Aug19

Wrvth – No Rising Son Review

By Akerblogger on August 24, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Unique Leader, Post-Metal, 26 comments

“There’s an added expectation for a record when a band announce it will be their last one. Wrvth have been around since 2007, releasing three full-lengths. No Rising Son is their fourth and final before parting ways for good. Wrvth have a dense, chaotic -core style of metal at their heart; they merge a contemporary deathcore sound with the late 90s early 2000s metalcore of Converge, The Dillinger Escape Plan et al. The band like layers, though, and there are frequent diversions and obstacles which the band sublimate into their sound.” Layer caked.

Anticosm – The Call of the Void Review

By El Cuervo on August 24, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Black Metal, Hell Kill Destroy Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 30 comments

“Deströyer 666 and Hellripper opened my eyes to the sheer energy and surprising hooks which can be present when linked with black metal, while the likes of early Slayer overlapped with an old favorite in classic metal. I saw more clearly the interconnected map of styles in the ’80s and was lured in with the treats of genres with which I was better accustomed. The prospect of a new blackened thrash release in the promo bin was therefore exciting and so it was that I turned to New Jersey’s Anticosm and their third full-length entitled The Call of the Void.” Jersey boys in the void.

Hagzissa – They Ride Along Review

By Grymm on August 23, 2019 in 2019, Austrian Metal, Black Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, 23 comments

“I guarantee that you are looking at the album cover to the left (or above, if you’re cellphone-advantageous) and are probably guessing the review score without even scrolling down. Believe me when I say that I took one look at that garishly drawn, purple-as-fuck monstrosity and noped the daylights out of it myself. In my fuzzy cat-brain, without even hearing a note of They Ride Along by Austrian newcomers Hagzissa. But I’m always willing to give everyone a fair shot, and we all know how the old adage goes about books and covers.” Purple is the new black.

Astralium – Land of Eternal Dreams Review

By Emya on August 23, 2019 in 2019, Italian Metal, Reviews, Rockshots Records, Spiritual Beast, Symphonic Metal, Symphonic Metal, 66 comments

“Not often do shivers ripple up my spine on my morning commute. I’ll admit this feeling isn’t alien to me. Discovering transportive music that makes my heart swell is my lifeblood. I seek out shiver-inducing music, so much, in fact, that I wonder if I will one day grow immune to it. Despite this, I couldn’t contain my excitement when I rediscovered the response, known as frisson (French for “shiver”), while listening to the orchestral intro track of Astralium’s debut album Land of Eternal Dreams for the first time.” Wishes and dreams.

Crobot – Motherbrain Review

By Twelve on August 23, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Mascot Records, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 7 comments

“When you’re coursing through the frightening wastes that constitute the promo bin at AMG, it can be easy to get lost in the sea of variety that exists within. So sometimes it’s nice to cast complexity to the wind and settle for some good old-fashioned “heavy metal.” No subtle keyboard wizardry, no special effects to carry me into another realm, no technical nonsense, just distorted guitars and shouting in tune for forty-four minutes or so. Crobot, you are what I was looking for this day.” Simplicity is the Crobot key.

Superterrestrial – The Void that Exists Review

By Eldritch Elitist on August 23, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Green Flaw Productions, Reviews, United Kingdom Metal, Black Metal, 12 comments

“Writing fresh introductions for black metal reviews becomes exponentially more difficult with each new attempt. Case in point: I have already written this entire review, sans introduction, because I had no clue how to introduce Superterrestrial. Like many modern underground dwellers, they revel in secrecy. Not only are the band members’ roles undisclosed, but information on The Void that Exists available online at the time of this writing is so scarce that Metal Archives has mistakenly categorized it as a two-track EP.” Mystery + apathy = Mapathy.

Armata – Destiny Awaits Review

By GardensTale on August 22, 2019 in 2019, Australian Metal, Hellfire Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 22 comments

“I may be a big ol’ dork for it, but I fucking love karaoke. The local rock bar has organized a few Heavy Karaoke nights, where the list includes the likes of Amon Amarth and Bloodbath alongside the usual Bonnie Tyler and Aerosmith. There’s something about getting on a tiny stage and growling your best rendition of ‘Twilight of the Thunder God’ in front of an audience too drunk to care about the quality of your voice, and loudly applauding a shy and visibly shaken girl for a surprisingly good Nightwish performance is downright wholesome. That does not, however, mean I want to be reminded of karaoke when I listen to an album.” Destiny derailed.

Eternal Storm – Come the Tide Review and Album Premiere

By Cherd on August 22, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Death, Reviews, Spanish Metal, Transcending Obscurity, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 82 comments

“Surround myself as I might with dissonant blasts and angular minimalism, all it takes is the first few notes of a melodic lead by Insomnium or mid-era ,b>Amon Amarth and all of my weirdo-cred moves to the back burner. There’s something about that mix of primal aggression and soaring emotion that scratches an itch no other genre can reach, so whenever I happen upon a new melodeath record of exceptional quality, it’s almost a religious experience. Come the Tide, the incredible debut album from Spain’s Eternal Storm, is just such a record.” Seize the tidal.

Ivory Tower – Stronger Review

By Steel Druhm on August 22, 2019 in 2019, Massacre Records, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 23 comments

“I stumbled across Beyond the Stars, the sophomore outing by unsung German prog metallers, Ivory Tower. Though they weren’t doing anything Dream Theater hadn’t done 500 times bigger and with more drum solos, there was something oddly endearing and earnest about the band’s material. I never saw or heard about another release from them until Stronger bobbed up in the promo bin unexpectedly. I doubted it was even the same band, but it is indeed.” Swole spire.

Detherous – Hacked to Death Review

By Holdeneye on August 22, 2019 in 2019, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Redefining Darkness Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 24 comments

“I think I’m finally coming around on this whole death metal thing. The gore and violence subject matter of the genre has been difficult for me to get used to. I started my life as a religious prude and possess a Constitution ability score that has me literally passing out whenever I give blood, so I’ve never gotten into horror films or their musical equivalents. Add to that the fact that I’ve responded to three “hammer smashed faces” in my relatively short EMT career, and the novelty of songs with such titles is somewhat lost on me.” A metalhead with a split personality. Chopping spree.