2.5

Blut Aus Nord/AEvangelist – Codex Obscura Nomina [split] Review

By Grymm on June 14, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Debemur Morti, French Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 14 comments

“Ever since the release of 2003’s The Work Which Transforms God, French black metal pioneers Blut Aus Nord took the constrictions of the standard black metal envelope, stretched them out to ridiculous lengths and dimensions, and repackaged them to the point where you only vaguely remember there being an envelope in front of you. In other words, they, along with fellow Frenchmen Deathspell Omega, redefined black metal as we know it.” And here we have a split with a band they influenced mightily. Master and Apprentice if you will.

Dark Funeral – Where Shadows Forever Reign Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on June 3, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Century Media, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, 75 comments

“Much like Behexen, Dark Funeral have been at this whole black metal thing for some time. Not sure if “pioneer” is appropriate for these Swedish tremolo-crafters, but they are influential. Their approach is straightforward, their black metal is classic, and their releases consistent.” Classic and consistent is an okay way to go through life, son.

Silverbones – Wild Waves Review

By Steel Druhm on June 1, 2016 in 2016, Heavy Metal, Italian Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Stormspell Records, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 20 comments

“Somewhere on a wind swept beach in a far-flung corner of the Pacific Ocean was a buried treasure chest. That chest was filled with all the riffs Running Wild had yet to use but wanted to keep from their scurvy competition. And there it sat for decades in it’s sandy repose, unknown to all but Rock n’ Rolf. That was until upstart Italian buccaneers Silverbones jacked the riff-booty, leaving empty bottles of Limoncello as their calling cards.” YAARR’s revenge?

Cardinals Folly – Holocaust of Ecstasy and Freedom Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on May 25, 2016 in 2016, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Shadow Kingdom Records, Doom Metal, 26 comments

“It seems like only yesterday I was writing clichés sitting on a balcony overlooking the idyllic Okinawan sea, sweat streaming down my balls, and Cardinals Folly’s second album blaring from my headphones as I tackled my first Angry Metal Guy review. But of course it wasn’t yesterday, it was nearly two years ago, and since then much has changed.” Not all of it for the better.

Katalepsy – Gravenous Hour Review

By Kronos on May 16, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Reviews, Russian Metal, Unique Leader, Death Metal, Slam, 15 comments

“Slam’s audio palette isn’t especially varied. The death metal setup – already instrumentally optimized for a pretty particular group of timbres – tuned down and sometimes pitchshifted into an almost inaudibly low register doesn’t give you much to work with in terms of tone diversity, which is why so many slam bands have tight, grating snares and so many slam riffs go all in on pinch harmonics. And when Katalepsy go all in, I mean all in.” Go big or go home.

Assassin – Combat Cathedral Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 15, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Reviews, SPV GmbH, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 14 comments

“I feel ashamed to admit it, but I had never heard Germany’s Assassin before grabbing their new release, Combat Cathedral. Which is sad considering they have been in the scene for some thirty years. This, however, is understandable if one looks at the band’s sporadic release schedule (which is nonexistent between 1988 and 2005).” German thrashers will even fight on holy ground!

Teloch – Thus Darkness Spake Review

By Grymm on May 10, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Saturnal Records, Black Metal, 3 comments

“Progress can be a hard thing to accept. Whether you’re talking about laws being made, a review being worked on, or something just as simple as changing up your daily routine, throwing any type of wrench into the gears to liven things up a bit can be met with an unreasonable amount of resistance from certain people. Case in point? Finland’s Teloch.” Progress is for posers!

Ferium – Behind the Black Eyes Review

By Grymm on April 21, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Deathcore, Israeli Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Deathcore, 26 comments

“You would figure that an album dedicated to a broken relationship would be excellent fodder for a metal band, yes? Israel’s Ferium is tackling that most touchy of subjects with their second full-length, Behind the Black Eyes. That poor, poor dude on the front cover…” Sad songs stab so much.

Braindamage – The Downfall Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on April 20, 2016 in 2016, Italian Metal, My Kingdom Music, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 14 comments

“I know this Belgian dude who acts as my barometer for judging a band’s obscurity. The man’s knowledge of all things metal never ceases to amaze me. Whether it’s the newest grindcore band from Kuala Lumpur or a NWOBHM act that only ever released a live demo, he’ll have heard of them and, provided they aren’t too kvlt for social media, have “liked” them on Facebook. So when I look at a band page and don’t see his name on their fan list, it’s usually because they are so fresh you can suck their nuts.” We do not advocate nut suckery.

Diamond Head – Diamond Head Review

By Dr. Fisting on April 15, 2016 in 2016, Dissonance Productions, English Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 13 comments

“British heavy metal forefathers Diamond Head are best known for their debut album, 1980’s Lightning To The Nations. That album rightfully earned them a cult following due to its bombastic metal-via-Zeppelin riffage, and its classic status was cemented when 5 of the album’s 7 tracks were covered by a certain San Francisco quartet called Metallica. For most people, the story ends there, but Diamond Head went on to endure several decades of lineup changes, mismanagement, and questionable musical direction.” And now for the rest of the story.