2022

Deathwhite – Grey Everlasting Review

By Steel Druhm on June 9, 2022 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, 29 comments

“Deathwhite clearly enjoy the role of enigmatic mega-mystery band. For ten long years, they’ve toiled to release dark, gothy-tinged doom music with cascading negative thoughts and feelings, and all without revealing who is actually in the band. Their sound has gone through some evolution over the decade but here on album number three, Grey Everlasting, they’ve firmly locked themselves into the same soundscape as Katatonia and Warning, dropping much of the alt-metal elements in favor of bleak, unhappy odes to bummertude.” Grey is the new grey.

All Things Fallen – Shadow Way Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on June 9, 2022 in Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 15 comments

“We all have a type. Deep down inside, my type often reflects as moody, noodly, groove-kissed prog. So, when I see a promo that promises all of those things, I can’t help but shove it in my ears and hope for the best. Enter All Things Fallen who presents as a supergroup of sorts, boasting members of Pain of Salvation, Darkwater, and Almah—a little digging reveals it’s more of a supporting cast coalition. A little less ego can go a long way in collaborative projects, so smaller names are not exactly a bad thing.” Manbun-core.

Kardashev – Liminal Rite Review

By Carcharodon on June 8, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Doom, Death Metal, Post-Metal, 175 comments

“In the year that was 2020—you know, that year—I stumbled across an EP by an unsigned band from Arizona. That EP was The Baring of Shadows by Kardashev, an absolutely devastating record about harrowing heartache and managing mourning. Combining elements of black and post-metal with progressive death, Kardashev’s self-styled deathgaze casually sauntered to #5 on my 2020 List despite only comprising four tracks, one of which (“Snow-Sleep”) also took my Song o’ the Year spot. It seems I wasn’t the only one Kardashev impressed. It was announced in January 2021 that the quartet had signed to Metal Blade. To say I was pumped for the sophomore full-length would be something of an understatement.” Fanboy summer.

Astronoid – Radiant Bloom Review

By Eldritch Elitist on June 8, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Shoegaze, 23 comments

“In the six years that have passed since Astronoid’s first LP, I have yet to hear a debut record spring from the ether as novel and fully realized as Air. While possessing a youthful vigor and innocence characteristic of an enthusiastic upstart, Air sounded like the product of several albums’ worth of honed identity. As Mark Z so eloquently summarized, however, that once-perfect brew of black metal, post-rock, and shoegaze became unbalanced with Astronoid’s self-titled follow up. Its songwriting was flat, its energy and atmosphere were tempered, and they took away the fucking blastbeats; an automatic point deduction for any metal record. I’m happy to report, then, that Radiant Bloom is something of a return to form.” Embrace the Noid.

Kreator – Hate Über Alles Review

By Steel Druhm on June 7, 2022 in Reviews, Thrash Metal, 71 comments

“More than any notable thrash band of the 80s, Kreator dabbled in different styles, tweaked and retweaked their formula, sometimes to their detriment. 1992s Renewal tried to fuse hardcore and industrial elements into their thrash sound with wildly mixed results, and Endorama went for something like a goth metal style that was weird to say the least. In recent years they’ve been more restrained in their experimentation, incorporating doses of anthemic traditional metal into their sound. It’s been 5 years since Gods of Violence and the singles released for Hate Über Alles suggested Kreator had been bit by the experimentation bug once again.” Impact Kreator.

My Diligence – The Matter, Form and Power Review

By Huck N Roll on June 7, 2022 in Reviews, Progressive Rock, Stoner Rock, 8 comments

“Allow me to be contrite for a moment. Three and a half years ago I casually dropped a 3.5 rating on My Diligence’s second album, Sun Rose. I’m not too proud to tell you that, after circling back to the album many times since, I definitely had my overrating cap on. At best Sun Rose was a 3.0, more likely closer to a 2.5. But I was somehow smitten at the time and threw caution to the wind. I’ll admit it now: I was too enamored of the strong songs, and ignored the chaff. Now here we are with The Matter, Form and Power, and I am determined to approach this stoner-prog platter with open eyes and an even keel.”” Doom Diligence.

Big Muff 68 – Swing Metal Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on June 5, 2022 in Reviews, Groove Metal, Hard Rock, Stoner Rock, 17 comments

“Do you know what a big muff pedal does? Well, if you don’t, it essentially can turn electric guitars into fat fuzzy rock machines. Over the decades, that sound has found a home across all genres that riff, stomp, and tear blues licks a new one. As such, the pedal name lends itself well to the mission of the wacky Norwegian outfit Big Muff 68, who seeks to give us a fresh new genre view with Swing Metal. If you hadn’t guessed yet, that genre is none other than… swing metal!” Tough Muff.

Magnatar – Crushed Review

By Thus Spoke on June 4, 2022 in Reviews, Post-Metal, Sludge Metal, 16 comments

“I picked this album for its cover art. The delicately-drawn flowers and shattering animal skins have a tasteful appeal, and not just because the floral and fluffy have insurmountable draw for those of the female persuasion such as myself. Under the surface, Magnatar are just as tasteful, and a little more tough. Crushed—their debut LP—is an artistic mix of sludge, ambient, and post-metal in equal parts graceful and vicious.” Pretty but deadly.

Stuck in the Filter – April’s Angry Misses

By Kenstrosity on June 3, 2022 in Stuck in the Filter, 57 comments

“Another month, another disgusting panel to unhinge, and another tunnel to de-grime. As the resident sponge, I assume the primary responsibility for herding the writing talent into these tight metal corridors, leading the way as we all get covered in thirty day’s worth of dead skin, even deader rodents, and this weird yellow slime that seems to ooze from nearly every seam.” Clogs, cogs, and hogs.

Sijjeel – Salvation Within Insanity Review

By Itchymenace on June 3, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, 35 comments

“Full disclosure: I’m not a huge death metal connoisseur but I did grow up during the golden era of bands like Obituary, Morbid Angel, and Entombed. Occasionally, I like to see what’s new in the genre, but few things ever stick. While looking for something interesting to cut my teeth on for my first official AMG review, I came across Sijjeel and was intrigued by their Saudi Arabian origins. After listening to the opening seconds of Salvation Within Insanity, I was hooked.” Glad for the madness.