3.5

Black Yet Full of Stars – Black Yet Full of Stars Review

By Ferrous Beuller on October 22, 2016 in 2016, International Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Rockshots Records, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 29 comments

“There’s no doubt about it, in this burgeoning world of myriad metal sub-genres, an unlucky few have been branded as default pejoratives. We’re all guilty of it to some degree: nu metal, metalcore, deathcore… basically anything with a core, all sneered at and vilified down the length of our long, elitist noses. It saddens my iron bones to find that power metal seems to be suffering the same fate. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but there can be no denying the scene’s quality output.” Up with power!

Minotaur Head – Minotaur Head Review

By Steel Druhm on October 20, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, War Anthem Records, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 23 comments

“It’s been a minute or so since I’ve reviewed a Rogga Johansson project (of which there are approximately 30), so when I saw a brand new entity creep into the promo sump, I was curious enough to check it out. This new beast is Mintotaur Head, a doom/death supergroup led by Rogga and Bob Bagchus (ex-Asphyx).” October brings The Great Dooming.

Polyptych – Defying the Metastasis Review

By Eldritch Elitist on October 19, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Blood Harvest Records, Doom Metal, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Technical Death Metal, 34 comments

“The forefathers of death metal were truly spoiled when it came time to come up with a kick-ass band name. The genre’s progenitors ran wild with synonyms for various acts of violence and bits of viscera (not to mention those nerds who pulled inspiration from Warhammer 40k), but when the thesaurus has fallen to tatters, where does a budding young death metal band pull its inspiration from?” How about Proust?

Ars Moriendi – Sepelitur Alleluia Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 18, 2016 in 2016, Archaic Sound, Black Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 48 comments

“The only thing I knew going into Ars Moriendi was that this black metal outfit is from France. which means they’re probably weird as shit. But, being the fan I am of Spektr, Reverence, and Blut aus Nord, I wasn’t too worried. So, not expecting anything novel, I put in my buds and fired up Sepelitur Alleluia. And, oh lordy, I was taken by surprise. It turns out there is more to Ars Moriendi than meets the eye (or ear).” French black metal is weird, and their wine is okay too.

Opeth – Sorceress Review

By Angry Metal Guy on October 14, 2016 in 2016, Moderbolaget, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Progressive Rock, 171 comments

“It’s funny to think about how long it has been since the golden age of Swedish metal. In the mid-to-late ’90s and early aughts, Swedish bands were atop the world. Now venerable legends were young, hungry and novel. 1995 saw the release of Slaughter of the Soul, The Gallery and Orchid, while the following year graced us with Morningrise and The Jester Race. And when I got into Opeth in 1998 I was swimming in a veritable ocean of amazing Swedish records. Despite my love of the band, I would have laughed if someone had suggested that Opeth—the guys who couldn’t write a song shorter than 10 minutes—would be the most successful of the bunch in 20 years. Maybe it’s obvious in retrospect. Opeth was the band with the broadest opportunities for evolution. They have shown that consistently in their long career. Record after record they evolve; sometimes for the better and sometimes not. But they have always been forward thinking and—given their recent moves into merch and their own imprint—clever.” But is the new album good?

Anciients – Voice of the Void Review

By Saunders on October 11, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Sludge, Stoner Rock, Progressive Metal, Sludge, 28 comments

“Canada’s Anciients stormed the scene with their promising Heart of Oak debut in 2013, an intoxicating if at times derivative mix of stoner, sludge, and prog. It was an enjoyable album, though it didn’t quite blow me away like it did many others. Nevertheless, my interest was certainly piqued enough to be excited by the band’s long-awaited return with the all important album number two.” Goats for all!

Brutally Deceased – Satanic Corpse Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on October 11, 2016 in 2016, Czech Metal, Death Metal, Doomentia Records, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 26 comments

“As many of us learned from magnets or, for an elite few, Paula Abdul and her weird rapping cartoon cat companion, opposites have the ability to attract if they’re strong enough. As we learned from making friends, joining any voluntary association, or reading Plato’s Timaeus, like knows and seeks out like at a high rate too. And Czech Swedeath merchants Brutally Deceased are going for this principle with their third record, Satanic Corpse.” Oh Paula, you came and you found us some Swede-death….

Hobbs’ Angel of Death – Heaven Bled Review

By Mark Z. on October 10, 2016 in 2016, Australian Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 47 comments

“The year is 1987. Robocop is in theaters, thrash metal is booming, and my mommy and daddy are just a few short years away from bumpin’ uglies to produce yours truly. On the other side of the world, an Australian Slayer fan named Peter Hobbs decides to transform his thrash band Tyrus into a new project named after Reign in Blood’s infamous opening track. The result is Hobbs’ Angel of Death – ostensibly one of the first bands from Down Under to play what we now know as classic thrash metal.” The social thrash contract must not be broken!

Meshuggah – The Violent Sleep of Reason Review

By Kronos on October 8, 2016 in 2016, Nuclear Blast, Progressive Metal, Swedish Metal, Progressive Metal, 57 comments

“What does a band do when they’ve spent decades revolutionizing the very fabric of metal? A handful of the early century’s most innovative musicians get their say this fall – and in quick succession, as if ready to pass the torch on to the next generation of darkness. But one of those bands in particular has pitched a radical transformation in how and with what metal is played. Meshuggah, the dark and jagged jewel of Umeå.” The paradigm must now align.

Gatecreeper – Sonoran Depravation Review

By Steel Druhm on October 3, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Death Metal, Relapse, Reviews, Death Metal, 54 comments

“I haven’t reviewed death metal in a good long time, so I thought I’d get back on the dead horse with upstart Arizona act, Gatecreeper. For their Sonoran Depravation debut they’ve crafted a style mixing equal parts of the D-beat Swede-death style made famous by Entombed, the grit and dirge of Asphyx and the bastard war grind of Bolt Thrower. Sounds tempting, eh?” Tempted by the tank of another….