2.5

Enslaved – In Times Review

By Angry Metal Guy on April 6, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Nuclear Blast, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Viking Metal, Black Metal, Viking Metal, 33 comments

“Longtime readers of this blog know that I have a fraught relationship with Enslaved. Once one of my favorite bands, these Norwegian Viking metallers’ releases between 2003’s Below the Lights and 2008’s Vertebrae make for one of those unbroken strings of heavy metal glory that few bands ever unleash. Unfortunately for me, since 2008’s masterpiece, the band has released two records (Axioma Ethica Odini and RIITIIR) which left me cold.” So, what’ll it be? Will In Times be another disappointment for Ye Olde Angry Metale Guye?

Éohum – Revelations, Aurora of an Epoch Review

By Mark Z. on April 2, 2015 in 2015, Avante Garde, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Mycelium Networks, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, 6 comments

“As an employee in a soul-sucking government bureaucracy, I’ve heard plenty of hollow buzzwords over the years. But amidst the ‘paradigm shifts’ and ‘synergy’ is a phrase I’ve always thought had actual merit: ‘disciplined initiative.’ Meaning: don’t be afraid to dream and try new things – but maintain quality control. Keep a grip on reality. Don’t fling a bunch of shit around in the name of innovation. It applies as much to the workplace as it does to music. Case in point: Canada’s Éohum.” Prepare to expand your bandwidth with this piece of educational mindshare.

Rise of Avernus – Dramatis Personæ EP Review

By El Cuervo on April 2, 2015 in 2015, Aural Music, Australian Metal, Code666 Records, Doom Metal, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Doom Metal, 27 comments

“Dramatis Personæ is the sound of a band trying to relocate the European orchestral metal canon into their snakey and spidery Southern-Hemispherical home. Australia’s Rise of Avernus would love to have Fleshgod Apocalypse’s authentic Italian heritage of classical music and opera informing their extremity – it’s this quality which made Oracles so ground-breaking.” They can’t all be Italian….

Fulgora – Stratagem Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on March 31, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Death Metal, Grind, Hardcore, Housecore records, Reviews, Death Metal, Hardcore, 9 comments

“When sitting down to write this review, I managed to confuse where Fulgora gets their namesake from before looking it up. For reasons that may or may not include an increasingly counterproductive sleep schedule, writer’s block, and somehow still being regularly keelhauled for the Alestorm incidents of 2014 (no, I don’t regret it, and yes, I’m still right) I thought these Missouri misery dealers were named after Killer Instinct’s personification of cyborg murder Fulgore instead of the female Ancient Greek personification of lightning, Fulgora.” The Alestorm shaming will never stop.

Abominator – Evil Proclaimed Review

By Roquentin on March 22, 2015 in 2015, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Black Metal, Death Metal, 2 comments

“Satan-hailing, long-standing Aussies Abominator are back after nine years of hiatus with yet another record of their signature blackened death (or deathened black?) metal. If you’ve listened to any of the band’s previous releases, it won’t come as much of a surprise that their fifth full-length Evil Proclaimed shows no shifts in pace, attitude, or sound.” The Motorhead of Sodom clones? I’m in!

Sacral Rage – Illusions in Infinite Void Review

By El Cuervo on March 6, 2015 in 2015, Cruz Del Sur, Greek Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 22 comments

“They say don’t judge a book by its cover. But when its cover fuses the great sphinx and pyramids from Powerslave with the red sky and robots from Somewhere in Time, you can’t help but jump to conclusions.” I for one have been waiting for a Powerslave in Time album.

Evil Invaders – Pulses of Pleasure Review

By Steel Druhm on March 5, 2015 in 2015, Belgian Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 40 comments

“There was a time before the Bay Area thrash explosion where bands were playing fairly fast without it actually being what we now consider thrash metal. Acts like Exciter, Agent Steel, Attacker and even Razor were surely speedy and had the rudiments of thrash in place, but are now referred to as speed metal. Belgian upstarts Evil Invaders look to plant their flag right at the junction between speed and thrash, and tip their hand by using Razor’s best known ditty as their moniker.” Have you ever been screamed at by a crazy cat lady? Do you want to be?

Frosttide – Blood Oath Review

By Madam X on March 5, 2015 in 2015, Finnish Metal, Folk Metal, Melodic Death Metal, NoiseArt Records, Reviews, Folk Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 13 comments

“Melodic folk metallers Frosttide crossed my path back in 2013 with their debut full-lengh. Now a mere two years later, the Finns are back tipping tables and generally upsetting the orderly offices we have here at AMG central.” Honestly, it wasn’t all that orderly to begin with.

Apostate – Time of Terror Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on March 3, 2015 in 2015, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Ukrainian Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 21 comments

“Apostate are one of the Ukraine’s oldest doom bands, but have only released one full-length prior to Time of Terror. Forming in 1993, they suffered a series of splits before eventually reforming this millennium to release 2010’s Trapped in a Sleep.” Old band, new lineup, no producer?

Hacavitz – Darkness Beyond Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 2, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Dark Descent Records, Mexican Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 4 comments

“Being that I had money and nothing else to do, I purchased the sophomore release [Katun] of Mexican blackened-death metallers Hacavitz.” Money and idle hands lead to poor musical choices. Always.