2.5

Running Wild – Rapid Foray Review

By Steel Druhm on August 30, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, SPV, Steamhammer, Heavy Metal, 66 comments

“The pirate’s life is not for everyone. Extensive travel, oft unprofessional coworkers and arcane profit sharing arrangements conspire to limit the talent pool and keep opportunities scarce. None of that ever mattered to Running Wild. They took to the trade like a duck to water and from 1987 onward they’ve kept the marauder’s flag flying almost nonstop through hard times and rough seas. Rapid Foray is the third release since their 2012 “reformation” and as on Shadowmaker and Resilient, they’re not looking to reinvent the parrot.” Rum and rummer.

Vrtra – My Bones Hold a Stillness Review

By El Cuervo on August 28, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Sentient Ruin Laboratories, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 32 comments

“There’s something about Vrtra that screams ‘the trve vndergrovnd.’ Maybe it’s the wholly capitalized stylization. Maybe it’s the ambiguous ‘V.’ Maybe it’s the dark artwork with wispy flecks of gray. Maybe it’s their sub-400 followers on Facebook. Maybe it’s that they play one of the least common fusions of metal genres. It’s definitely not their hometown(s) however, as they partly hail from the Bay Area, a home rooted in metal history. Yet thrash they reject: instead, My Bones Hold a Stillness is their debut attempt at encapsulating the towering stature of doom with blackened ferocity.” Maybe it’s that snazzy and indecipherable logo….

Banisher – Oniric Delusions Review

By Eldritch Elitist on August 27, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Deformeathing Records, Polish Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 29 comments

“Listening to Oniric Delusions this past week got me thinking about vanilla ice cream. It’s a dessert that’s not so much widely loved as universally accepted as a reliable standby to other, more complex dishes. Proper application of toppings however can transform this most mundane of treats into something special and unique. When I learned that Banisher hails from Poland and markets themselves as extreme death metal, I couldn’t help but raise my expectations at least a little.” Poland is for death lovers.

Sodom – Decision Day Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 24, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Reviews, SPV, Steamhammer, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 48 comments

“As you get older, reminiscing becomes part of everyday life. Especially those pushing thirty, forty, fifty years old. Times were simpler in the old days and, while we’re wiser now, there’s a sense of envy for those days of ignorance. In 2016, AMG Industries, Inc. gives Sodom’s thirty-year-old self an opportunity to look back at baby pictures. A few weeks ago we got an YMIO on Obsessed by Cruelty and now we get 2016’s Decision Day.” That baby was mighty ugly. So what’s the adult version looking like these days?

Asenblut – Berzerker Review

By Grymm on August 16, 2016 in 2016, AFM Records, German Metal, Reviews, Viking Metal, Viking Metal, 35 comments

Vikings. They’ve overtaken motorcycle gangs, sparkly vampires, and variations of the zombie as the Big Thing of the Now in America, if our television shows and Faceborg timelines are correct. Thing is, “Vikings have been a trend for a long-ass time in the realm of heavy metal. Hell, Yngwie FOOKING Malmsteen was a Viking long before Amon Amarth first sailed their ships into stormy waters. He even proclaimed so himself! But that’s not gonna stop the new crop of metal bands from brandishing their axes, donning their horned helmets, and sailing away to uncharted lands. Germany’s Asenblut toss their shields into the pagan circle with their third album, Berzerker.” Do you have a Viking inside you? Want one?

Delain – Moonbathers Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on August 14, 2016 in 2016, Dutch Metal, Eurocore, Hard Rock, Napalm Records, Reviews, Eurocore, Hard Rock, Melodic Metal, 45 comments

“Metal bands sure like to take baths in a wide variety of places, be it in the sun, in blood, in ghosts, in wombs, in entrails, or in whatever “slaughtb” is. Me, I’m more of a shower guy. A nice cold shower helps you think, and tons of great ideas come to be in there, but sometimes you get this introductory bit. It seems that the Dutchmen and Dutchwomen in Delain have suggested a new place for our metallic hygienic niche to take place on their fifth album: the moon.” Delain got a tongue lashing from AMG for being normcore back in 2012. Will DiM be nicer than he was?

Lacrimas Profundere – Hope is Here Review

By Steel Druhm on August 9, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Gothic Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, SPV, Gothic Metal, 10 comments

“Lacrimas Profundere is an awkward moniker that’s tough to say and harder to spell, but they’ve been one of the most successful and consistent goth-metal acts over the last 20 years. I really enjoyed 2010s The Grandiose Nowhere and 2013s Antiadore and they’ve proven to be one of the few goth acts that know how to inject real aggression and “metal” into their sound (so much so that I frequently include their music on play lists I run and work out to). Naturally, I expected their streak of quality outings to continue on Hope is Here, but this is a bit of a departure from their usual fare.” Hope is a cold, hard bitch.

Bloody Hammers – Lovely Sort of Death Review

By Steel Druhm on August 3, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Gothic Metal, Napalm Records, Occult Rock, Reviews, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, Occult Rock, 30 comments

“There once was a time when the little known Bloody Hammers were making like the even lesser known Vardan by releasing new albums with shocking rapidity. Perhaps this was their way of getting their name out there and keeping whatever low-level momentum they garnered moving in the right direction. Unfortunately despite some good ideas, the music often felt slapped together and rushed with inconsistent results. The talent and potential were definitely there, but the results weren’t quite up to snuff. In my review of their 2014 opus Under Satan’s Sun I prescribed a longer time between releases to allow their ideas to germinate, marinate and ruminate, and perhaps they took the advice to heart.” Free advice is worth exactly what it costs.

Shataan – Weigh of the Wolf Review

By Grymm on July 25, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Crepúsculo Negro, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, 12 comments

“Everyone and their frostbitten mother knows about Norway’s infamous Black Circle, giving birth to church burnings, murder, and of course the second wave of black metal. But did you know that in America, another Black Circle lies waiting in the wings? Yep, the Black Twilight Circle, led by Eduardo “Volahn” Ramírez, is a prolific, young collective based out of Southern California that shares members of various bands within its ranks.” In the circle you will find your flute.

Karmakanic – DOT Review

By Huck N Roll on July 22, 2016 in 2016, InsideOut, Non-Metal Metal Things, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Uncategorized, Non-metal Metal Things, Progressive Metal, 13 comments

“The country of Sweden is home to 9.9 million people. Judging from the number of bands that come out of that land, 10 million of those individuals are musicians. And good ones, too. In this latest version of his band, Karmakanic founder and bassist Jonas Reingold (also of The Flower Kings) attempts to use as many of them as possible. No less than twelve artists get credited on Karmakanic’s fifth full-length release, DOT.” I once knew a Swede that wasn’t in a band. He was actually in 5 bands.