2019

Sorxe – The Ark Burner [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 14, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Doom Metal, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Sludge Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, 6 comments

“Hitting our promo bin for the first time in 2014, there was little Grymm found interesting on the band’s debut. But when Matter & Void hit the deck three years later, my eyebrows glued themselves to the top of my head. And seeing them play that album live is still one of the best performances I’ve ever experienced. What didn’t hit our bin was this year’s The Ark Burner. But, thank the stars, I’ve been keeping tabs on this band for all you sludge suckers out there. But, will Sorxe continue their streak?” Ark of triumph.

Nova – Veniamo Dal Cielo Review

By Twelve on December 14, 2019 in 2019, ATMF, Black Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 8 comments

This post has been removed because it promoted Nazi or Nazi-adjacent metal bands or musicians. We apologize.

Israthoum – Arrows from Below Review

By Carcharodon on December 13, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Dutch Metal, New Era Productions, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 20 comments

“I come to my last writing engagement of the year off the back of reading Grymm’s humbling first post on mental health in metal – and the absolutely incredible reaction to that – as well as wrapping up my TYMHMs and agonizing over my year-end list. It feels somehow anticlimactic to return to ‘normal’ reviewing. That’s no disrespect, however, to today’s subject, a band formed way back in the early 90s in Portugal under the name Grendel, then becoming Geryous, before assuming their current and enduring moniker, Israthoum in 1998.” What’s in a name?

Iapetus – The Body Cosmic [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By Eldritch Elitist on December 13, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Self-released, Things You Might Have Missed, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 37 comments

“Metal offers incalculable aural interpretations of outer space. Darkspace focuses on the inhospitable nature of the infinite vacuum. Gamma Ray pitches a trip through a black hole as the ultimate roller coaster ride. Ghost Bath dwells on the melancholic isolation of the cosmos while also sounding like something out of Sonic Adventure. Yet it takes Iapetus just over three minutes to craft a moment more compelling than any of those with their sophomore LP, The Body Cosmic.” Space in your face.

Obsidian Tide – Pillars of Creation [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By Huck N Roll on December 12, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, Israeli Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Things You Might Have Missed, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 50 comments

“I love TheKenWord, but the problem is, if you skip an hour on the AMG Slack channel, you’ll probably miss one of his 1462 album recommendations. Lucky for me, at the precise day and time when Kenny waxed on about Obsidian Tide’s new album I just happened to be lurking on the forums, and I caught the link. The young fella did himself proud with this recommendation. Obsidian Tide are an Israeli progressive metal trio, and Pillars of Creation is the band’s debut album, a seven-song, 55-minute concept album detailing a man’s journey to enlightenment.” Tides and tidings.

Midnight Priest – Aggressive Hauntings [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By Diabolus in Muzaka on December 12, 2019 in 2019, Heavy Metal, Metal On Metal Records, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Heavy Metal, 25 comments

“I like focus and consistency, so a whole record of quick and quality heavy metal songs is always something I keep an ear to the ground for. This year the ground decided to scream “Midnight Priest” at me—a bit rude, but I can’t argue with the results.” Worship and then burn the night.

Misþyrming – Algleymi [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By Doom_et_Al on December 12, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Icelandic Metal, Norma Evangelium Diaboli, Things You Might Have Missed, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Black Metal, 45 comments

“As El Cuervo pointed out in his coverage of the band’s debut, Söngvar managed to be both avant-garde but also thrillingly, devastatingly alive. As a result, I was thoroughly looking forward to the follow-up. Algleymi arrived, and to the disappointment of some fans, it wasn’t Söngvar part 2. No, it was something else entirely, but definitely not something you’d want to miss.” Strange ice.

Howling Giant – The Space Between Worlds [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By Dear Hollow on December 11, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, American Rock, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Unsigned Bands, Post-Metal, Progressive Rock, 19 comments

“A true sleeper hit in every sense of the word, The Space Between Worlds’ style may not be the most innovative, but damn is it tasty. Introducing themselves with three tauntingly brief EP’s since 2015, including the hella fun two-part Black Hole Space Wizard arc, Nashville trio Howling Giant fuses the fuzz of stoner doom with the ambition of prog rock.” Between rock and a vast space.

Halphas – The Infernal Path into Oblivion Review

By Dr. Wvrm on December 11, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Folter Records, German Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 10 comments

“The Germans dropped their debut in the heart of List Season ’17, a rowdy black metal romp that thrived in the darkness of a 4 pm sunset. Two years on and Halphas won’t flinch before the listicle onslaught. Good on them too, because The Infernal Path into Oblivion is a step-up from an already strong debut. Who needs validation when you’ve got riffs?” Riff money.

The River – Vessels into White Tides Review

By Steel Druhm on December 10, 2019 in 2019, Doom Metal, Drone, English Metal, Gothic Metal, Nine Records, Reviews, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, 6 comments

“December is usually not the best time to go for a dip in the promo sump. Historically this is the month where we get deluged with re-releases and more low-fi basement black metal than a barrel full of Vardans could churn out in a fortnight. It takes a steady hand to reach into the brackish murk and pull out something promising, and fortunately, nothing is as steady as the iron hand ov Steel. That brings us to the new release by UK experimental Goth/doom act The River.” Follow The River.