Morbid Review

By Holdeneye on October 31, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Transcending Obscurity, Death Metal, 46 comments

“Around twelve years ago, I procured a guitar and amp. I messed around for awhile, learning some Iced Earth riffs and some Sabaton solos, but children life got in the way, my priorities changed, and my skills regressed to nothing. Alas, I’ve still never written the power/thrash/doom masterpiece that I always imagined I would. Contrast my experience with Mr. Rogga Johansson, whose unquenchable need to make music has led to his name being credited on approximately 100 different works on Metal Archives, with three full-lengths and two EPs already released this year alone, and he’s back with the latest from his oldest active project, Paganizer.” Morbid tales of time management.