2.5

Tantal – Expectancy Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on October 19, 2014 in 2014, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Russian Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 5 comments

“I know embarrassingly little about the Russian metal scene, so the opportunity to review Tantal’s latest album was particularly… tantalizing. Formed in Pushkino in 2004, Tantal released their debut The Beginning of the End (is that really the best name for a first album?) in 2009. This flew completely under my radar, so I had no idea what to expect from Expectancy – a post-Soviet critique of the motivational theories of Victor Vroom in the style of In Flames, perhaps?” Can a Russian version of Arch Enemy properly motivate you?

Devin Townsend Project – Z2 Review

By Dr. Fisting on October 15, 2014 in 2014, Canadian Metal, InsideOut, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 65 comments

“It’s easy to forget that at the time of it’s release, Zlitoid The Omniscient was something of a reboot for Devin Townsend’s career. Having disbanded both his solo group and the long-running Strapping Young Lad in 2007, Townsend decided to return home, get healthy, and focus on family life. Ziltoid was his first release after that self-imposed exile. The record was charmingly low-budget, recorded solely by Townsend and a drum machine, and there was no tour to promote it.” The long awaited Ziltoid sequel has finally arrived. Pray it doesn’t suffer from Jar Jar Syndrome.

Winterfylleth – The Divination of Antiquity Review

By Roquentin on October 7, 2014 in 2014, Black Metal, Candlelight Records, English Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 6 comments

“The way the English media tends to hype up their musicians is simultaneously cute and annoying. Whether it’s an indie rock group or, in this case, a black metal act, they never fail to hail almost every other band as “the next big thing.” Manchester’s black-metal-meets-paganism-and-folk quartet Winterfylleth had the luck (or misfortune) of being one such band.” What’s wrong with some homer press love for local bands? The overhyping, that’s what!

Electric Wizard – Time to Die Review

By JF Williams on September 29, 2014 in 2014, Doom Metal, Drone, English Metal, Reviews, Spinefarm, Doom Metal, Drone, 6 comments

“Electric Wizard suffers from a curse that afflicts any band fortunate to have an album deemed a “classic” in its catalog. These Dorset natives happen to have two: their second and third records Come, My Fanatics… and Dopethrone remain genre-defining records within the doom metal subgenre, spawning more than a couple imitators and rightfully earning them the cheeky title of “The Heaviest Band in the Universe.” I think it’s fair to say that Electric Wizard knocked it far out of the park with those records, and the problem is always rooted in following up.” The lords of dope doom have returned for their dopethrone.

Laika – Somnia Review

By Grymm on September 27, 2014 in 2014, Canadian Metal, Filth Regime Records, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 3 comments

“Laika was a stray dog from Russia who would become the first animal to orbit the earth back in the 1950s. Sadly, Laika did not survive her trek around our planet, but her story would help inspire a group of six dudes from Winnipeg to form a melodic death metal band named after her, because… well, fuck if I know. Anywho, Laika the band have their second album coming out entitled Somnia. Naming yourself after a pioneering canine takes a lot of guts, so how does Laika fare on their second trip around the sun?” Will Laika burn up on re-entry? Join Grymm and find out!

Weedeater – Sixteen Tons Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on September 24, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Sludge, Uncategorized, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, 0 comments

“Doomy stoner metal seems to be creating a lot of buzz in the metal scene at the moment, so what better time than now for Season of Mist to re-release the back catalogue of self-proclaimed “weed metal” band Weedeater? Sixteen Tons was originally released in a cloud of smoke in 2002 via Crucial Blast, and has since gone out of print.” We hate when stuff goes out of print, so here’s an alert that this album is back.

Beak – Let Time Begin Review

By Lord Doom on September 23, 2014 in Reviews, Post-Metal, 2 comments

“Post-metal has had a lot going for it in the past year. If you count it, The Ocean’s Pelagial was a remarkable work of art, as beautiful as it was heavy. Cult of Luna returned with the monstrous Vertikal last year and even gave fans more music with Vertikal II, the companion EP. And to add to it, Rosetta gave The Anaesthete to the world via Bandcamp, essentially for free. It’s a great time for post-metal…” Can Beak keep the post-metal golden age rolling or are the good times all over?

Skyscraper – Elevation Review

By El Cuervo on September 20, 2014 in 2014, Cock Rock, Ghost Dancer Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Hard Rock, 1 comment

“I want to begin this review of Skyscraper’s début, Elevation, with a game of complete the lyrics, from sixth track “Walk Through Fire.” “I walk through fire…” (a) “while in ferocious combat with the dragon sent by the Elven armies,” (b) “in order to emulate the fiery depths of Hell for my unification with Lucifer,” or (c) “for you.” Done? If you chose (a) or (b) then I regret to inform you that neither option is correct, but if you liked either, I would suggest that this record may not align with your usual musical preferences (and that you should book an appointment with your local shrink and/or exorcist).” Well, I flunked that pop quiz bigtime. I hate pop quizzes.

Falloch – This Island, Our Funeral Review

By Steel Druhm on September 18, 2014 in 2014, Candlelight Records, Folk Metal, Post-Rock, Reviews, Scottish Metal, Folk Metal, 7 comments

“With Scotland potentially poised to proclaim independence from English rule in a very un-William Wallace fashion (ballots instead of broadswords), it seems only fair to highlight some Scottish music for a fookin change, eh? Today’s subject is Falloch, a folksy, relentlessly bleak post rock outfit that takes elements of traditional Scottish music and blends them with healthy doses of melodic, vaguely blackened metal. I suppose their sound could be described as Eluvilite mixed with Primordial and Agalloch, with some Enya thrown in for haggis and giggles.” Remember, they may take your dignity, and they may take your lunch money, but they’ll never take…your AMG!

Aphyxion – Earth Entangled Review

By Mark Z. on September 13, 2014 in 2014, Danish Metal, Death Metal, Metalcore, Mighty Music, Reviews, Death Metal, 4 comments

“The past two years have put to death the oft-spoken cliché that only young hungry bands make exciting music anymore. 2014 alone has given us career highlights from genre titans Vader and Behemoth, while last year’s Gorguts/Carcass one-two comeback punch still has me walking around like our gore-obsessed friends across the pond personally shoved their captive bolt pistol up my ass. Now on the eve of an At the Gates reunion record, it’s no surprise newcomers like Denmark’s Aphyxion have trouble finding a place to surface in the churning sea of the current scene. Even with three EPs and over 100 shows logged since forming in 2007, their debut album Earth Entangled shows them fighting their damnedest to breathe as a modern metal group.” I hear mercy drownings are on the rise these days….