3.5

Kvelertak – Nattesferd Review

By Mark Z. on May 30, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Hard Rock, Norwegian Metal, Punk, Reviews, Roadrunner, Black Metal, Hard Rock, Punk, 33 comments

“Oh, Kvelertak. Five years ago and hot on the heels of their 2010 self-titled debut, it seemed the Norwegian sextet were the subject of every third MetalSucks post, and their wild live shows were the stuff of legend. In a metal scene curdling from years of cvlter-than-thou extremity, the group’s insanely catchy combination of blistering black metal, hooky arena rock, and party-hard attitude not only appeased metalheads with a repressed desire to let loose and rock out, but also broke through to listeners who seldom dipped their toes in the insular metal blogosphere.”

Sleep of Monsters – Poison Garden Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on May 28, 2016 in 2016, Finnish Metal, Gothic Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Svart Records, Gothic Metal, 17 comments

“Despite picking up plenty of positive press for their debut Produces Reason a couple of years ago (including a glowing review from yours truly), Sleep of Monsters don’t seem to have penetrated far into the metal public’s collective consciousness. Comprising former members of underrated Finnish goth rockers Babylon Whores, overrated Finnish goth rockers HIM, and a host of other decorated musicians, Sleep of Monsters go beyond the narrow confines inhabited by the aforementioned acts, incorporating all manner of different musical ideas into their remarkably coherent overall sound.” Don’t sleep on these monsters.

Death Angel – The Evil Divide Review

By Steel Druhm on May 23, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 65 comments

“It’s tough to avoid feeling one’s age when all the wild, crazy bands you listened to in your youth are approaching 30 year anniversaries. This is particularly true with Death Angel. I remember seeing them open for Overkill and Slayer back in 86 and they looked like little kids on stage. I was a kid myself but they really looked like little kids. 2016 sees them dropping their 8th album after three decades in the business and while they’re older, wiser and much more grizzled, you’d hardly know it from the razor-sharp thrash contained on The Evil Divide.” With age comes anger (and back hair).

Flotsam and Jetsam – Flotsam and Jetsam Review

By Al Kikuras on May 19, 2016 in 2016, AFM Records, American Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 34 comments

As a dumb 16 year-old I turned away from bands when the glass-shattering high notes that were a trademark of many vocalists went the way of the dinosaur, either by design or age inducing the testicles to drop. As a dumb 35 year-old, Alan Tecchio raved to me about Flotsam and Jetsam’s then new album, 2010’s The Cold. As one of my favorite metal vocalists (Hades, Non-Fiction), Alan’s word was bond, James Bond, so I picked it up. At first listen it made me turn my Fruit of the Looms into a fudge factory.” Enter the Age of Incontinence!

Mortillery – Shapeshifter Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 19, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 49 comments

“I would be a goddamned liar if I said I were a longtime fan of Canadian thrashers, Mortillery—and those who commented on last year’s Unleash the Archers review can contest to this. However, after diving deep into the band’s back catalog, I can wholeheartedly admit that, in a single week’s time, I am a diehard fan of this band. And for the first time in awhile, I will not be sent to the AMG basement for my poor taste in metal or forced outside to scrape the dead armadillo carcasses hanging from the grilles of the staff’s Prius’.” We’ve actually moved your desk down there.

The Order of Israfel – Red Robes Review

By Steel Druhm on May 18, 2016 in 2016, Doom Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Doom Metal, 23 comments

“The Order of Israfel’s 2014 debut Wisdom became a bit of a sleeper for yours truly. I gave it a positive review and saw the potential, but didn’t expect to return to it quite as much as I have. The combination of classic doom with tough biker rock proved hard to ignore and though it missed my year end lists, it’s become a regular part of my “free range” listening time.” Free Steel Druhm!

Whispered – Metsutan: Songs of the Void Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on May 14, 2016 in 2016, Finnish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Redhouse Finland Music Publishing, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 38 comments

“Remember when Tom Cruise got cast as The Last Samurai in 2003? Some people on the Internet really do, and take time out of what must be a rich and fulfilling life to vomit up prose so salty it gives Dutch licorice a run for its money. Naturally it’s made into a sociopolitical issue, but I’m going to leave that alone because I’m not a fifth-rate hack who feels compelled to use the metal blog I write for as a soapbox to spew typo-laden opinions on contemporary politics and the like. Anyway, Mr. Cruise remained The Last Samurai for about a year, because in 2004 Finnish Samurai metal band Whispered came into existence.” Eat it, Tommy!

Blaze Bayley – Infinite Entanglement Review

By Angry Metal Guy on May 12, 2016 in 2016, English Metal, Reviews, 33 comments

Blaze Bayley’s solo records have become a perpetual state of promise and terror. Turns out Infinite Entanglement is more promise than terror, if you’re keeping track at home.

Savage Master – With Whips and Chains Review

By Steel Druhm on May 9, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Heavy Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 26 comments

“As soon as I heard note one of this thing I knew I was in for it. I’d end up falling in my 80s nostalgia hole preaching to the very small choir of 45-plus geezers who grew up on this kind of raw, simplistic proto-metal. Praising this would inevitably lead to abuse from my youthful AMG peers and readers while further cementing my rep as a metallic fossil, but what can a middle-aged Steel Druhm do?” My name is Steel and I have a metal problem.

Phobocosm – Bringer of Drought Review

By Kronos on May 6, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Dark Descent Records, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 29 comments

“One of the complications of writing about and conceptualizing metal in the past – well, almost a decade – has been the music’s incredible diversity and availability. With bands able to record and distribute music so easily, scenes and trends have become less important and less centralized. Sure, there’s been a huge interest in nostalgia-core – occult rock and retro-thrash albums arrive in AMG’s inbox monthly – but it’s doubtful that in 2026 we’ll think of the first half of the ‘teens as being dominated by musical throwbacks. Metal as a whole lacks a zeitgeist, and in some ways that’s frustrating, because it’s hard to keep up with such a decentralized and broad genre – but death metal, as a smaller and more manageable entity, does indeed seem to have direction.” And that direction is interesting indeed.