Ragnarok is back with a new album and yet another vocalist. These guys go through vocalists like Spinal Tap goes through drummers! Anywho, Madam X is here to break it down as she gets herself in a tizzy over church burnings and other “necro” things.
4.0
Kamelot – Silverthorn Review
Kamelot is the Mac Daddy of the power/progressive/pomp circuit, but how will they fare without mega-throat Roy Khan at the mic. Steel Druhm puts on his Sunday best for a night at the opera and brings you his aristocratic musings.
Beneath – Enslaved by Fear Review
Who would have thought that an icy wasteland would be good for the music community, it seems ice inspires insane speeds and death metal! A few weeks back, in my review of Kontinuum’s Earth Blood Magic, I commented on the metal kick-assery that’s making its way out of Iceland (and in particular Reykjavík), and at the time of their review another band aggressively caught my attention, doggedly refusing to let my mind rest! In true shit-happens style I ended up missing their release date and now you have a retrospective review of Beneath’s Enslaved by Fear [I feel shame at my tardiness].
Weapon – Embers and Revelations Review
Steel Druhm has a sordid history of black metal bashing. Now he turns his bitter attention to the new opus by Weapon. Will Embers and Revelations avoid his typical blackened butt spankery? They better hope so; the man has an iron hand.
Anaal Nathrakh – Vanitas Review
Anaal Nathrakh is a name that commands mucho respect in the frowny, downy world of black metal. Happy Metal Guy tells us if Vanitas keeps the flame of blackness burning bright in the dark of the winter night. Hey, that rhymed!
Revocation – Teratogenesis Review
Happy Metal Guy reviews the thrashy new Revocation EP while also revealing his love of naked and vulnerable things and his sadistic urge to torture insects. Lock up the cats and small animals and bring in the psycho-therapists.
Devin Townsend Project – Epicloud review
Devin Townsend Project is here with a recordful of cheer. F.A.G. wrote this review, expressed a subjective view, then got hammered on beer.
Vision of Disorder – The Cursed Remain Cursed Review
Alex discusses the rise and fall of hardcore heroes Vision of Disorder and also takes a few swipes at Long Island music fans. Let’s hope Steel Druhm doesn’t read that part.
Lustre – They Awoke to the Scent of Spring Review
Doom-infused black metal often evokes ancient cathedral walls, coated in the blasphemous muck of black metal with snail’s pace riffs coming down like the wrath of Satan himself, but Lustre goes the other way with the pace being dictated by a introspective melancholy.
An Autumn for Crippled Children – Only the Ocean Knows Review
Alex is back to compare shoegazey black metal with The Cure and he even uses the word “impetuosity.” Obviously, this is a MUST read.