Aug17

Contrite Metal Guy – Mistakes Were Made

By El Cuervo on August 10, 2017 in 2017, Blog Posts, Contrite Metal Guy, 154 comments

“The life of the unpaid, overworked metal reviewer is not an easy one. Cascading promos, unreasonable deadlines, draconian editors and the unwashed metal mobs – it makes for a swirling maelstrom of music and madness. In all that tumult, errors are bound to happen and sometimes our initial impression of an album may not be completely accurate. With time and distance comes wisdom, and so we’ve decided to pull back the confessional curtain and reveal our biggest blunders, missteps, oversights and ratings face-plants. Consider this our sincere AMGea culpa. Redemption is retroactive, forgiveness is mandatory.” El Cuervo has something he needs to get off his chest.

Dawn of Disease – Ascension Gate Review

By Dr. Wvrm on August 10, 2017 in 2017, German Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 27 comments

“Who says being generic is a bad thing? Loads of people love mashed potatoes. Applebee’s makes millions off of Stockholm syndrome victims everyday. Ed Sheeran gets universal radio play despite being the musical equivalent of 160 pounds of Applebee’s mashed potatoes. Eons ago, before departing for the Undying Lands, Happy Metal Guy dropped the G-bomb a whopping seven times to describe German melodeath act Dawn of Disease.” We can’t all be trailblazers.

Lör – In Forgotten Sleep Review

By Eldritch Elitist on August 9, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Folk Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 104 comments

“Maybe it was the strange appearance of an unsigned progressive power metal band from Philadelphia of all places (or maybe it was Lör’s use of the most sacred of all metal naming conventions, the umlaut) that drew me to it, but I instantly reserved In Forgotten Sleep when it popped up in our promo queue. A totally unjustifiable anticipation grew in the back of my mind in the weeks leading up to my acquisition of the album.” Hope in the promo sump.

Subservience – Forest of the Impaled Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 9, 2017 in 2017, Black Bow Records, Death Metal, English Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 28 comments

“Subservience’s Forest of the Impaled, on the other hand, is a violent war waged through the militaristic practices of Grave, Vader, Dismember, and Hypocrisy. I know what you’re thinking: not more Swe/Poland–death. Legitimate complaint. But, while Forest of the Impaled isn’t the most engaging or original of releases, it has just enough going on for it to avoid being the discharged aftermath of their predecessors’ lustful ways.” You picked the wrong forest…again.

Demon Eye – Prophecies and Lies Review

By Grymm on August 8, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Soulseller Records, Doom Metal, 36 comments

“If you’re anything like me, first of all, clean your room, and second, you’re probably sick to death of bands aping the retro-doom sound making its rounds among the underground. The music’s gotta be something special for me to pay attention and give it my time. Thankfully, Demon Eye’s Prophecies and Lies is that something special.” Demon cleaner, room neatener.

Pyrrhon – What Passes for Survival Review

By Kronos on August 8, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Avante Garde, Death Metal, Grind, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, Throatruiner Records, Willowtip, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 199 comments

“Three years: a trial for many, an eternity for some, an unnoticeable instant of geology. But enough time for Pyrrhon’s The Mother of Virtues to become a landmark work in extreme music, the most forward-thinking and brazen death metal album of the decade thus far. When I reviewed it, I mused that “A more difficult album [was] hard to come by.” What Passes for Survival is that and more.” Worth the weight.

Exoskelett – Collected Bones Review

By Mark Z. on August 8, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Hammerheart Records, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 10 comments

“With debut Collected Bones, Exoskelett produced a record that sounds like what would happen if some kids heard Morbid Tales coming from their older brother’s bedroom and then spent the next three weeks trying to recreate that feeling by jamming on busted pawn shop instruments and guzzling Mountain Dew in their parent’s basement.” Bones, Dew and disharmony.

Cormorant – Diaspora Review

By El Cuervo on August 7, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, 64 comments

“If there’s one criminally underrated band whose discography I implore you to investigate, it’s surely California’s Cormorant. I sincerely rate their opening records, Metazoa and Dwellings, as among my favorites since the beginning of the new millennium. They’re unremittingly progressive, drawing influences from all manner of music since the ’70s, but tie it together delicately and emotively, all the while never ignoring the immense power of the riff.” Prog in a hard place.

The Lurking Fear – Out of the Voiceless Grave Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on August 7, 2017 in 2017, Century Media, Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Death Metal, 48 comments

“An interesting anecdote I saw told was a fine–art professor’s first exercise with his Master’s students. He shows them a Jackson Pollock painting, and asks them to write why it is good. After receiving the wonderfully pretentious responses, the professor reveals that the “Pollock painting” was actually his apron from his studio, hopefully teaching the students that there may be more to judging good and bad art than feelings.” Smock-core!

Nostoc – Ævum Review

By Master of Muppets on August 6, 2017 in 2017, Costa Rican Metal, Groove Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Groove Metal, Progressive Metal, 49 comments

“Firsts. Life’s full of ’em. Some are wonderful, such as the proverbial first kiss, or the first time you heard (or wrote about!) heavy metal. Some are horrible, such as the Drew Music-al first kiss, or the first time you heard Good Charlotte. A band’s first album can fall anywhere within this spectrum, and with their future depending on that first impression, the importance of debut albums cannot be overstated. This being said, let me prepare your future selves to remember the first time you ever heard Nostoc.” First shot at glory.