Brave the Waters – Chapter 1 – Dawn of Days EP Review

Brave the Waters – Chapter 1 – Dawn of Days EP Review

“Doom fans among you will likely know about New York’s Grey Skies Fallen, a vintage doom/death act that has been steadily improving their My Dying Bride/Anathema-influenced paeans to pain since the late nineties. Grind fans among you will likely know about New York’s Buckshot Facelift, a slightly less vintage hardcore/grind band that has been vomiting up vitriolic violence since the mid naughties.” But did you know they had a shared project? You didn’t, so don’t pretend you did.

Artaius – Torn Banners Review

Artaius – Torn Banners Review

“It took two lines in the Artaius promo blurb to stop me in my tracks – Artaius has shared the stage with well known metal acts like Ensiferum and Primal Fear and Torn Banners features special guests Tim Charles (Ne Obliviscaris), Lucio Stefani (Mé, Pek e Barba) and Dario Caradente (Kalévala). Those be some big selling points right there!” Madam X willing reviewing folk metal? The end is nigh.

Cain’s Offering – Stormcrow Review

Cain’s Offering – Stormcrow Review

“It is written that man greatly displeased his finicky but beneficent Creator, and thus did God come to curse Mankind with various and sundry plagues of pestilence, locusts, skinny jeans and metal super groups. Over time some of these curses have proven more tolerable than others, but I’ll take a good locust swarm over the typical half-baked, so-called super group.” Super groups may annoy, but Cain is certainly able.

Faith No More – Sol Invictus Review

Faith No More – Sol Invictus Review

“Since we’re all adults, I’ll spare you the long intro. You know why you’re here. Be warned that this reviewer’s opinions are colored by 23 years of Faith No More fandom, as well as witnessing the band’s recent performance at Chicago’s Concord Hall.” For an album as eagerly awaited as Sol Invictus, we needed a double fanboy slobber-fest. Put on your bibs and prepare for foaming.

Corpse Garden – Entheogen Review

Corpse Garden – Entheogen Review

“When you think about globalization, and by extension the internet, you either think of it as the bee’s knees or just another plan of the Illuminati and the Bilderberg Group to control humankind. Whichever it is, such processes are almost beyond reproach when it comes to the way they’ve exposed us to a whole new dimension of quality music from all around the Earth that would have remained “underground” and in complete anonymity 20 years ago.” And that brings us to sunny Costa Rica for some tropical tech-death.

Succubus Irons – The Gorgon’s Lullaby Review

Succubus Irons – The Gorgon’s Lullaby Review

“Billed as progressive doom metal and originating from Québec, I anticipated something both quintessentially Canadian-weird (you know what I mean) and long. But no sooner had I finished applying the gravy to my poutine and the record ended. I know that it takes me precisely 32 minutes to make poutine – what on earth is going on? A half-hour prog/doom album?” What’s this all aboot, eh?

Entrails – Obliteration Review

Entrails – Obliteration Review

“Along with Blood Mortized, Entrails are one of the few retro Swedish death acts that don’t give me Old Timer’s Fatigue. It’s hard to say why that is, since they ape classic Entombed and Dismember just as hard as all the other pimpanzees in the throwback zoo. All I know is their music usually avoids feeling old and excessively stale. Instead, it feels plenty putrid and rotten, and that I love.” Time to look at the entrails and see what is foretold.

Yer Metal is Olde: Paradise Lost – Draconian Times

Yer Metal is Olde: Paradise Lost – Draconian Times

Draconian Times is an album that never should have worked. By now Paradise Lost’s career trajectory has been discussed ad nauseam – from rotten doom-death to Depeche Mode-inspired dance rock to their current gothic metal resurgence – and Times was essentially that early transition album, a puberty-stricken adolescent with a new slicked-up hairdo and a European leather jacket that still fit a little too big.” It shouldn’t have worked, but it did. And now it’s olde.

Weedeater – Goliathan Review

Weedeater – Goliathan Review

“I was going to make some clever marijuana pun to begin – what’s an AMG review without band name-related humor? – but thought that would be too easy a swipe at such low-lying fruit. Can we all just take a moment to reflect on the ridiculousness of the name Weedeater? Done? Okay, let’s move on.” Since when did we stop picking the low hanging fruit?

Obsequiae – Aria of Vernal Tombs Review

Obsequiae – Aria of Vernal Tombs Review

“Minnesota’s medieval enthusiasts Obsequiae emerged from the ashes of Autumnal Winds and created an immediate impact in the underground metal scene with their exhilarating debut Suspended in the Brume of Eos. Now nearly four years following the debut, the trio of Tanner Anderson (guitars, bass, vocals), drummer Andrew Della Cagna and Spanish musician Vicente La Camera Mariño have written a monumental follow-up that takes their musical vision to its next logical progression.” Is this the black metal Album of the Year? The metal Album of the Year? Time will tell.