2011

Artas – Riotology Review

By Steel Druhm on February 1, 2011 in 2.0, 2011, Austrian Metal, Eurocore, Metalcore, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 10 comments

Well, I’m not sure what I did to end up on the Angry Metal Guy’s Official Shit List. However, his assigning me both the new Lazarus A.D. and Artas albums proves I’m on it bigtime. I can just picture AMG up there on his throne all high and mighty, laughing as he contemptuously sneers, “let him eat metalcore.” Steel Druhm does not like being on the Shit List and Steel Druhm will have his wengeance! Anyway, Riotology is the second album by Austrian metalcore/quasi-thrash bandwagon jumpers Artas. Up until now their claim to fame was a wildly ill-conceived cover of Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” which ended up being funnier than Weird Al Yankovic’s “Amish Paradise.” Now, with Riotology they can truthfully claim recording two average metalcore albums. Hey, congrats guys! As soon as I saw the album cover which looks like a screen shot from the Assassin’s Creed video games I should have known where this was heading. The second clue I was in trouble was the band’s prominently displayed claim that they play “modern metal.” Apparently that’s record industry speak for tired metalcore by bands that yearn to be At the Gates and In Flames with poppier, radio-friendly choruses. Because I’m merciful, I will now implore you all to leave this review and save yourselves. I can’t go with you however, for I must write it.

Nadiwrath – Nihilistic Stench Review

By Lord Doom on January 31, 2011 in 2.5, 2011, Black Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 1 comment

Nihilism and black metal are two philosophies that tend to go hand-in-hand. Nietzche’s writings serve as inspiration and often the basis of a number of black metal bands and songs, mostly split into two broad camps. On the one hand you have the quiet nihilist, who views the destruction of all around him with a placated acceptance, channeling the sense of despair into vast, empty soundscapes, much like Agalloch, Nortt and their ilk. The polar opposite is the nihilist who seeks to aid the destruction, the Nattefrosts and Impaled Nazarenes of the world; causing violence and mayhem with a distinctly anarcho-punk attitude wherever they are.

Acid Witch – Stoned Review

By Steel Druhm on January 30, 2011 in 2011, 3.0, American Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, 4 comments

Toward the back of the Big Book of Metal Ingredients there is a little known concoction. It calls for one part Saint Vitus, one part Cathedral and one part Necrophagia. To that mix, add creepy church organs, horror movie samples and trippy/psychedelic flourishes. Finish by generously seasoning with magic weed, baking heavily and voila! You get Acid Witch and Stoned is an apt title indeed since this will give you a sore neck and a serious case of the munchies. This is the second album by these death/doom/stoner weirdos from Michigan and they stay true to the odd sound pioneered on their 2008’s debut Witchtanic Hallucinations and provide another wack0, tongue-in-cheek trip through metal and reefer madness. While I highly doubt this will find a very big audience, it’s a pretty entertaining, heavy yet silly slab o death/doom and unlike anything else out there.

Moonreich – Loi Martiale Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 29, 2011 in 2011, 3.0, Black Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 0 comments

The French metal scene has been growing and more interesting in the past few years than I can ever remember. While the following review will be of Moonreich’s Loi Martiale (Martial Law), it is important to say that in general I’ve been really impressed with the quality of all the metal I’ve been hearing out of France for a while now. Bands like Sebka-Chott, Kalisia and Gorod all stand out as being excellent examples of a metal scene in full bloom right now, full of new thoughts and ideas. Hell, even French black metal is forward thinking and innovative these days if you look at Deathspell Omega and Blut Aus Nord, and black metal hasn’t been innovative as a scene goes since the early 1990s. So you can say that I entered into this one with some high expectations.

Lazarus A.D. – Black Rivers Flow Review

By Steel Druhm on January 28, 2011 in 1.5, 2011, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Metalcore, Thrash Metal, 6 comments

There are plenty of myths that sane folks know to be false like Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and honest politicians. However, one should never count the sophomore slump among those fairy tales and urban legends, for it is very real and very painful to behold. Exhibit A for 2011 is Lazarus A.D. who had a decent if not remarkable debut with 2009’s The Onslaught. Many seemed to lump them in with the retro-thrash revival and while there was some Exodus aping to be sure, they always sounded more metalcore-ish to my ears. Although I hate metalcore like I hate taxes, there was enough aggression, energy and nods to the old school throughout The Onslaught to make it semi-palatable and I didn’t totally hate it. Well, there is simply no digesting their second platter Black Rivers Flow, as Lazarus A.D. have firmly embraced their inner mall kid and all things Shadow’s Fall and the result is a veritable black river of crappy, overused grooves, tough guy posturing and general mediocrity.

Battlelore – Doombound Review

By Steel Druhm on January 27, 2011 in 2.0, 2011, Death Metal, Finnish Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal, Napalm Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 5 comments

“What’s the catch of the day today?”

“Well sir, we have some Tolkien themed, gothic-tinged, epic fantasy metal by the Finnish group Battelore.”

“Is it fresh?”

A Walk with the Wicked – Architects of Sadism Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 27, 2011 in 2011, 3.5, Death Metal, Reviews, South African Metal, Unsigned Bands, 0 comments

Old school death metal is making a comeback around the world and apparently South Africa is no exception to this rule. In fact, as I’ve already referenced, South Africa is an up-and-coming scene that seems to have little cohesive sound but still has a lot of talent in it. Because of that, whenever you get a demo from one of these bands it’s always a surprise, and this was an old school death metal surprise that came out in the form of A Walk with the Wicked’s debut disc Architects of Sadism. It was also a pleasant surprise, at that.

Thomas Giles – Pulse Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 26, 2011 in 2011, 4.5, Metal Blade, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Electronica, Progressive Metal, 3 comments

Oh man, the Internetz are abuzz with love for this record already. Apparently everyone and their dog who runs a review website got this album 3 months ago and has been subsequently shitting themselves over the awesome!!!! that is Thomas Giles’ Pulse. A bit of background information as to why that might be. Yeah, because this is the vocalist from Between the Buried and Me. Yup. That’s it. I want to state with all certainty that if this were an independent record put out by a dude actually named Thomas Giles who wasn’t in a band that was well-respected even though being associated with a scene that everyone hates, this record would not be listened to by metal guys or reviewed on a metal website. Because this record is not metal. It contains minor bits o’ metal, but it for the large part a progressive-indie-electronica record. So be forewarned.

Iskald – The Sun I Carried Alone Review

By Lord Doom on January 26, 2011 in 2.5, 2011, Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, 4 comments

When reviewing albums, I find they usually fall into one of three categories. “Instant Winners” that stick with you and get plenty of praise, “Growers” that may take anything from a couple of listens to a couple of years to finally sink in and then “Duds” that just seem to evaporate as soon as the album finishes. The last category is the hardest to give an honest opinion on simply because there is very little to hook in to and unfortunately, I find Iskald’s latest offering, The Sun I Carried Alone, to be treading down this path.

Falkenbach – Tiurida Review

By Steel Druhm on January 25, 2011 in 2011, 3.0, Black Metal, Folk Metal, German Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Viking Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Viking Metal, 3 comments

The new year sees cult hero Markus Tummers aka (Vratyas Vakyas) and his one man project Falkenbach rise from a long wintry slumber to release Tiurida, album number five. Those familiar with Falkenbach will know they/he specialize in sometimes epic, folk-heavy viking metal influenced primarily by Bathory and likely Ulver as well. Being that their last release, Heralding – the Fireblade, was a re-recording of the old demo material, they haven’t released new material since 2003’s excellent Ok Nefna Tysvar Ty. That’s a mighty long time to keep fans waiting for some new stuff! So has the time away changed the style or vision? Has the endless wait by long suffering and loyal fans been amply rewarded with musical treasure? Well, gather all ye around the merry campfire and let me tell you the tale of my review whilst playing yea old mandolin. Please don your hoods and chant along appropriately.