Aura Noir

Vltimas – Something Wicked Marches In Review

By Kenstrosity on March 29, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, Portuguese Metal, Progressive Death, Reviews, Season of Mist, Death Metal, 90 comments

“Man, this March has been ridiculous. Just when all of us at the AMG Consortium of the Infernal’s brimstone lounge were bitching and moaning about the unfair quantity of choice black metal—leaving in its wake a noticeable dearth of death metal goodness—out of nowhere comes Equipoise, Gomorrah, Venom Prison, Aephanemer, and now Vltimas. Like Equipoise, but also not at all like Equipoise, Vltimas is a supergroup. Based out of Portugal, the band is comprised of three legends of the metal scene: David Vincent of Morbid Angel on vocals; Rune “Blasphemer” Eriksen (ex-Mayhem, Aura Noir) on the guitars, and Flo Mounier of Cryptopsy fame manning the kit.” Something supergroupy this way comes.

Witchgöat – Egregors of the Black Faith Review

By Mark Z. on February 15, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Morbid Skull Records, Reviews, Salvadoran Metal, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 62 comments

“If you have a blackened thrash band, your band name must have the word “witch” in it. So it was written in the Great Book Ov Heavy Metal, so it was obeyed by Skeletonwitch, Witchaven, Bewitched, Witching Hour, Witchery, and countless others I’m sure are out there. El Salvador’s Witchgöat are the latest addition to these unholy ranks and they’ve already earned my respect by having both an umlaut and a goat reference in their name.” Which goat is Witchgöat?

Deathhammer – Chained to Hell Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on October 6, 2018 in 2018, Hells Headbangers Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 28 comments

“What’s always been appealing about Deathhammer is their remarkably particular niche, one which nobody really knows they need until they hear it. Take the earliest Sodom and Slayer material, and pretend a band existed alongside them which kept more of the speed metal influence around and played their music with all the tact and professionalism of early Venom and you have a good idea of what to expect.” Bring down the Hammer.

Invocation Spells – Spread Cruelty in the Abyss Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 10, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Chilean Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Suicide Records, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 39 comments

“Two years ago, I passed on a little Chilean black/thrash band named Invocation Spells. Not because they, or their third full-length record, The Flame of Hate, sucked, but because I already had a handful of promos to prepare for review. So, when I saw their name pop up on the Almighty AMG Promo Sheet again, I knew I’d have to check them out. Though this little two-piece outfit ain’t the next generation of black/thrash, their Aura Noir-meets-Darkthrone approach—with the aggression of a second-wave black metal outfit—is a good fit for the genre.” Chile and means.

The Konsortium – Rogaland Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on June 5, 2018 in 2018, Agonia Records, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Thrash Metal, 60 comments

“If you’re into the Norwegian black metal scene, you may know bassist/guitarist/songwriter Teloch. For those that don’t know, he’s the man behind Nidingr and responsible for guitars and songwriting on Mayhem’s Esoteric Warfare. If you do know the man, you already knew that and also know he’s a member of the once mysterious—but now not-so-mysterious—black/thrash outfit The Konsortium, where he writes and plays bass alongside the legendary black metal drummer Dirge Rep, and, together, they rip, shred, and tear shit apart.” At the Roga, Roga Cabana.

Aura Noir – Aura Noire Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on April 30, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Indie Recordings, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 37 comments

“I once jumped from the roof of my parents’ double-wide trailer with a cape/kite attached to my back and a four-foot plastic snow sled duct taped to my chest. No, I wasn’t drunk—I was ten. And, man, it hurt. Fast forward twenty-one years and you’ll find Father-of-the-Year Grier scaling a tree, scooting out along a solid cottonwood branch, and falling twenty feet atop a fence—my feet hitting the top strand as my face hit the ground. All because yours truly refused to hop the fence. And, guess what? It didn’t hurt at all. Because, yes, I was drunk. Those truths aside, I’ve never (fallen?) or thrown my soon-to-be corpse from a four-story building. But, I guess that separates Grier from Aura Noir’s Aggressor.” Norwegian black thrash, drunk with power.

Vomitor – Pestilent Death Review

By Mark Z. on April 25, 2018 in 2018, Australian Metal, Death Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 55 comments

“What’s that? You’re tired of the progressive melodoom or whatever foofoo bullshit we’re giving Record o’ the Month to these days? Of course, you are. You want something heavier. Faster. Rawer. Something that feels like eating stale Chinese food out of a back alley garbage can while a stray cat gives birth in the background. We’ve all been there, and the solution is simple: Vomitor.” Vomitor, repeat as needed.

Bonehunter – Sexual Panic Human Machine Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 3, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 31 comments

“But, Bonehunter threw the first punch and the only way up is down. We might as well take it all out (and get it all out) because Bone(r)hunter’s newest record flails and flops like a fully erect Grizzly dick. Submit to the Sexual Panic Human Machine.” Bonus bear.

Execration – Return to the Void Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on July 20, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Death Metal, Metal Blade, Progressive Death, Black Metal, Death Metal, 38 comments

“It’s easy to wonder if death metal is currently in the midst of an existential crisis. In one sense, it perpetually is; its obsession with mortality is such that everyone from Martin Heidegger to Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine would tell the genre to chill out a bit. On the other hand, the acts that find themselves popular with critics wear a different sort of existential crisis on their sleeves, one of existential malaise. As one should always be wary of virtually everything that critics (along with intellectuals and “experts”) tell them, everyone ought to be extremely cautious about the “future” of death metal and the current state of the classic sound. Norway’s Execration is one of the bands in the thick of this existential crisis.” Musical Pokemon.

Weapönizer – Lawless Age Review

By Mark Z. on July 3, 2017 in 20 Buck Spin, 2017, American Metal, Black Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 23 comments

“Titties, rippling muscles, a motorcycle, and a horde of miscreants — what’s not to love about that artwork? Add in a promo blurb billing Weapönizer as a band for fans of everything from Deströyer 666 to The Road Warrior and I’m more curious than a 12-year-old boy outside a sleazy gentlemen’s club.” Law is for posers.