3.0

Ghost Avenue – Impact Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 26, 2017 in 2017, Heavy Metal, Norwegian Metal, Pitch Black Records, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 16 comments

“It goes without saying that to enjoy music reviewing, you have to also enjoy the discovery and research of an album just as much as writing about it. And that doesn’t mean just the good records from your favorite bands. It means every album you get your hands on. But, even if I could review just the good records and albums from my favorite groups, I’m not sure I would want to. I have to say, while I love reviewing records from my go-to groups, there’s something fun and stress-free about grabbing a record from an unknown band. It’s like watching the World Series between two teams you don’t care about.” Zero drama metal.

Black Anvil – As Was Review

By Mark Z. on January 15, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Black Metal, Progressive Metal, Relapse, Reviews, Black Metal, Progressive Metal, 15 comments

“Black Anvil is one of those bands you always expect to break through on their next record. Formed in 2007 by members of New York hardcore act Kill Your Idols, the black metal quartet’s 2009 debut Time Insults the Mind and 2010 follow-up Triumvirate initially seemed poised to break the group out of the underground with their infusion of Watain-style riffing into a sweaty hardcore aesthetic.” Is this when the Anvil cracks through?

Bill + Phil – Songs of Darkness and Despair Review

By GardensTale on January 14, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Housecore records, Not Metal, Reviews, Southern Metal, Southern Metal, 27 comments

“Collaborations between metal artists are quite common. The amount of “supergroups,” like Phil Anselmo’s own Down, can attest to that. Less common are collaborations between metal artists and people outside of metal. Sometimes these are successful, like when Anthrax teamed up with Public Enemy for “Bring the Noise.” Other times you get Lulu.” The South will writhe again.

Suppressive Fire – Nature of War Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on January 11, 2017 in 2017, Ambient Metal, American Metal, Lost Apparitions Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, 29 comments

“Given how great 2016 was for me personally, my resolution for the New Year, if I was forced to make one, would be to keep doing what I was doing but do even more of it. The more things stay the same, the more things keep coming up ~~Milhouse~~ Diabolus. With that in mind, 2017 is off to a great start! Case in point: just like 2016, my first review of the year’s subject is Raleigh’s Suppressive Fire.” Thrashy deja vu.

Draugsól – Volaða Land Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 10, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Death Metal, Icelandic Metal, Reviews, Signal Rex, Black Metal, Death Metal, 14 comments

“It’s no secret that—following a legacy now two decades old—black metal is synonymous with Scandinavia. For most, this refers to Norway and Sweden, but, depending on who you ask, this may also include Finland and Iceland. Regardless if these countries meet the rules for the “Scandinavia” tag, they have a plethora of black metal bands, with legacies all their own. And I thank that goat-headed deity for that.” Feeling Scandinavia, looking frozen tundra.

The Replicate – A Selfish Dream Review

By Kronos on January 4, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Death, Reviews, Self-released, Death Metal, 40 comments

“Another year, another glut of SoCal tech death coming my way. Being the world’s sole arbiter of brutality, I have to say that I’m a bit disappointed with the more traditional technical death metal scene as of late.” Because The Arbiter is disappoint, there will be much punishment.

Derhead – Via Review

By Grymm on January 4, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Via Nocturna, Black Metal, 31 comments

“As we slam the door on the non-stop game of Russian Roulette that was 2016, we at Angry Metal Guy Enterprises, LLC collectively realize that the adage “the more things change, the more they stay the same” rings ever so true. New years always bring new promises. They also bring with them one-man black metal.” Seize the day and a drum machine.

Gravebreaker – Sacrifice Review

By Dr. Wvrm on December 24, 2016 in 2016, Gates of Hell Records, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, 4 comments

“In times of turmoil, our old refrains become more important to our sanity than ever. After burying my wallet in the backyard following some semi-drunk Christmas shopping, I turned to the latest Gothenburg-spawned album on the pile. Nothing better than somber keyboard-laden melodeath and the pitch-black 4 o’clock hour to ease the pain, right? No chance.” The 80s ride again!

Murg – Gudatall Review

By Lord Lucan on December 24, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Nordvis Produktion, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, 7 comments

“With the AMG promo bin positively bulging under the sheer weight of obscure one-man black metal projects nowadays, whenever I’m tasked with reviewing the work of an unfamiliar BM outfit, I’ve almost begun taking it as a given that it’s going to be a solo affair. When Gudatall—the latest effort from mysterious Swedish black metallers Murg—landed in my inbox, I almost choked on my caviar when I cued up a promo photo and found there to be not just one individual behind the name, but two.” Two is the unkvltist number that there’s ever been.

Heavens Decay – The Great Void of Mystery Review

By Steel Druhm on December 15, 2016 in 2016, Chaos Records, Heavy Metal, International Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 8 comments

“We all know December is the Great Dumpster Fire of Destiny for promos, and one does not simply sort through it without being stunned by the world-class dreck the labels unleash upon us poor, defenseless reviewers like so much coal in our stockings. Even in dead-end December though, you can sometimes trip over an industrial grade gem – the kind that will never shine like a pricey diamond, but may just win your affection anyway with its durable, utilitarian badassery. The Great Void of Mystery by Heavens Decay is one such stone of note.” December dumpster diving is risky business.