Amon Amarth

Balfor – Black Serpent Rising Review

By Steel Druhm on January 11, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Death Metal, Drakkar Productions, Reviews, Ukrainian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, 16 comments

“Way back in 2011 I was pleasantly surprised by a little known Ukrainian blackened death act called Balfor. So much so that I wrote a Things You Might Have Missed for their sophomore outing Barbaric Blood. Their highly effective fusion of Immortal-riffs and In Flames guitar virtuosity really got to me and though it wasn’t very original, it left me looking forward to hearing more from them. It took over five years for them to resurface and they do so with a radically different line up with only founder Thorgeir Berserk returning, but Black Serpent Rising is finally here.” Snake bite, on my leg!

Gravehill/Mordbrand – Skullbearer/In Nighted Waters [Split] Review

By Mark Z. on November 22, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Death Metal, Doomentia Records, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 6 comments

“Strap on the gauntlets and prepare to get dirty. Two years after their last album, California’s Gravehill are teaming up with Swedish trio Mordbrand to bring you nine tracks of teeth-gnashing, no-apologies death metal to get your head banging and your roommates finding somewhere else to live.” Take your rock tumbler and get out!

Conceived By Hate – Death & Beyond Review

By Treble Yell on November 12, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Morbid Skull Records, Reviews, Salvadoran Metal, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 24 comments

“Are you ready? Are you prepared? It doesn’t matter really, Conceived by Hate are coming for you and your sacred cows with their sophomore album Death & Beyond. Ready to prove that this death/thrash quintet from El Salvador can melt your face just as well as your beloved favorites. There’s no time for frivolous introductions nor loquacious asides, no respite or shelter either. Only the snapping of bones under boots. This is music that kicks in your door, shaves your cat, and screams at your furniture. ” Our furniture had it coming.

King – Reclaim the Darkness Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 26, 2016 in 2016, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Indie Recordings, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 48 comments

“The best way to describe King is by taking Amon Amarth, Onheil, and Gormathon, and blackening them with the likes of Dissection and Satyricon.” Hail to the King, baby.

Asenblut – Berzerker Review

By Grymm on August 16, 2016 in 2016, AFM Records, German Metal, Reviews, Viking Metal, Viking Metal, 35 comments

Vikings. They’ve overtaken motorcycle gangs, sparkly vampires, and variations of the zombie as the Big Thing of the Now in America, if our television shows and Faceborg timelines are correct. Thing is, “Vikings have been a trend for a long-ass time in the realm of heavy metal. Hell, Yngwie FOOKING Malmsteen was a Viking long before Amon Amarth first sailed their ships into stormy waters. He even proclaimed so himself! But that’s not gonna stop the new crop of metal bands from brandishing their axes, donning their horned helmets, and sailing away to uncharted lands. Germany’s Asenblut toss their shields into the pagan circle with their third album, Berzerker.” Do you have a Viking inside you? Want one?

Skeleton Wolf – Skeleton Wolf Review

By Saunders on June 3, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Unsigned Bands, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 31 comments

“Before I delve into the guts of this self-titled debut from Indiana’s Skeleton Wolf, I’d like to pose a question to our loyal readers here at Angry Metal Guy. What is your favorite drunken party metal album and/or band? You know the kind of metal that just lifts a gear and thrives with the accompaniment of alcohol.” Okay, who said Men Without Hats? You leave the hall right now!

Amon Amarth – Jomsviking Review

By Angry Metal Guy on March 23, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Sony Music Entertainment, Swedish Metal, Viking Metal, 70 comments

“The first man I killed was the earl’s right-hand man / When he came to take her away / I ran his own sword straight through his throat / And then I stood there, watching him fall!” Amon Amarth’s Jomsviking wastes no time reminding you to whom you are listening. Of the Swedish metal scene of the 1990s—a scene so legendary and influential that it became almost cliché after incessant imitation—Amon Amarth is one of the very few who has continued strong. While not every record has been a Lindesfarne, their discography is like a series of profitable raids that have raised their profile so high that Jomsviking isn’t being released on Metal Blade in Europe. Amon Amarth is officially a major label band now, having signed to Sony in the three years since Deceiver of the Gods was released in 2013.

Vredehammer – Violator Review

By Grymm on March 15, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Death Metal, Indie Recordings, Norwegian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, 28 comments

“Norway’s Vredehammer started off as a solo-project for mainman Per Valla in-between work with his other bands, Elite and Allfader, as a way to branch out of the traditional sound of his country’s musical export of choice. Until most recently, Valla was hired on as a live second guitarist for Abbath’s band, but quit to concentrate on completing Vredehammer’s second full-length, Violator. I bring this point up because Violator isn’t dissimilar in style and approach to the lovable crab-walking ex-mainman for Immortal.” We like crabs, and Abbath.

Predatoria – Unmarked Graves…Tell No Tales [Things You Might Have Missed 2015]

By Diabolus in Muzaka on February 14, 2016 in 2015, Belgian Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2015, Unsigned Bands, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 58 comments

“If we apply the maxim of “I didn’t feel like drinking until I started drinking” to listening to metal bands you’ve never heard before, I firmly believe that this fertile ground is where plenty of our favourite records are born. When I first listened to Belgium’s Predatoria in an effort to acclimatize myself to my temporary home’s up-and-coming death metal bands, I had no idea that what they were selling was exactly what I was looking to buy but here we are.” Can we start drinking now?

Evil Drive – The Land of the Dead Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 15, 2016 in 2016, Finnish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Mighty Music, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 31 comments

“Every promo to hit my desk receives an initial listen without the reading of websites, promo sheets, or any such fuel that would result in premature judgment. Sometimes absorbing myself in the artwork or the musical theme of the album transforms a mediocre first-listen into something worthwhile. Other times it does not.” Will such a fair and even-handed approach make Evil Drive a pleasure trip?