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Warrior Soul – Back on the Lash Review

By Dr. Fisting on December 4, 2017 in 2017, 90s Metal Weirdness, American Metal, Glam Metal, Hard Rock, Reviews, Rock N' Growl Records, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 47 comments

“Back in the early ’90s, Warrior Soul were among the many groups who rode in on the tail end of 1980s-style hair metal, only to have their careers washed away by the incoming dominance of grunge/alternative rock. Led by frontman Kory Clarke, the band’s slightly artsy take on the genre led to some noteworthy albums during that brief window in time (my friends in high school seemed to really like Drugs, God and the New Republic), before crashing and burning in 1995. However, the band has resurfaced in various incarnations over the years, usually with Clarke as the sole original member. Back On The Lash is their first studio album in five years.” Old Soul.

Lustre – Still Innocence Review

By El Cuervo on November 11, 2017 in 2017, Ambient Metal, Black Metal, Nordvis Produktion, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, 78 comments

“Sweden’s Lustre has proven divisive across the two prior releases reviewed. The first was heralded as a great atmospheric record and bestowed with a 4.0, while the second was quite the opposite and summarily handed a 1.5. I presume you’ve already skipped to the bottom for the score so I’ll address this now: my review of Still Innocence falls far closer to the second. For some reason the metal tab on Bandcamp is rammed with atmospheric black metal of this ilk so I suppose there’s an audience somewhere.” The silent majority is silent.

Vital Breath – Angels of Light Review

By Saunders on September 23, 2017 in 2017, Alt-Metal, French Metal, Hard Rock, Mighty Music, Reviews, Rock, Alt-Metal, Hard Rock, 25 comments

“Alternative metal is among the broadest of genre tags in heavy music. A few months ago, UK act Zedi Forder impressed with their solid interpretation of the alt metal style on their self titled debut. Alas, I broached this second LP offering from France’s Vital Breath with both trepidation and cautious optimism when I saw they were also listed under the alternative metal umbrella.” Alternative to what?

Cripper – Follow Me: Kill! Review

By El Cuervo on September 14, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, Djent, German Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Djent, Thrash Metal, 30 comments

“Kill! is most largely occupied by thrash influences but splices in death growls, hardcore sneers and the occasional slower, dirgier riff. The staccato style of djent also features, particularly in the introductory riffs to a number of tracks. The two bands I hear most are Kreator and Meshuggah, rendering it established in the modern day but definitely facing backwards.” Crippers and blood.

Tales of Gaia – Hypernova Review

By Eldritch Elitist on September 7, 2017 in 2017, Fighter Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Spanish Metal, Power Metal, 102 comments

This album absolutely fucking broke me. You see, the AMG style guide requires blog contributors to make careful scoring decisions based on how good or bad an album is. In terms of quality, Tales of Gaia’s debut Hypernova, in direct defiance of this foolproof system, is absolutely paradoxical. It is both one of the best and worst power metal albums I have ever heard, an amazing contradiction of a record that lacks so much as a hint of self awareness while also never taking itself seriously.” Power without responsibility.

Vesicant – Shadows of Cleansing Iron Review

By Grymm on July 18, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, New Zealand Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 53 comments

“War. Whether for profit, liberation, or for sheer annihilation of your enemies, many bands have scoured the various battles and wars throughout the ages for musical and lyrical inspiration. World War I in particular remains a fertile ground for a variety of metal bands, with depictions of trenches and chemical warfare highlighted in gruesome, vivid detail. New Zealand’s Vesicant, their name derived from the blistering after-effects of mustard gas, attempt to weave their own horrific tales of one of the ugliest wars in history with their debut album, Shadows of Cleansing Blood.” War inside your head.

A Hero for the World – West to East, Pt 1: Frontier Vigilante Review

By Lokasenna on June 18, 2017 in 2017, International Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 101 comments

“I suppose this hokey shit is penance for my last review, which was of a great album. Here we have a third album following a sophomore release which was actually a Christmas album (no, really), West to East Pt.1: Frontier Vigilante is a Western-themed slice of Euro-power cheese, with members from Sweden, the US, and the Philippines. An international posse such as this usually brings a menagerie of influences to the table, planting seeds for great work, but whether that potential pays off is always uncertain.” This dog don’t hunt.

Perpetual Rage – Empress of the Cold Stars Review

By Huck N Roll on June 18, 2017 in 2017, Finnish Metal, Heavy Metal, Inverse Records, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 51 comments

“Look to the left. What do you see? One of the worst album covers of the year is what I see, and thus my expectations for Empress of the Cold Stars, the second release from Finland’s Perpetual Rage, are tempered. The fact that I’m reviewing this is a mixed blessing: on the one hand, we here at AMG aren’t subjecting you to a review of Wizard’s newest, since we didn’t get it. On the other hand, there’s this.” Oh, my cold stars and garters!

Mastercastle – Wine of Heaven Review

By Dr. Wvrm on May 16, 2017 in 2017, Italian Metal, Neo-Classical Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Neo-Classical Metal, Power Metal, 62 comments

“Since their 2009 debut, Mastercastle have blasted from the blocks by channeling Iron Maiden’s otherworldly focus on output. The Italians released five albums in six years, intent on spreading their cheesy neo-classicisms far and wide. This shotgun approach has done the band no favors, though; their potency stretched thinner with each new release. With lead axeman Pier Gonella nearing his 30th album, concerns of diminishing creative stores seem all too prescient. Mastercastle’s sixth release Wine of Heaven reaches the breaking point, shaking the emperor down, stripping him naked, and flogging him through the streets.” All cheese, no wine.

Tehom – The Merciless Light Review

By El Cuervo on April 21, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Blood Harvest Records, Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, 40 comments

“According to a totally legit Wikipedia search, the word ‘tehom”‘ refers to the deep ocean which once existed and from which Biblical Creation began. The dark but somewhat aquatic artwork adorning the front of Tehom’s The Merciless Light fits this story and these Swedes attempt to document these primordial times through the medium of blackened death metal.” Dead on the Dead Sea.