American Metal

Embalmer – Emanations from the Crypt Review

By Al Kikuras on March 26, 2016 in 2016, 4.0, American Metal, Death Metal, Grind, Hells Headbangers Records, Death Metal, 37 comments

“The most lauded element of Ohio gorehounds Embalmer’s past work was the deranged voice of former vocalist Rick Fleming. As cited on their Wikipedia page (clearly written by someone close to if not in the band), “In 2013 the band parted ways with vocalist Rick Fleming, who subsequently robbed the band of the remainder of the band fund before going into hiding.” Under the “Former members” section he is listed as “Dick Fleming.” Not likely a typo. Ahhhh, Wikirevenge!” Wikirevenge is a dish best served with embalming fluid and sauteed tomatoes.

Gracepoint – Echoes Review

By Dr. Fisting on March 25, 2016 in 2016, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Unsigned Bands, 10 comments

“After all these years, AMG knows me far too well. If there’s something he wants done, he knows exactly what to say in order to manipulate my Heavy Metal Emotions®. And in this case, that would be “hey man, I found this band that sounds like a prog version of John Bush-era Anthrax.” The band in question is Gracepoint, an independent act based out of Minnesota.” Is grace in the hand better than 2 in the Bush?

Metal Church – XI Review

By Steel Druhm on March 24, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Rat Pak Records, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 53 comments

“Way back in 1984 I was pretty much blown away by the Metal Church debut. David Wayne’s (R.I.P.) air raid demon vocals were one-of-a-kind and the slick, hooky writing and quasi-thrash energy really won me over. While their follow up The Dark was widely panned, I loved it almost as much as the debut. When Wayne packed off for greener pastures, I was loathe to accept the band without him, until they wrangled Mike Howe from Heretic and made stellar use of his leather lunged roar on the amazing Blessing in Disguise. I went on to love all the Howe era albums and struggled mightily to get into subsequent platters with Ronny Munroe standing in his stead. Now 23 years after he left, Howe is back for their 11th album, the cleverly titled XI.” Is church back in session or should you get the flock away from this thing?

The Body & Full of Hell – One Day You Will Ache Like I Ache [Split] Review

By El Cuervo on March 22, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Grind, Neurot Records, Sludge, Sludge Metal, 18 comments

“There are times when you don’t want music to be uplifting. When abject nihilism and despondency will match or elevate your mood and you just want to be subjected to someone else’s anger. Both Full of Hell and The Body understand that sentiment. One Day You Will Ache Like I Ache is their stark, raw scream into the abyss. It is a split born of noise, sludge and grind. It’s as unrelenting as it is devastating and those looking for ease of access need not apply.” Uncomfortable is the new comfortable.

Hammer Fight – Profound and Profane Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on March 20, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 9 comments

We can argue about what the dividing line between metal and hard rock is until the cows come home, involve the cows in the argument until we feel like steaks, and then argue over some rare 16 oz. deliciousness and a wonderful glass of Cornet. But a satisfying conclusion will never be reached. New Jersey’s Hammer Fight and their sophomore record Profound and Profane are intent on making this fight even more difficult by walking the dividing line with the precision of a man who’s just consumed fifteen beers and is intent on doing a balancing act using the lines in the dive bar parking lot. Regardless of genre tags, what we’re all concerned with here is whether or not Hammer Fight is the life of the party or the unfortunate soul who pukes in the punch bowl and falls asleep on the staircase.

Cobalt – Slow Forever Review

By Madam X on March 17, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Profound Lore Records, Reviews, Black Metal, Sludge Metal, 39 comments

“How does one sit down and write a followup album when your discography includes not only Eater of Birds but Gin? The former regarded as “2007’s landmark album” and the latter acclaimed as “a pillar in American extreme metal.” Colorado’s Cobalt put themselves in that very position, and I suspect the process saw them battered and bruised in places they never thought possible.” It’s tough to be a trendsetter.

Morality Crisis – MASH [Things You Might Have Missed 2015]

By Jean-Luc Ricard on March 13, 2016 in 2015, American Metal, Hardcore, Minnesconsin Records, Sludge, Things You Might Have Missed 2015, Hardcore, Sludge, 12 comments

I really hope that you, dear readers, are as alarmed as me that we are deep into February 2016. What’s that? It’s March? Bloody hell. Well that explains why it’s still light during the drive home from work already. My perennial quest Sophia sluggishness means I’m nowhere near keeping up with the 2016 release schedule […]

Via Vengeance – Harsh Conditions Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 12, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Battleground Records, Doom Metal, Drone, Sludge, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, 41 comments

“There are one-man bands and there are one-man bands. Via Vengeance is the latter. Shane Ocell is not only the sole-instrumentalist of this Arizona-based doom band, but also performs guitar, drums, and vocals simultaneously. Yep, you heard me. The Via Vengeance live experience consists of Ocell sitting behind a kit, chugging away on a guitar, and belting out vicious incantations through his monitors. For this reason, Ocell’s songwriting is simplistic, proving that doom can be done well without over-the-top epicness.” One man, big doom.

Skáphe – Skáphe² Review

By Roquentin on March 11, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Avante Garde, Black Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 36 comments

“You’ve witnessed the scene. It’s a part of the furniture in many contemporary neo-neo-noir, ominously foreboding, condemningly pseudofuturist movies. Our heroic but morally ambiguous protagonist visits some sort of underground nightclub. People, presumably the filth of the city, dance spastically (yet provocatively) under stroboscopes, adorned by black leather and fetishized clothing. A mixture of disgust and temptation lingers while a red haze surrounds the entangled mess of bodies. It’s Hollywood’s typical portrayal of Hell on Earth, a mise-en-scène imbued with cheap symbolism. Imagine now a worthy metal accompaniment to such a spectacle in real life, deprived of all the fabricated fanciness, something that would eclipse phony visual cues and provide a truly infernal setting.” Or just recall the club scene in Blade II.

Panopticon & Waldgeflüster (Split) Review

By El Cuervo on March 8, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Bindrune Recordings, Black Metal, Folk Metal, German Metal, Nordvis Produktion, Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 11 comments

“We’re familiar with Austin Lunn’s home-grown, folk metal Panopticon around these parts. His bluegrass-infused black metal has garnered justifiable (though some say excessive) acclaim, especially as his work has progressively become more melodic and accessible. But this time around he’s sharing album space with German folk-meisters Waldgeflüster, with whom I am less familiar. The split apparently had its roots in the bottom of many beers – as many of the best ideas do – shared between Lunn and Winterherz (of Waldgeflüster) and I was eager to hear what they’d produced.” Split the album, don’t split the beers.