2020

Goblins Blade – Of Angels and Snakes Review

By Huck N Roll on June 22, 2020 in 2020, German Metal, Massacre Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 20 comments

“I don’t know what prompted me to grab this debut album from Goblins Blade. It could be that I was sick of all the prog I listened to this month. It could be that I wanted to save the world from another Holdeneye 4.0. Or it could be that the lack of an apostrophe in this band name made me cringe enough to want to write about it. Regardless, here we sit with my first power metal review of the year, and with promo blurb name drops like Judas Priest and Metal Church, I am cautiously optimistic.” The problem with goblins.

Exocrine – Maelstrom Review

By Kenstrosity on June 22, 2020 in Reviews, Technical Death Metal, 15 comments

“Are you ready for a hot take? I enjoy deeply of Exocrine’s Molten Giant. Regardless of the criticisms it received in the linked review, I return to that record still, twenty-two months after it’s initial release. Tight, jagged and delightfully choppy, Exocrine delivered a big sleeper with Molten Giant. It looked like stock tech-death, sounded like stock tech-death, and stepped on just about every mine littering the tech-death field. Yet, it put a big, stupid grin on my big, stupid face.” Squid pro quo.

Aversio Humanitatis – Behold the Silent Dwellers Review

By Akerblogger on June 21, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, 22 comments

“The intense drama of a misanthropic black metal release arrives to a listener as both a serious work of art and an absurd, sometimes even comical, view of the way things are – a mirror. Spain’s Aversio Humanitatis seek to abandon humanity through their music. They’ve had enough. We’re too far down the rabbit hole.” Resisting life.

League of Corruption – Something in the Water Review

By Saunders on June 21, 2020 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Groove Metal, Sludge, 7 comments

“The shadow of the mighty Sabbath looms large over the album’s down and dirty mix of bluesy doom and groove-laden heavy rock. Add some burly gruffness to Black Label Society and Corrosion of Conformity influences, and whiffs of the NOLA school of rock and sludge, and you get a basic idea of what League of Corruption are all about on their debut LP, Something in the Water.” Sumpin’ pumping.

Sxuperion – Omniscient Pulse Review

By Dear Hollow on June 20, 2020 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Industrial Metal, 17 comments

“If I say the magic words “space-themed death metal,” what do you see? If you see Blood Incantation or Artificial Brain come swooping in like a half-giant on a flying motorcycle, push your disappointment to the back of your mind, because we ain’t talking about them today.” Sxuspend expectations.

Withering Surface – Meet Your Maker Review

By Carcharodon on June 19, 2020 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 26 comments

“2020 seems to be the year of bands returning from the wastes. I’ve reviewed at least three bands so far this year that haven’t released an album for eight plus years. Næstved, Denmark’s original melo-death export Withering Surface dropped their last album, Force the Pace, way back in 2004.” Withering still.

Airbag – A Day at the Beach Review

By Huck N Roll on June 19, 2020 in Reviews, Progressive Rock, 30 comments

“Four years ago now, our AMG Overlords made the error in judgement to bring me on as a n00b. Airbag’s Disconnected was my second probationary review, and I will never forget it. Why? Well, because every week without fail for the past four years, our technologically advanced promo distribution system has notified me that “Steel Druhm has stopped sharing Airbag with you.” Okay, I get the hint.” Bag men.

The Path of Memory – Hell is Other People Review

By Steel Druhm on June 19, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, Dark Rock, 42 comments

“June brings us sun, warmth and an urge to get outdoors. Yet the pandemic still hangs over the world like a mortuary drape, killing the natural buzz that accompanies summer. Stuck as we are between a plague and a good time, the moment may be right for what one-man goth/doom rock project, The Path of Memory is selling.” Most people suck.

Vile Creature – Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! Review

By GardensTale on June 18, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Drone, 41 comments

“A couple of years ago, I saddled myself with the record Cast of Static and Smoke by Ontarian duo Vile Creature. It turned out to be perhaps the most memorable 3.0 I have reviewed these past 4 years. Despite its flaws, it was an ambitious record that thrived on hideous, grimy textures, hypnotic repetition and glacial progression, rather than hooks or energy. A bit over 2 years hence, and its follow-up graces my inbox, with a disturbing, Midsommar-esque cover and featuring the unwieldy title of Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm!.” Helm’s deep.

Lamb of God – Lamb of God Review

By Saunders on June 18, 2020 in Reviews, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 46 comments

“Through impressive early career highs to the middling mehs of some of their later material, Lamb of God have remained committed to their craft amidst tides of turmoil, persevering through some sizable obstacles. Now following a five-year gap between albums, Lamb of God return with their anticipated eighth LP, a self-titled effort.” Lamb-fisted.