Angry Metal Guy

Vexing – Grand Reproach Review

By Carcharodon on May 31, 2023 in Reviews, Post-Hardcore, Progressive Metal, Sludge, 10 comments

“Despite a nagging sense that sludge, particularly of the progressive variety, has probably peaked for 2023, here I am, taking in another fetid puddle of progressive sludge, just in case I’m wrong. You never know, could happen. Denver, Colorado trio Vexing has been around since 2017, with only a demo and 2020 EP Cradle to its name. Now, however, the band is ready to drop its debut LP on a suspecting public. Suspecting because if you brand something as “progressive sludge,” it engenders certain expectations. Can Vexing confound these preconceptions on Grand Reproach?” Vex mix.

Wytch Hazel – IV: Sacrament Review

By Steel Druhm on May 31, 2023 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 67 comments

Steel and Maddog unite in the name of the Lord for a double review of IV: Sacrament by Wytch Hazel. Brace for grace!

Pa Vesh En – Martyrs Review

By Dear Hollow on May 31, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, 13 comments

“Anonymous Belarusian act Pa Vesh En’s track record is impeccable, nearly every installment providing another unique vista of smoke and fog – but always narrowly missing the craved medal of excellence. Anchored by a doomy pace and thunderous percussion, Pa Vesh En has always balanced its more scathing raw black tremolos and shrill shrieks with a thick haze of ambiance.” Raw meat for blackened souls.

Pandrador – Seiðr Review

By El Cuervo on May 30, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, Post-Metal, 39 comments

“I’d hazard a guess that few cultures are represented so completely across metal’s myriad sub-genres as Norse mythology. Even bands flung far from Scandinavia write on the subject, including in this instance the less distant Poland. While Midgards and world serpents more typically feature in black metal and its derivatives, Pandrador have returned in 2023 with a release steeped in Norse mythology but channeled through death metal.” Death and bravery (and glory).

Thantifaxath – Hive Mind Narcosis Review

By Thus Spoke on May 30, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, 44 comments

“Thantifaxath have never been accessible and easy listening, but here they seem to have turned a corner into both a clarifying and an intensifying of their sound. Setting aside much of the noise influences that characterized their earlier work, they now sharpen their dissonant death edge, and sound somewhat like Portal, if Portal were accessible, with a crisper production, and forward, barbed vocals.” Facsimile of evil.

Thulcandra – Hail the Abyss Review

By Maddog on May 30, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 30 comments

“A confluence of circumstances made this review an eon late. Napalm sent us a late stream, and none of my lazy co-writers checked if we’d gotten a promo until I did so last week. But I was happy to save the day, as usual. Germany’s Thulcandra has been freezing up a melodic blackened death storm since 2003, and their past work earned high marks from the Ape Himself, but we’ve mysteriously missed their last twelve years of material.” Ressection.

Craving – Call of the Sirens Review

By Doom_et_Al on May 29, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 24 comments

“Craving have been around since 2006, managing to fly under just about everyone’s collective radars. After the release of their third album in 2016, the band basically split, leaving guitarist and vocalist Ivan Chertov to reform things. Which (surprise!) he did. Although you’d be hard-pressed to notice, given the band’s aesthetic has barely changed over the years. Craving play an entertaining blend of hyper-melodic black metal, mixed with folk and more than a hint of power metal.” Attractive nuisances.

Whythre – Impregnate My Hate Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 28, 2023 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 31 comments

“Nothing against Whythre’s 2015 debut, Hel’s Hollow, but it’s shit. It’s slow, dull, and the vocals are just dreadful. To make matters worse, said vocals are all you can hear. It’s like being blissfully drunk, and then your wife yells at you for being such a loser. But it’s ok; those days are past us. Since the release of the debut, Whythre has done a complete overhaul. New singer, new direction, and, goddamn, I am here for it.” Unsafe practices.

Blindfolded and Led to the Woods – Rejecting Obliteration Review

By Dear Hollow on May 27, 2023 in Reviews, Technical Death Metal, 32 comments

“Blindfolded and Led to the Woods is a quartet from Christchurch, New Zealand, having gone through a rebirth with 2021’s excellent Nightmare Withdrawals. Previously a humor-based deathcore band, the act saw new beginnings with their third full-length, embracing a caustic blend of dissonant, technical, and progressive death metal with a much more surreal and punishing palette promising avant-garde realms and scenic vistas alike.” Out to the woodshed.

Phlebotomized – Clouds of Confusion Review

By Kenstrosity on May 26, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Symphonic Metal, 30 comments

“With their resurgence in 2019 with Deformation of Humanity, Dutch progressive death metal sextet[ Phlebotomized reestablished a foothold on the oddball prog-death scene. Combining off-kilter songwriting with dramatic synths and eerie croons didn’t dull the sharp edge of the Dutchmen’s death metal blade, and afforded the band an immediately recognizable identity. Now, the band prepares their next outing, entitled Clouds of Confusion, and with it comes another awesome cover and even MOAR weird death metal.” Blood for the Blood Takers!