American Metal

Junius – Eternal Rituals for the Accretion of Light Review

By Huck N Roll on March 7, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Post-metal, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Post-Metal, 56 comments

“Here’s a little-known fact about Angry Metal Guy: we love triple LPs. There’s something to be said for the sheer audacity, the pretentiousness that goes into even thinking of releasing something so ludicrous. Such events, therefore, deserve our complete attention. This latest opus from Junius, Eternal Rituals for the Accretion of Light (or ERAL because I’m lazy), isn’t a triple LP, per se, but it is part three of a trilogy of conceptual albums, and that’s the next best thing.” Good things come in threes (every 2- years).

Cellador – Off the Grid Review

By Eldritch Elitist on March 7, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Power Metal, 72 comments

“In January of 2007, I received one of the best packages of my teenage years, purchased with a Best Buy gift card I received for Christmas. The box contained two CDs: The Best of Led Zeppelin, and Cellador’s Enter Deception. While the former helped kickstart my affinity for classic rock, the latter, an uncharacteristically high quality American power metal record that did Euro-power better than most Euro-power bands, cemented my newfound love for the genre.” Best Buy always knows.

Bear Mace – Butchering the Colossus Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 1, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Death Metal, 50 comments

“Though I live in quasi-bear country, I had no idea “bear mace” was a thing until I started researching Bear Mace (the band). While I know encounters with real-life Pooh bears are no laughing matter, there’s something comical about whipping out a can of bear mace to fend off a charging Grizzly. I mean, seriously, what are the odds that everything is going to end well?” You have the bear minimum chance of success.

Manetheren – The End Review

By Eldritch Elitist on February 26, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Avantgarde Music, Black Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 21 comments

“One of my favorite subjects in any form of media is the end of the world. There is an indescribable (and perhaps sadistic) pleasure I gain from witnessing people grapple with the prospect of the complete obliteration of their species and its history; the more micro the focus, the better. Zooming in on a select few and examining how they choose to spend their final, consequence-free hours feels like the purest hypothetical exploration of the human psyche.” I’d rebroadcast NFL games without express written consent.

Lecherous Gaze – One Fifteen Review

By Huck N Roll on February 23, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Proto-Metal, Reviews, Tee Pee Records, 55 comments

“‘I hope this is one you’re reviewing and you didn’t actually buy it,’ said my fiancée less than thirty seconds into this album. Why? I won’t spoil it so early on, but if ever a band’s sound suited their name, the sleazy, leering proto-punk of Bay-area throwbacks Lecherous Gaze would fit the bill.” So sleazy it’ll leave a stain on your speakers.

Arduini / Balich – Dawn of Ages Review

By Steel Druhm on February 23, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Cruz Del Sur, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, 24 comments

“You know all about our stance on so called “supergroups” at his establishment. The whole concept of a group of superlative (or at least well known) musicians coming together to form an exciting new project invites heightened expectations, and all too often the end product is a let down. Of course there are exceptions to the rule like Arch/Matheos and of course, that awesome Metallica / Lou Reed collaboration, but as a rule it’s best to approach these things guardedly. That brings us to today’s subject – a project by former Fates Warning guitarist Victor Arduini and Argus vocalist Brian Balich.” Big doom for big men and women.

Immolation – Atonement Review

By Ferrous Beuller on February 21, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Death Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Death Metal, 89 comments

“My grim compulsion for all things death metal was initially born from a worship of the burgeoning Floridian and Swedish scenes, spawned originally as a continuation of my immortal love of thrash. I was immediately addicted to the genre’s inherent heaviness and dark theatricality, but it wasn’t until I eventually stumbled into the path of the New York acts, who heralded a denser, altogether heavier wave of death, that I would come into contact with Immolation, marking the first time I would be exposed to truly oppressive metal.” Proudly oppressing the masses since 1988.

Sunless – Urraca Review

By Saunders on February 21, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Progressive Death, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Technical Death Metal, Death Metal, Experimental Metal, Progressive Death, Technical Death Metal, 44 comments

“They say it’s important to remain challenged, to help stave off boredom and keep the motivation and creative fires burning. Life certainly throws up plenty of challenges without invitation in our fast-paced and volatile modern world. But with music, and extreme metal, in particular, we have a unique outlet and greater control to challenge ourselves. Unfortunately, it’s easy to rest on our laurels and stay firmly entrenched in our comfort zones.” Into the riff maelstrom.

Power Trip – Nightmare Logic Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 17, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Reviews, Southern Lord, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 42 comments

“Remember the good old days when thrash spoke to every unhappy degenerate forced to take a piss as Big Brother stood by watching? It was a time when metalheads rose to the occasion, spoke to people better than even our greatest orators, and made a stand against crooked politicians. It was a time when being a rebel stood for something and tearing each other apart in circle pits and walls-of-death was the greatest form of therapy.” Some gave some, Doc gave more.

Six Feet Under – Torment Review

By Lord Lucan on February 15, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Death Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Death Metal, 105 comments

“As anyone whose late teenage years were lost in a fog of Jägermeister and regret will tell you, lessons learned the hard way often stay with you the longest; fuck things up badly enough and you won’t repeat the same mistake again anytime soon. There are, however, a few hardy souls upon whom this principle is destined to be forever lost—people to whom common sense and reason are just meaningless buzzwords dreamt up by the establishment. People like Chris Barnes.” Fight the power!