2.5

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.

Despised Icon – Beast Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on July 22, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Deathcore, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Deathcore, 49 comments

“The state of deathcore in 2016 isn’t an enviable one. It’s not quite old enough yet to spur on needlessly salty debates about the best MySpace pages, and it’s not fashionable or ubiquitous enough anymore to act as a gateway to further extremity as it once did for so many. Suicide Silence was never that good to begin with, but their records have noticeably declined in quality since their debut. Job for a Cowboy has been a boring modern death metal band since Genesis. All Shall Perish hasn’t released an album since 2011, let alone a good one since 2008; the list goes on. Enter the best-known Canadian deathcore band that’s not Cryptopsy in 2008: Despised Icon.” Deathcore in da house!

Baptism – V: The Devil’s Fire Review

By Grymm on July 19, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Black Metal, 6 comments

“We, as humans, tend to gravitate towards comfort. More often than not, we settle into a nice daily routine, indulge in the same foods, listen to the same bands over and over again, etc. Sure, we can sometimes venture out of our comfortable norms and find some new, exciting things to fawn over, but we have our own little bubbles and dang-nammit, we ain’t leavin’ them! One of those things that has grown comfortable as of late is the variety (or lack thereof) of black metal as a whole.” Bubbles? Bubbles?? I’m the Prince of fookin’ Darkness!

Unmerciful – Ravenous Impulse Review

By Saunders on July 18, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Unique Leader, Death Metal, 22 comments

“Unmerciful. I’ve never heard Unmerciful previously but there’s a lengthy history behind the band that initially formed way back in 2001.” Buyer beware, beware, beware, beware….

Numenorean – Home Review

By Mark Z. on July 12, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Shoegaze, Black Metal, Shoegaze, 77 comments

“Instead of a dull description of the five tracks and 44 minutes of Fen-like black metal on this Canadian quintet’s debut, let’s do something else. Take out a blank sheet of paper, draw a five-by-five square grid, and write one post-black cliche in each square. Ready? Good, because it’s time for POST-BLACK BINGO!” When you play Post-Black Bingo, you win or you…shoegaze.

Rage – The Devil Strikes Again Review

By Roquentin on July 7, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Nuclear Blast, Power Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 47 comments

“‘Rage had a unique contribution to metal and was a throwback to the golden age of melodic heavy metal in the best possible sense of that word. These guys carried the torch proudly and […] they did it with a creative, idiosyncratic flare that made them as big as they did become,’ wrote AMG himself in a premature and not-dead-yet type of eulogy in February 2015. A year and some change after the attempted disbandment, Rage, or rather mastermind Peter “Peavy” Wagner and two of his fresh henchmen, are back with new material along with grand ideas of a reinvigorated, back-to-the-roots energy and a rediscovered heaviness.” Well speak of the dead!

Third Ion – Biolith Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on July 5, 2016 in 2016, Glasstone Records, International Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 19 comments

“I’ve never been a fan of video games. Do I hate them? Well, no, but my anger management specialist suggested I give up this vice or he’d walk. For years he has been trying to convince me that Guile is no match for Ryu and my stubbornness will lead to homicide. But, if there is a style of metal appropriate for all the video game mumbo jumbo, it’s prog.” Prog with video game themes no less.