3.0

Kremlin – Kremlin Review

By GardensTale on October 11, 2016 in 2016, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Svart Records, Stoner Metal, 12 comments

“One of the best ways to catch my attention with a promo blurb is to compare yourself to Clutch. Not only are the Marylanders among my all-time favorites, their instantly recognizable sound – courtesy of a host of imaginative rock ‘n roll riffs and the amazing throat and lyrics of Neil Fallon – hasn’t inspired a horde of imitators. Finland-based Kremlin had only this magical name listed as an influence on the promo, so it was with ample anticipation that I first fired up their self-titled debut.” Those who invoke Clutch had best be clutch.

Riti Occulti – Tetragrammaton Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 9, 2016 in 2016, Doom Metal, Italian Metal, Nordavind Records, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, 38 comments

“Riti Occulti are a strange band. They play doom, they hail from Italy, they prefer a bass guitar to a six-stringed axe, and their vocal department consists of a goth-like, beauty-and-the-beast duo. To be more specific, the band uses only bass guitar and the two female vocalists alternate between black-metal rasps and operatic clean vox. Topping it off, the band coats everything in a thick layer of synthesizers and moody effects (many times performed using a dreaded keytar). But, it isn’t as bad as it seems.” Unleash the Keytar.

Winterfylleth – The Dark Hereafter Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 8, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Candlelight Records, English Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 53 comments

“For those that have been with us for awhile now, you know that Winterfylleth doesn’t get a lot of love around here. Though the “bashing” by AMG and Roquetin are minimal, the band’s atmospheric, Viking (oops, Anglo-Saxon) black metal approach does cause droopy eyes in the AMG offices. And, unfortunately, my take on the band isn’t far behind my predecessors’.” We’re a tough crowd.

Eschatos – The Grand Noir Review

By Madam X on October 6, 2016 in 2016, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Latvian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Starwolf Records, Black Metal, Progressive Metal, 24 comments

“It’s been said by some that Moldova sucks, but when it comes to metal, Latvia does not! Hailing from Latvia’s capital city (Riga), Eschatos have been constructing their brand of avant-garde/progressive black metal since 2012.” Better black than red.

Eastern Front – EmpirE Review

By Dr. Wvrm on October 5, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Cacophonous Records, Death Metal, English Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 13 comments

“War is hell. It’s also pretty metal. This defining aspect of the human condition has been touched upon by more bands than you can rattle your saber at. It’s even made its mark on black metal, as Eastern Front will be quick to remind you. Plundering the history books for wartime atrocities has inspired some ferocious work from Eastern Front before, and EmpirE rides that Panzer down a solid if unsurprising path.” Let’s blow stuff up!

Ricardo Remédio – Natureza Morta Review

By Akerblogger on October 5, 2016 in 2016, Dissociated Records, Electronica Metal, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Electronica Metal, 29 comments

“Follow me into the electronic church of Ricardo Remédio, a prolific musician who has collaborated with various doom bands and electronic projects in his native Portugal. Under the divine gaze of Sunn O))) and Ulver collaborator and multi-instrumentalist, Daniel O’Sullivan, Natureza Morta is Ricardo Remédio’s first solo record. The album is atypical in that it contains no riffs, vocals, drums or your everyday heavy metal violence.” And now for something completely different.

Noctem – Haeresis Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 3, 2016 in 2016, Art Gates Records, Black Metal, Death Metal, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Spanish Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, 29 comments

“Boy, does Noctem bring back memories. Back in 2014, Exilium was one of the better albums I reviewed. A lot of this had to do with the fact that I was a n00b in 2014 (Exilium being one of the first reviews I ever wrote for AMG). But, even so, it stuck with me for the rest of the year. So, you can imagine the excitement and nostalgia I felt when this newest album, Haeresis, showed up in my inbox.” Reflections of a semi-former n00b.

Torrid Husk & End – Swallow Matewan [Split] Review

By Saunders on October 1, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Greek Metal, Grimoire Records, Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 10 comments

“On a Saturday morning I was lazily kicking back in bed, gazing through the shades at the vibrant colors of the gorgeous day ahead, feeling the mild spring breeze float through the window when I decided it was time to delve into Swallow Matewan, a split release between West Virginia’s Torrid Husk and Greece’s End. Some 40-odd minutes later of listening to the despairing double dose of violent, rainbow killing, unicorn enslaving atmospheric black metal and I was left emotionally damaged and wallowing in self-pity.” Unicorn enslaving is frowned upon in this establishment.

Sonata Arctica – The Ninth Hour Review

By Angry Metal Guy on September 30, 2016 in 2016, Finnish Metal, Nuclear Blast, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 91 comments

“The Ninth Hour marks Sonata Arctica’s fourth full length since Unia. In 2016, that means that half the band’s career is post-Unia and since that monumental album Sonata Arctica has gone through a tense relationship with its history and—if the comments on this blog are anything to go by—their fanbase. This has led to these veterans of Europower reintroducing wolf shirt and their old logo. But for me it’s The Days of Grays—an album distinctly lacking in both—that remains the band’s best since 2007.” So after all this time has Sonata Arctica produced a worthy successor to The Days of Grays?

Johansson & Speckmann – Edge of the Abyss Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on September 29, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, International Metal, Reviews, Soulseller Records, Death Metal, 9 comments

“I like to imagine the absurdly prolific Rogga Johansson’s inner monologue to be similar to Pinky and the Brain’s introductory bit, with him eating whatever the Swedes eat for breakfast, wondering ‘what should I do today?’ and answering, ‘the same thing you do every day, Rogga: write and record a death metal record.’ Our hero would then draw a band name from a hat or make one up depending on his mood, and by lunchtime would have written about seven songs and called up whoever was needed to complete the lineup. Johansson & Speckmann had clearly been drawn from what must be a very large hat by now, and before the traditional Swedish dinner bell rang that day, Edge of the Abyss was born.” Pinky and the Brawn.