2018

Death Keepers – Rock This World Review

By GardensTale on January 18, 2018 in 2018, Fighter Records, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Spanish Metal, Heavy Metal, 45 comments

“Of all metal subgenres, heavy metal is the one with the honor of regularly being used as a synonym for metal at large. Considering it’s arguably the oldest of the bunch, this should come as little surprise, but one could also argue the case for doom metal, which no one outside of the scene ever heard about. Is it then due to age, exposure, or just my own warped view that heavy metal seems to be the most stagnant of metal subgenres? I won’t say nothing fresh ever arises from its corner (Sumerlands is a fine example) but by and large, heavy metal bands today all seem like pale imitations of the golden boys from the 1980’s. Death Keepers don’t do much to change that impression with debut Rock This World.” Remember the old, those days were gold.

Dark Hound – Dawning Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 17, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Rampant Struggle Records, Reviews, Self-released, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 19 comments

“What’s your first impression when I say Dark Hound? No, this isn’t a trap. And, no, I’m not looking for anything perverted, so fucking stop. For me, Sherlock Holmes comes to mind. I don’t know… creepy dogs and shit? Anyway, with that, I would imagine the band’s music to be dark, brooding, and haunting—with an atmosphere to match. Well, no surprise, everything I thought was wrong. If anything, this Nashville, Tennessee quartet is anything but that.” Bro down(tuned).

Anvil – Pounding the Pavement Review

By Steel Druhm on January 17, 2018 in 2018, Canadian Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Steamhammer, Heavy Metal, 35 comments

“Anvil persists. That’s become an enduring truism and the mantra of this Canadian act since they first broke ground way back in 1981. You probably know their story – once poised to be the next big thing on the strength of classic albums like Metal on Metal and Forged in Fire, the call to greatness never came and the band watched younger acts like Metallica and Anthrax pass them by on the road to legend. But did they fold up shop and cry about it? Fook no! When the going gets tough, Anvil gets going, and that brings us to their 17th goddamn album, Pounding the Pavement.” Metal has no retirement plan.

Druid Lord – Grotesque Offerings Review

By Grymm on January 17, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 26 comments

“Having not heard a note of Druid Lord prior to taking up the gory mantle for review, I reached into the ol’ Grymm Grab Bag™ to see what goodies Druid Lord have in store for us. With a descriptor over at Metal Archives as being death/doom with a strong horror vibe, this should be right up my alley, yes?” More Scream than Hostel.

Witchcryer – Cry Witch Review

By Steel Druhm on January 16, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Ripple Music, Doom Metal, 60 comments

“If you were to purchase Witchcryer’s debut, Cry Witch and load it into your iTunes-type mp3 sorter thingamabob, you’d likely see it appear adjacent to NWoBHM legends Witchfnder General. That is no coincidence. This Texas doom rock troupe features members of Las Cruces, Earthen Grave and The Living Fields, but their style and sound is the result of extended listens to the classic platters of those ancient British witch wranglers.” Some of those that dig ditches, are the same that burn witches.

Frost Giant – The Harlot Star Review

By El Cuervo on January 16, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Transcending Records, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 38 comments

“So begins my first review of 2018. I concluded 2017 with a very poor last couple of months of writing so I resolved to make some random selections from the promo bin to validate that accidental discoveries are indeed more satisfying than cherry-picking from a carefully curated end of year lists. Frost Giant had a badass name and were apparently American folk metal, two positive indicators of my listening pleasure. And yet, over three years of musical writing has taught me harsh lessons about expectations so I hit play with an open but cautious mind.” With great expectations come great disappointment.

Audrey Horne – Blackout Review

By Steel Druhm on January 15, 2018 in 2018, Hard Rock, Napalm Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Hard Rock, 50 comments

“Before there was The Night Flight Orchestra, there was Audrey Horne. They were the first extreme metal collective to rediscover and mercilessly plunder the sacred crypts of 70s and 80s radio rock, leaving naught behind for subsequent tomb raiders but Frank Stallone 8-tracks and broken pieces of Toto and Billy Joel imports. Those purloined rock relics helped fuel album after album of irresistibly rowdy music, establishing these sticky fingered Norwegians as the best hard rock band America never produced.” Who rocks in a pineapple under the sea?

Deconstructing Sequence – Cosmic Progression: An Agonizing Journey Through Oddities of Space Review

By Eldritch Elitist on January 14, 2018 in 2018, Polish Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Black Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 54 comments

“I’ve reviewed a decent amount of crappy records for AMG, and each one elicited a unique reaction. Some made me laugh; some made me cry; others still bored me to sleep or left me scratching my head wondering “why all the hype?” Listening to Cosmic Progression: An Agonizing Journey Through Oddities of Space, the debut LP of Poland’s Deconstructing Sequence, made for an unexpected new emotional response to add to my repertoire of negative thinkpieces: I was actually rooting for this band.” Fight, fight, fight for our love!

Panphage – Jord Review

By Roquentin on January 12, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Nordvis Produktion, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 62 comments

“Ornaments originating in Swedish folk music and the raw vigor of an old school black metal clash and reveal themselves swiftly, while guttural growls launch the album on a path of continuous, neverending motion. And thus Fjällbrandt, the mastermind behind Sweden’s one-man black metal band Panphage, presents his third and final full-length record under the moniker, closing the project with his most accomplished work yet.” Ending on good terms.

Yhdarl – Loss Review

By Kronos on January 12, 2018 in 2018, Belgian Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Drone, I Voidhanger Records, Reviews, Black Metal, Drone, 33 comments

“Pulling off a long song — be it a ten-minute black metal piece or an hour-plus funeral doom opus — takes very deliberate pacing. Great drone and doom bands know this and know how to pull the listener rather than push them. If the song moves too fast, it can seem to lose structure, but if it moves too slowly, it can stagnate and sour the listener to its next idea. One has to have the pacing and space to keep themselves involved.” The long lurch into oblivion.