2021

Violet Cold – Empire of Love [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Doom_et_Al on December 22, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2021, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 44 comments

“In a genre of music that is often deliberately controversial, the cover of Empire of Love by Violet Cold may be one of the most provocative of the year. But unlike other artists where this seems, at times, needless (ahem, Bloody Cumshot, ahem), Empire of Love’s provocation serves a serious and noble purpose. Mastermind Emin Guliyev’s native Azerbaijan has the worst human rights record for LGBTQI people in all of Europe. There is no protection for this community, and atrocities and hate-crimes against them are a depressingly regular occurrence. So to superimpose the Azerbaijan flag onto the pride flag is both a middle finger to his nation’s bigotry and hate, and a challenge to black metal fans who believe the subgenre must conform to their narrow interpretation of it.” Pride and justice.

Paul Gilbert – ‘Twas Review

By Cherd on December 21, 2021 in Reviews, Hard Rock, 55 comments

“As official Lore Keeper of the First Age of Metal, Steel is well acquainted with Paul Gilbert and his classic heavy metal band Racer X. Unfamiliar with either name, I was surprised to find I know his work from my junior high days of listening to Mr. Big cassettes. As a guitarist, Gilbert is a throwback to that heady era of hard rock when wheedly-wheedly was king, and few could wank a guitar to completion quite like him. ‘Twas is his holiday gift to an indifferent unsuspecting world.” Christmas cannon.

Stuck in the Filter – November’s Angry Misses

By Kenstrosity on December 21, 2021 in Blog Posts, Stuck in the Filter, 45 comments

“November had a pretty solid assortment of quality releases, both covered by us truly and unnoticed by the ascendant elite. Luckily, the intellectuals and high-IQ-having filtration team successfully dug out sparkly gems from the gross mesh of the Filter this month. Whether you agree with or support these choices depends on your innate ability to understand music and its intricate nuance.” Filter and gold.

Kyning – Ān [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By GardensTale on December 21, 2021 in Reviews, Stoner Metal, 31 comments

“Vocals are almost always a focal point in modern music of any type. Pop music is practically exclusively about vocalists, hip-hop is defined solely by its vocal style, and so on. Metal vocals oftentimes attempt to buck the trends, whether they’re unintelligible, buried beneath the music, or simply a mediocre afterthought. The latter option is more common in stoner metal, and that is where our path leads today.” Wabbit season.

Sur Austru – Obărșie [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Twelve on December 20, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2021, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 34 comments

“Earlier this year, Huck N Roll reviewed the final full-length release from Negură Bunget, following Gabriel Mafa’s tragic passing in 2017. For several now-former members of the group, however, the musical journey, and spirit of Negură Bunget, persists in the form of Sur Austru, which was formed in 2018 to continue that musical legacy.” Onward.

Vindicator – Communal Decay [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Angry Metal Guy on December 20, 2021 in Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2021, Thrash Metal, 12 comments

“For my money, Vindicator was always underrated re-thrash, notwithstanding my concern about their collective understanding of monetary policy. Nearly 10 years later, the brothers Stown (Vic on guitars and vox and Jesse on drums) have reunited to bring us a new slab of post-Bay Area re-thrash called Communal Decay. What ensues is not surprising, but it’s teeming with old school riffing and features a short and sweet 31-minute runtime.” Did you miss it? We sure as hell did.

Imperialist – Zenith Review

By Eldritch Elitist on December 20, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, 34 comments

“Some albums hit at just the right time, and Imperialist’s debut was right on schedule. In 2018, the year I would personally call the weakest year for metal of my AMG tenure, Cipher was a commanding force of bullshit-negative black metal, and easily one of my most-listened-to records of that year despite its late release. So then… where was it on my list? Ah. Yes. Near the bottom of my honorable mentions, chucked there as an almost-afterthought.” Royal authority.

Krolok – Funeral Winds & Crimson Sky Review

By Ferox on December 19, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, 19 comments

““Delve deep in and listen… listen to the atmospheres of an arcane night and return within your thoughts into bygone times.” So goes Krolok’s description of their second offering of ESL-inflected black metal. The band, hailing from a literal Carpathian forest, bills itself as “atmospheric.” Their actual sound, however, riffs on the age-old question: “What if trve and kvlt, but also having of dungeon synth keys?”” What would Krolok do?

Hollywood Burns – The Age of the Saucers [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Kenstrosity on December 18, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2021, Electronic, Non-metal Metal Things, Synthwave, 26 comments

“You can probably already tell that this is not a metal album. Maybe you can’t, I dunno. Either way, I can attest that this here album is awesome. Hollywood Burns is far from a household name, but French darksynth upstart Emeric “Hollywood Burns” Levardon deserves a big reputation boost coming off of his latest opus, The Age of the Saucers. Alien abductions abound and riffy electronic buzzery surround, handily securing my attention as he serves everything I want in music through his unique synthwave lens.” Watch the skies.

Iron Fate – Crimson Messiah Review

By Steel Druhm on December 17, 2021 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 16 comments

“2021 was a mightily backloaded year of metal. I didn’t love a lot of stuff from January through August and I was coasting along with a very low yearly rating average. Since August however, it seems every other album I dive into is a blast and it’s done major damage to that once pristine median. Now comes the classic metal stylings of Iron Fate to play mischief with Steel ‘s ledger of maths.” Let olde acquaintance be not forgotten.