Art of Propaganda

Karg – Dornenvögel [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Master of Muppets on December 19, 2018 in 2018, Art of Propaganda, Austrian Metal, Black Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Atmospheric Black Metal, 65 comments

“If you’re like me in more socially acceptable ways, you fvcking love Harakiri for the Sky. Something about those cloying tremolo-picked melodies coupled with J.J.’s soulfelt screams just fucking does it for me in a way that I can’t get enough of, so checking out homeboy’s one-man blackened adventure, Karg, was a no-brainer for me while I waited out February’s Arson. Thank Jørn I did, as it gave me the opportunity to properly anticipate the project’s then-pending 6th full-length release, Dornenvögel, and likewise be that much more satisfied by its utter fucking greatness.” Karg the Exterminator.

Firtan – Okeanos Review

By Akerblogger on July 21, 2018 in 2018, Art of Propaganda, Black Metal, German Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 117 comments

“Categorization eludes Firtan. Okeanos, the second record by this German four-piece, is an album of vast fluctuations. Ever immutable and indefinable black metal rests at its core, but its proceeding layers are a lot more complex. Okeanos is a swirling cauldron of flavorsome sounds: profusely potent and pungent. Inspired by avant-garde intellectuals like Nietzsche and Lovecraft, Okeanos is a ‘dazzling display of epic black metal grandeur, suffused with autumnal atmosphere and winding-yet-captivating compositions.’ Firtan well and truly blow their own trumpet.” Pretentiousness and the void.

Gloson – Grimen Review

By Kronos on February 8, 2017 in 2017, Art of Propaganda, Post-metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Post-Metal, 23 comments

“Monotone is modern; when we look at Helenistic sculpture or a Gothic cathedral, we see the beauty of shape set in stone without the competing influence of color. But when these wonders were first sculpted and erected, they were painted as part of the vision of their creators to reflect the heavens and the earth. Only with time did the colors erode, the bare contours scoured of their pigmented cloak, the first piece to yield. Gloson operate in this space, with phrases more suggestive than descriptive, the contours of metal worn but still noticeable.” Even masterpieces turn to gray.

Karg – Weltenasche Review

By Lord Lucan on November 19, 2016 in 2016, Ambient Metal, Art of Propaganda, Austrian Metal, Black Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Ambient Metal, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 21 comments

“Recently, in the course of a discussion I was having regarding another new release set to land in the not too distant future, I was reflecting upon the enormous number of one-man black metal projects turning up in the AMG promo bin at the moment. Well hey, presto, time for another!” Lonely is the word.

Thornesbreed – GTRD Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on June 20, 2015 in 2015, Art of Propaganda, Black Metal, Death Metal, German Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 11 comments

“To pilfer a phrase from the revered postmodern philosopher Christopher B. Bridges, “there’s something wrong if you can’t stand still.” If his words are to be taken at face value, Germany’s Thornesbreed must have sensed a problem in their sound. Consisting of competent but unexciting death metal, their 2003 debut The Splendour of the Repellent was followed up eight years later in 2011 by the 273.15 Degrees Below Freezing EP, which can, for the sake of expediency, be described as “Profanatica but not as good.” 2015 sees the band releasing their second full-length in the form of the enigmatically titled GTRD, marking another step in the band’s perpetual musical wanderings.” Wandering, meandering and change for change’s sake. Is that a recipe for success?

Seagrave – Stabwound Review

By Mark Z. on April 23, 2015 in 2015, Art of Propaganda, Austrian Metal, Black Metal, Reviews, Shoegaze, Black Metal, Post-Metal, Shoegaze, 5 comments

“Listening to Seagrave begets the age-old question: is it better to try something new and fall short, or rehash the same bullshit until we’re all shitting bowls of Iommi riffs and bleeding ‘retro-death metal’ CDs from every orifice?” If your orifices bleed retro-death for more than 4 hours, consult a physician.

Vanhelga – Längtan Review

By Grymm on April 17, 2014 in 2014, Art of Propaganda, Black Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, 7 comments

“My childhood was a blur, but I had a rather distinct memory of someone from the First Grade. Remember when you were a kid, if you did something exemplary, your teacher would reward you with a sticker to show for your efforts? There was a kid in my class named Jason (last name escapes me) who won a “You’re the Cat’s MEOW!!!” sticker, complete with purring kitty and stars bedazzling the pre-Comic Sans font in gold letters. After slapping the sticker on his wrist, Jason was dismayed that due to adolescent sweating and kid grubbiness, it wouldn’t stick. Luckily, he had the grand idea that stapling the sticker to the underside of his wrist would be a nice way to permanently show off his rewards. Gleefully, Jason ran around the room, giggling incessantly and displaying the proud reward of his efforts as color drained from his face and blood jizzed from his arm, both at an alarming rate.” Grown up Jason would like this band.