4.0

Jarhead Fertilizer – Carceral Warfare Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on December 12, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, Grind, Hardcore, Powerviolence, 54 comments

“There’s disgusting death metal, there’s brutal death metal, then there’s death metal that walks into a room and makes you wonder if anyone else in that room has a restraining order against it. Autopsy may have pioneered this brand of whiplash, burner phone grooves against parole-violating subject matter, but Jarhead Fertilizer—featuring mostly current or former members of grinders Full of Hell—has taken the campy idea of that putrid stance and added to it a real-world violence.” Feel the Fertilizer.

Phobocosm – Foreordained Review

By Steel Druhm on December 6, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, 44 comments

“Montreal’s mega-heavy death metal merchants Phobocosm have a distinguished track record here at AMG, scoring high marks both times they were featured. It’s been a long time since their last appearance for 2016s Bringer of Drought, which Lord Kronos himself blessed with a righteous 3.5. He appreciated their nods to Incantation and Ulcerate and the no-nonsense way they steamroll and crush the listener with grim atmospheres and a massively heavy sound. Not the most productive of acts, nearly 7 years have creaked by since then, but we’re finally poised to receive third album, Foreordained.” Fear of caverns.

Walking Corpse – Our Hands, Your Throat Review

By Saunders on December 1, 2023 in Reviews, Grind, Hardcore, Noise, Sludge, 37 comments

“Heavyweights Gridlink and Rotten Sound have led the grindcore charge in 2023, but to discount less heralded acts carving a presence in the modern grind scene runs the risk of overlooking the next big thing. Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden, Walking Corpse independently released an EP and debut full-length, 2020’s The Fear Takes Hold, before inking a deal with one of heavy music’s more impressive modern labels, Transcending Obscurity.” Dead man walking!!

Mephorash – Krystl-Ah Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 9, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, 32 comments

“If it wasn’t for the wise Madam X, I might never have stumbled on Sweden’s Mephorash. After our Queen of Darkness shared the nifty little Covid concert the band released in 2019, I was hooked. Released the same year, Shem Ha Mephorash remains one of my favorite black metal releases. Now Mephorash is back, hoping to achieve an impossible task: releasing an album better than Shem Ha Mephorash.” Mephorash whiplash.

Night Crowned – Tales Review

By Thus Spoke on November 7, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Symphonic Metal, 40 comments

“Ever since they smashed onto the scene with their 2020 debut Impious Viam, following up on the more quietly well-received EP Humanity Will Echo Out, Night Crowned have presented an almost ideal example of symphonic/melodic blackened death. Take a template of symphonic, subtle synth-accented black metal, and add a bunch of catchy melodies, well-pitched dramatic compositions, and that uniquely Swedish death metal flair, and you’ve got Night Crowned. But the group are more than that; they have a distinctive sound that has only strengthened over the years, and Tales continues this trend.” Evening royalty.

Thragedium – Lisboa Depois De Morta Review

By Mystikus Hugebeard on November 6, 2023 in Reviews, Neofolk, 61 comments

“Neofolk and heavy metal differ in many ways, but their unparalleled emotional intensity and outsiderness link the ethos of the two genres inextricably. The advent of Wardruna heralded a cultural explosion of Nordic neofolk, and the thrums of Heilung, Forndom, and Gealdýr have long resonated with metalheads worldwide. Viking-age music is understandably popular in the metal community, but neofolk is larger than the Vikings. Portugal’s Thragedium lives within the uncanny trench of neofolk and metal and plays neofolk that couldn’t be further from the usual Viking vibrations popular with metalheads.” Fvnerary fvlk.

Carnation – Cursed Mortality Review

By Kenstrosity on November 3, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, 82 comments

“Belgian five-banger Carnation are nothing if not reliable. Time after time, these purveyors of vicious and serrated old-school HM-2 death metal prove themselves to be a cut or two above the standard. Punky swagger often combined with rabid bloodthirst as Carnation spewed forth tome after tome of hard-hitting, hooky material without fail.” Flower POWERS.

BRIQUEVILLE – IIII Review

By Carcharodon on November 3, 2023 in Reviews, Avante Garde, Doom Metal, Drone, Electronica, Instrumental Metal, Post-Metal, 49 comments

“When I reviewed B R I Q U E V I L L E’s third record, Quelle, I got tetchy about all the spaces between the letters, and various other pretensions. However, the Belgian project’s mesmerizing brand of instrumental post-metal won me over. Its bleak, misery-drenched tones conveyed everything that slightly uncomfortable-to-look-at album artwork suggested it might, ranging from a sludgy Bossk to Godspeed You! Black Emperor in tone. At almost an hour in length, and with a few strange choices in its composition, Quelle did struggle a little under its own weight but it still held my attention. Although the spaces now seem to come and go, it would appear BRIQUEVILLE have found a new way to irk me with their fourth record, IIII.” B r i c k by BRIQUE.

Amalekim – Avodah Zarah Review

By Thus Spoke on November 2, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 51 comments

“2023 hasn’t been the best year for black metal. With some scattered, notable exceptions—DHG and Manbryne among them—most new releases have been underwhelming, or at least disappointing. Undeterred, I continue to pick promos bearing the ‘black metal’ tag, because I believe the genre, at its best, is captivating in a way others aren’t, and offers a flavor of expression unique to itself. As we approach the sunset of the year, my persistence has paid off with the arrival of Avodah Zarah, the sophomore record from Polish/Italian outfit Amalekim.” Blackened treasures uncovered.

Xoth – Exogalactic Review

By Ferox on November 2, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 86 comments

“When the Elder Gods finally turn their dread gaze on this flake of cosmic dandruff, Xoth will be there to pass out beers. “Party Lovecraft” is a tricky vibe to nail and also possibly an oxymoron, but this Seattle tech/thrash/black/melodeath/whatever act makes it their own. Over the course of two excellent albums, Invasion of the Tentacube and Interdimensional Invocations, Xoth filled a void that only Xoth knew was there. Few who listen can resist their charms, and now the band drops third long-player Exogalactic.” X marks the Xoth.