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Acid Mammoth – Supersonic Megafauna Collision Review

By Kenstrosity on April 9, 2024 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, 31 comments

“For some, stoner doom is that comfort item, that thing that gets all the love just for being what it is. I imagine this is partly why the style largely hasn’t needed to evolve very much throughout its existence. In some ways, that’s a great thing, as it makes reaching for new bands in the scene a reliable bet. On the other hand, very little feels fresh, memorable or novel. For better or for worse, Greek stoner doom quartet Acid Mammoth’s fourth record Supersonic Megafauna Collision squarely falls into that safe, never-changing category.” With tusk and trunk.

Ingested – The Tide of Death and Fractured Dreams Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on April 8, 2024 in Reviews, Deathcore, Metalcore, 42 comments

“If you haven’t heard an Ingested album at this point, it’s that you’re new to the scene as a nerdy metal aficionado or that you’ve actively avoided all music labeled as deathcore for the past fifteen or so years. Unfortunately, if you found your head bobbing in extreme reluctance at the whiplash grooves and squeal-driven breakdowns that adorn the newest Aborted release, you should probably consider checking out the odd act or two. Ingested’s 2018 release, as well as some of their earliest work, would be easy, enjoyable listening” Digest the Ingested?

Vltimas – EPIC Review

By Kenstrosity on March 15, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Groove Metal, 59 comments

“International supergroup Vltimas crashed upon the Earth early in 2015, dropping their well-received debut roughly four years later. Comprised of Morbid Angel’s very own David Vincent at the mic, Cryptopsy’s Flo Mounier manning the kit, and Aura Noir’s Rune “Blasphemer” Eriksen slinging axe, the project deals in grooving, swaggering blackened death metal singing Satan’s praises and glorifying the destruction of all the world. You know, the usual.” Super epic?

The Moor – Ombra Review

By El Cuervo on March 13, 2024 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 26 comments

“Those who know me know that Opeth is one of my favorite bands. Those who know me well know that Still Life is my favorite Opeth record. Those who know me extremely well know that “The Moor” was the first Opeth track I heard. The prospect of anything remotely resembling their golden period of music from 1999 until 2005 is very exciting to me. It was on this basis that I chose to review Ombra by Italy’s The Moor, especially in light of the “progressive metal” tag on its one sheet.” Is less Moor?

Grey Skies Fallen – Molded By Broken Hands Review

By Iceberg on March 13, 2024 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, 52 comments

“Grey Skies Fallen have managed to fly under the radar here at AMG, despite releasing music for nearly a quarter century. While previous albums saw the band leaning into the more aggressive side of death-doom, the return of founding guitarist Joe D’Angelo has yielded a record steeped in the weepy sadboi doom of My Dying Bride and November’s Doom.” Three shades of Grey.

Whom Gods Destroy – Insanium Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on March 12, 2024 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 32 comments

“What more is there to say about a prog supergroup? How about one that exists as a re-tooling of the now-defunct Sons of Apollo. Part of the melodic core of that group remains the same, with Derek Sherinian (Planet X, ex-Dream Theater) and Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Art of Anarchy, ex-Guns n’ Roses) returning on flamboyant keys and virtuosic fretted and fretless guitar madness, respectively, to helm the adventures of Whom Gods Destroy.” Smote by prog?

Drain Down – Toxic Society Review

By Cherd on March 11, 2024 in Reviews, Hardcore, Thrash Metal, 7 comments

“Toxic Society, the sophomore full-length from German hardcore/thrash band Drain Down, turns out to be everything I stupidly asked for. Am I angry and aimless enough to pick up what these Teutonic terrors are throwing down? Are you? Join me in the pit for some enthusiastic arm-flailing and high-minded discussion.” Mistakes were made.

Blazar – Fatal Cosmic Wound Review

By Thus Spoke on March 4, 2024 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Funeral Doom, Sludge Metal, 19 comments

“People call funeral doom boring, and I get it. It’s very slow, often very long, not particularly technical, and contains few riffs per minute. Its compositions are not ordinarily gym-friendly, or headbangable. But good funeral doom is good. Crushing, transportive, and at times incredibly beautiful, as the low, slow and leaden is partnered with rising, floaty, ethereal melodies. Think Shape of Despair, Clouds, Esoteric. All this to say, that the best funeral doom is that which balances its punishing heaviness and crawling tempos with clean, graceful melodiousness in order to produce something truly immense. Blazar, Spanish funeral doom/sludge gang have a different philosophy.” Angry burial.

Exhorder – Defectum Omnium Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 4, 2024 in Reviews, Thrash Metal, 22 comments

“With this year’s Defectum Omnium, it’s clear Exhorder aren’t finished proving their relevance and reinventing themselves in the eyes of their dedicated fanbase. But, with such a strong outing five years ago, will Defectum Omnium be a step forward for the band or will it be, well… a defectum?” Omnium Blatherum.

North Sea Echoes – Really Good Terrible Things Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on March 2, 2024 in Reviews, Ambient, 24 comments

“Fewer combos in metal have spurred music in my wheelhouse as that of Ray Alder and Jim Matheos. Their union for Fates Warning’s 1988 release No Exit burst in the budding progressive metal scene with USPM histrionics and Rush-fueled narrative structure. Of course, that was near forty years ago. At sixty vs twenty, your mind (mostly) thinks differently, your voice cracks differently, your hair grays and may even thin. In the case of Alder and Matheos, while immune to the loss of hair, do fall in line to some extent with the other consequences of time. In the sea of time.