Angry Metal Guy

Death Toll Rising – Infection Legacy Review

By JF Williams on October 17, 2013 in 2013, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 4 comments

“Monty Python’s Life of Brian had a tagline that said something to the effect of: “See the movie that’s controversial, sacrilegious, and blasphemous. But if that’s not playing, see The Life of Brian.” Remove the satire and replace Life of Brian with Infection Legacy from Canadian death/thrashers Death Toll Rising, and you’ll have a fairly good idea of what you’re getting into here on their follow up to their embarrassingly titled Defecation Suffocation.” A super obscure death/thrash act that’s comparable to a Monty Python classic? If that doesn’t tickle your curiosity bone, you must’ve had it removed.

Death Angel – The Dream Calls for Blood Review

By Steel Druhm on October 16, 2013 in 2013, American Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 24 comments

“Okay, let’s be totally honest. Death Angel will never top their mind-blowing debut The Ultra-Violence. It’s just not going to happen. Some bands have that albatross hanging around their necks throughout their entire career, but that doesn’t mean they can’t turn out quality music. Death Angel has had a rather uneven run, with some good albums and some that were quite crappy. Act III and to a lesser extent The Art of Dying were good examples of old school thrash moving into the modern era. However, Frolic Through the Park was a perplexing shit show (and one of the most disappointing follow-ups in metal history) and their 2010 Relentless Retribution opus had some cool ideas and a few good tunes, but felt disjointed and confused, as if they couldn’t decide what direction to take. Naturally, as someone who grew up worshipping their debut, I wanted the band to get their legs under them again on The Dream Calls for Blood…” Another member of the First Wave of Thrash is still knocking around, trying to remain relevant in a harsh new world. Can they pull it off? Our resident thrash historian opines.

Lodz – Something In Us Died Review

By Grymm on October 15, 2013 in 2013, French Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Post-Metal, 2 comments

“Post-metal is a rough genre to navigate. It’s very difficult to make a name for yourself when you’re constantly compared to Neurosis, Isis, or Cult of Luna. The very second when a quiet song starts building steam and crushes the opposition, you are branded a copycat. Hence, France’s Lodz have an uphill battle on their debut album, Something In Us Died. However, if you must stand out in a severely overcrowded field of imitators, do so by being honest and compassionate about your craft, and Something In Us Died has both honesty and passion in spades.” New-ish scribe Grymm returns to educate you on the dos and don’ts of post-metal. Read this review of Lodz and we will award you a post-grad degree in post-metal (for a nominal fee TBD).

Metal Church – Generation Nothing Review

By Steel Druhm on October 14, 2013 in 2013, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Rat Pak Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, 7 comments

“Of all the bands on “Steel Druhm’s Soft Spot in the Heart” list, Metal Church is up near the top. Ever the over-performing underdog, their mix of semi-thrash with classic metal caused them to slip between the genre cracks. Too slow to make serious waves in the original thrash boom, they were perpetually overshadowed by Metallica, Anthrax and Slayer and never seemed to gain big traction with mainstream metal fans either. Their debut was a classic dose of melodic speed metal and had some of the band’s best writing moments (title track, “Gods of Wrath,” “My Favorite Nightmare”). Follow-up The Dark had its share of detractors though it was a high energy, enjoyable ride. Album number ten, Generation Nothing is billed as a return to the style of the early David Wayne albums where speed was king and screamy, glass-shattering vocals ruled the roost.” Steel Druhm is a big ole’ mush when it comes to old school bashers like Metal Church, but we let him review this anyway because he cares and we don’t.

Imperial Triumphant – Goliath Review

By Madam X on October 13, 2013 in 2013, American Metal, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Death Metal, Earsplit Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 4 comments

“The bustling streets of New York have delivered some notable bands over the years, Type O Neg, Sunn O))), Dream Theater, Suffocation and Immolation to name just a few. But I’ll be honest here, New York’s not the first place that comes to mind when I’m looking for black metal. It looks like Imperial Triumphant’s prompting me to rethink this faux pas with their latest EP release Goliath.” New York City is known for hardcore and death metal, but every now and then, it births a horrid, blackened beast that no one wants to stop-and-frisk. This one brought along an elephant for added fun. I’ll call him “Stompy.”

Eden’s Curse – Symphony of Sin Review

By Steel Druhm on October 12, 2013 in 2013, AFM Records, English Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 5 comments

“Standing at the crossroads of catchy hard rock and traditional metal, Eden’s Curse has been quietly killing it since 2007. Founded by vocalist Michael Eden, this quasi super group (composed of players from bands I mostly never heard of) has released three albums of high quality, hook-filled, anthemic music similar to Leverage, Masterplan, Starbreaker and the Russell/Lande albums. Though the members have ample musical chops, they eschew wankery in favor of simplistic, rocking tunes with memorable choruses and their approach invokes the charms of 80s style, bluesy, quasi-hair metal.” In the mood for something light and sweet? Eden’s Curse has just the thing for your musical sweet tooth. Oh, the sugar rush!!

Cult of Erinyes – Blessed Extinction Review

By Grymm on October 11, 2013 in 2013, Belgian Metal, Black Metal, Code666 Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 5 comments

“Man, I do love me some Blut Aus Nord. Ever since their landmark 2003 album, The Work Which Transforms God, the rebellious French “trio” (are they actually a band?) set a new standard for uncomfortably cold, ridiculously unpredictable black metal, inspiring future robe-wearers of the world to put down their torches and pick up a copy of Streetcleaner on vinyl. One such band to follow in their grimy footsteps is Belgium’s Cult of Erinyes, who have returned with their second album (and fourth overall release since their inception in 2009), Blessed Extinction. Have these upstarts taken the tools given to them by Vindsval and company to usurp the throne from the French masters of the frozen arts?” Is any French throne really guarded all that well? I think not!

Sarkom – Doomsday Elite Review

By Madam X on October 10, 2013 in 2013, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 3 comments

“End days… Fimbulvetr… the cold, darkness of three consecutive winters; the sun and moon torn from the sky; the dead rising from their graves and poison filling the air – all-encompassing despair! That’s what comes to mind when you pick up Sarkom’s Doomsday Elite, well that and cardio; double-tap; limber up and it’s a marathon not a sprint, unless it’s a sprint, then sprint already! But I digress, Norwegian based Sarkom play the kind of black metal that’s packed with jagged, razor sharp blast-beats, inflicting a bite as deep and destructive as say Gravdal, Endezzma or Nidingr.” End days, marathons, cold and darkness. Some of these things make Madam X happy. Find out which!

Running Wild – Resilient Review

By Steel Druhm on October 9, 2013 in 2013, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, SPV, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, 13 comments

“Pirates occupy a strange place in popular consciousness; being at once badass and completely silly. For every historical tale of marauding, pillaging and rapine, there’s a counter-balancing pop culture anecdote like the mincing and prancing Captain Jack Sparrow. For every macho Captain Morgan, there’s Jerry Seinfeld’s pirate shirt. The same problem infects the sparsely populated “pirate metal’ genre pool. While the original outlaw crew known as Running Wild rode the pirate motif for decades of relative coolness, newcomers like Alestorm and Swashbuckle came along and unceremoniously pissed in that pool, making the very idea of pirate metal seem untenable and comical.” It’s almost Halloween, so why not get out the eye patch and pirate hat and celebrate the return of the original buccaneers, Running Wild. ARRRRRR!

Domovoyd – Oh, Sensibility Review

By JF Williams on October 8, 2013 in 2013, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Svart Records, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, 0 comments

“Finland has a dark legacy within the subterranean world of doom metal. Browsing the Encyclopaedia Metallum’s list of Finnish bands reveals the likes of funeral doom pioneers Thergothon and Skepticism, as well as other underground stalwarts of the genre such as Wormphlegm, Shape of Despair and Stabat Mater, to name a few. Indeed, the Finns do not fuck around with their doom – perversion, depression, sadism and Lovecraftian horror is the name of the game. Even the more traditionally oriented Reverend Bizarre was similarly steeped in lyrical and musical despondency alongside their trademark tongue-in-cheek snarkiness. Yet, here we have relative newcomers Domovoyd. Somewhat of an anomaly within the country’s pitch-black doom metal reputation, Domovoyd is a stoner doom group that looks to the likes of Electric Wizard, Sleep and The Sweet Leaf for inspiration.” A new and exciting band and a review of same by a new and exciting writer for AMG. JF Williams is here to discuss doom, stoner rock and all things Sabbath worshipping.