Angry Metal Guy

Royal Hunt – XIII Devil’s Dozen Review

By Steel Druhm on August 29, 2015 in 2015, Danish Metal, Frontiers Records, Hard Rock, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Hard Rock, Progressive Metal, 21 comments

“Royal Hunt has been knocking around the prog-metal circuit forever, and though they’ve dropped a few killer releases, I’d describe their overall discography as a bit spotty. There are those classic albums where their melodic AOR/metal style really hit a sweet spot, and others were it feels like they’re stuck in a lower gear. Their golden age was in the mid 90s with vocalist extraordinaire, D.C. Cooper (Silent Force, Steel Seal) and most fans would likely point to 1997s Paradox as they crowning achievement.” The hunt resumes. Tally ho!

Motorhead – Bad Magic Review

By Dr. Fisting on August 29, 2015 in 2015, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Rating, Reviews, UDR Music, Uncategorized, 33 comments

“Like death and taxes, Mötörhead is an institution that can easily be taken for granted. For the past 40 years, it’s been an article of faith that A) frontman Lemmy Kilmister is a god in human form, and B) his band will release an album of consistent (if predictable) amphetamine-fueled rock ‘n roll every two years or so.” The band that beat up your grandfather is still around, and they want your lunch money.

IIVII – Colony Review

By El Cuervo on August 28, 2015 in 2015, Ambient Metal, American Metal, ConSouling Sounds, Reviews, Ambient Metal, 5 comments

“Josh Graham is a serial pie fingerer. Aside from his visuals and art work for established names such as Neurosis and Vattnet Viskar, he’s also embarked on a number of music projects including the post-rock Red Sparowes and post-metal A Storm of Light. Now he brings his tight atmospherics and stunning visual design to his new ambient project IIVII and its debut, Colony.” There’s complete anarchy here at AMG headquarters!

Sibiir – Swallow & Trap Them Review

By Kronos on August 28, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Disiplin Media, Hardcore, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Hardcore, 7 comments

“While there are some who would have ol’ Kronos trapped in a padded room reviewing deathcore and only deathcore for the foreseeable future, one of the perks of Angry Metal Guy’s preoccupations is that I’m able to slip in a review every now and then that doesn’t quite fit the death/grind beat that I usually work.” Hey. Who approved this review?

Yer Metal Is Olde – Bathory – Hammerheart

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 27, 2015 in Black Metal, Blog Posts, Swedish Metal, Viking Metal, Yer Metal Is Olde, Black Metal, Viking Metal, 84 comments

“”Spirituality” is a word that causes many people to assume the focus of the coming conversation will be one of a religious context. But I find the word to be broader than that (so does Webster’s Dictionary).” And this old chestnut has a lot of spirit.

Publicist UK – Forgive Yourself Review

By Dr. Fisting on August 26, 2015 in 2015, Non-Metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Post-metal, Relapse, Reviews, 40 comments

“If the name Publicist UK may seem unfamiliar, the band members themselves should certainly ring a bell. This project includes several metal veterans, including guitarist David Obuchowski (Goes Cube), bassist Brett Bamberger (Revocation), and drummer Dave Witte (Municipal Waste/every band ever). At this point, you’re probably thinking that this will be an incredible thrash album.” To thrash or not to thrash, that is the question.

Stratovarius – Eternal Review

By Steel Druhm on August 26, 2015 in 2015, EarMusic records, Finnish Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 45 comments

“Euro-power is in a bit of rut lately, with very few releases really grabbing my jaded ears with the proper blend of bombast, cheese whizardry and over-the-top exuberance. Stratovarius was once a no brainer when I needed such sonic excesses, but the past few albums have been hit or miss affairs, especially 2013s Nemesis where the band explored a more commercialized, and dare I say it, poppy style.” Can the former Lords of Euro-power regain the Cheddar-Coated Throne of Power?

Riverside – Love, Fear and the Time Machine Review

By Angry Metal Guy on August 25, 2015 in 2015, InsideOut, Not Metal, Polish Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 49 comments

Poland’s Riverside should be no stranger to the dedicated reader of these Angry pages. After discovering the band’s Anno Domini High Definition in 2009, Riverside has sneakily become one of the staples of my playlist. I wasn’t completely enamored with Shrine of New Generation Slaves; but its chill, more reflective moments are the ones that I keep coming back to: “The Depth of Self Delusion,” yes, but especially, “We Got Used to Us,” which has a slow groove and a transcendent chorus. Still, SoNGS lacked the punch and progressive drive that ADHD—and the band’s earlier material—had, and landed far more in the territory of post-Marillion prog, without the brooding darkness into which late Gazpacho has wandered recently. SoNGS was, arguably, nothing more or less than a road sign, though, pointing towards 2015’s latest record: Love, Fear and the Time Machine.

Draugurinn – Ísavetur Review

By Lord Doom on August 25, 2015 in 2015, Nordvis Produktion, Not Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Not Metal, 16 comments

“Sweden’s Draugurinn is the dark ambient personification of one-woman-band, Dísa Á. Even though she didn’t make a blip on my metal detector until recently, that hasn’t been for a lack of effort on her part. With both Draugurinn and her black metal persona, Turdus Merula, she’s been releasing quite the number of full-lengths since 2010.” Well, this is certainly dark and unhappy!

Ahab – The Boats of the Glen Carrig Review

By El Cuervo on August 24, 2015 in 2015, Doom Metal, German Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Doom Metal, 37 comments

“Ahab has been the proud flag-bearer for funeral doom during the last ten years, with three full-length releases fleshing out a decade which has seen them achieve great popularity for such a niche genre.” Whales and snails and squids, oh my!