Aug20

Incantation – Sect of Vile Divinities Review

By Ferrous Beuller on August 21, 2020 in Reviews, Death Metal, 58 comments

“If your initial response to a new Incantation record isn’t “INCANTATIOOOOOOOON!!!” followed by an immediate tearing of skin, then you are not my kind. These days, it’s redundant to introduce a band like Incantation. If you’ve been listening to death metal for more than five minutes, then you’ve almost certainly encountered their classics Onward to Golgotha and Mortal Throne of Nazarene. Their savage take on soul sewage has magnetized the masses since the band’s inception and that reputation remains untarnished.” Vile markers.

Unleash the Archers – Abyss Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 21, 2020 in Reviews, Power Metal, 126 comments

“Though Unleash the Archers remains the goofy power metal band they’ve always been, Apex was a serious release. Lyrics, story, songwriting—Apex captured the band at their absolute best. Abyss: ‘A deep and seemingly bottomless pit.’ So, a pit, no matter its depth, so scary and hopeless that you wouldn’t follow a hit baseball down it. To follow-up an album called Apex with one called Abyss may be the most condemning thing yet. Is it clever or is the shortest distance between the summit and a hole in the ground straight down?” Highs and lows.

Veonity – Sorrows Review

By Twelve on August 21, 2020 in Reviews, Power Metal, 11 comments

“Not long ago, I began to question why I take power metal assignments from our Promo Pit. Looking back, power metal and I haven’t gotten along too well over my tenure here, and I’ve begun to feel like reviewing the style is simply inviting disappointment. At that point, however, I was already slated to review Sorrows, the fourth full-length from Veonity, a Swedish group I’d previously never heard of who began storming up the scene in 2013.” Hope blooms in the Pit of Despair.

Mercyless – The Mother of All Plagues Review

By Steel Druhm on August 20, 2020 in Reviews, Death Metal, 12 comments

“Few death metal bands had as stark a rise and fall as Mercyless did in the 90s. Coming off 1993s excellent Coloured Funeral, an all time great death platter, they made an ill-advised grab at mainstream acceptance on utterly disastrous followup C.O.L.D.. So bad was the album that legions of fans promptly decamped, myself among them, leaving the band to slowly rot.” Up with the sickness.

Midgard – Tales of Kreia Review

By Carcharodon on August 20, 2020 in Reviews, Folk Metal, Power Metal, Viking Metal, 24 comments

“Tales of Kreia continues the direction of travel from Wolf Clan through Book of Fate and sees Midgard build their Viking power-folk-meets-thrash-metal sound. Heavier than its predecessors, Tales is the first all-out fantasy record from Midgard.” You just got Loki.

Reasons Behind – Project: M.I.S.T. Review

By Emya on August 19, 2020 in Reviews, 25 comments

“Reasons Behind is a four-piece Italian symphonic power metal band trying their hand at synth metal on Project: M.I.S.T., their second full-length album. Given that Reasons Behind’s debut album sits squarely in pure symphonic metal territory, I can imagine the band had fun getting their hands dirty experimenting with synths and chasing after more trance or dubstep inspired sounds for their new release.” M.I.S.T. opportunities.

Havukruunu – Uinuos syömein sota Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 19, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 79 comments

“I’ve been the greatest cheerleader of Bathory/Immortal purveyors for years. Like Rimfrost and Havukruunu, to name but a couple. Similar in approach, different in delivery, these two bands have satisfied my thirst for aggressive, galloping, pummeling, crab-walking, Viking-esque black metal. Both have seen their share of black metallery, yet one has passed on and one remains. This leaves a lot of pressure on the survivor. But, since 2015’s Havulinnaan, Havukruunu has proven its Bathor-ian mettle. Though 2017’s follow-up Kelle surut soi is the only contender in the catalog, that album is a beast. Yet, the stakes still remain high. Will this year’s Uinuos syömein sota live up to its full potential? Will it fall victim forever to a style conceived and put to rest by Thomas Börje Forsberg?” Crab inwasion.

Next Life – Guru Meditation Review

By Kenstrosity on August 19, 2020 in Reviews, Chiptune, Grind, Industrial Metal, Mathcore, 22 comments

“So many questions. So few answers. Who decided mathcore, industrial and grind needed to be matched up with chiptune? Where did that idea even come from? Who was this made for? The answers, I believe, are, respectively: Next Life did; who the fuck knows; and me, probably. I love genre mashups, and if chiptune is even remotely involved, I go to there with haste.” Love Guru?

Prosanctus Inferi – Hypnotic Blood Art Review

By Mark Z. on August 18, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 20 comments

“I’ll be honest: I don’t give a fuck about most new music out there today. Lately, the only thing I want to listen to is blackened death, blackened thrash, and the occasional hardcore band that actually has interesting guitar parts. Fortunately, bands like Prosanctus Inferi are here to provide new music that I’m actually interested in hearing.” Blood art is fine art.

Self Hypnosis – Contagion of Despair Review

By Carcharodon on August 18, 2020 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, 7 comments

“What do you get when two stalwarts of the British stoner and doom scenes come together to make a record they felt was too experimental for their existing projects? Self Hypnosis is the brainchild of Camel of Doom main man Kris Clayton, partnering with Esoteric’s vocalist, guitarist and occasional keyboardist Greg Chandler. The trio is rounded out by drummer Tom Valleley. Combining elements of Clayton and Chandler’s other projects, Self Hypnosis are now ready to drop their avant-garde debut, Contagion of Despair.” Doom trancers.