Australian Metal

Torrential Thrill – State of Disaster Review

By El Cuervo on April 11, 2023 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 7 comments

“Australia boasts a booming trade in classic and classic-influenced rock bands. The likes of AC/DC, INXS and Midnight Oil introduced the world to Down Under’s rock music, and have proven to be influences on hundreds of other bands. One such group is Melbourne’s Torrential Thrill and their third full-length entitled State of Disaster. I can’t confess to prior familiarity but look favorably on the rocking attitude and strong guitar leads promised by band descriptions online.” Rock in an Aussie place.

Black Sea of Trees – The Spiritual Beast Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on April 5, 2023 in Reviews, Gothic Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, 31 comments

Our promo sump feels piled these days, a good thing! And, it may be my attention to these distinctions that has grown over the year that I’ve now been with AMG, or it might just be the world we live in, but the independent release sub-pool seems to be growing drop by drop every day too. This fledgling, self-guided troupe, who funneled from afar to Australia, hasn’t even yet landed on the Encyclopedia Metallum (though they qualify), but they’ve graciously given us 2.4 gigabytes of WAV files to review for their debut outing The Spiritual Beast.” Forest packages available.

Ne Obliviscaris – Exul Review

By El Cuervo on March 27, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 167 comments

“Ne Obliviscaris hardly require introduction in these parts. The last decade established a pattern of bi- or tri-annual releases, opening with 2012’s inventive Portal of I and closing with 2017’s well-regarded Urn. One pandemic and an uncharacteristic wait later has revealed 2023’s Exul. Boasting a core fusion of progressive music, extreme metal and classical influences, these Aussies have always reveled in not just musical, but also thematic, excess. Accordingly, Exul appears to lever a loose Crusades theme.” Big Obliviscaris.

To the Grave – Director’s Cuts Review

By Thus Spoke on February 24, 2023 in Reviews, Deathcore, 81 comments

“Ok, stereotypes out of the way: I’m vegan. I bring this up because disparaging the violence—and apathy about such violence—of humankind towards our non-human brethren is To the Grave’s Director’s Cuts’ central theme. And I can sympathize. In the band’s words: “[w]e are all the writers and directors of an unending horror film, its actors unwilling and the scenes taking place in every circus, zoo, lab, farm, and slaughterhouse that stain our green globe”. Misanthropy, specifically from the perspective of humanity’s treatment of animals and the earth has been their ethos from day one. In a sense, they are a deathcore analog to Cattle Decapitation.” Arm the animals.

Lumen Ad Mortem – Upon the Edge of Darkness Review

By Doom_et_Al on January 27, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, 42 comments

“Australian black metal is strong, and hoping to add their names to the list of Strayan luminaries is Lumen Ad Mortem (The Dying Light). Formed in 2019, Upon the Edge of Darkness is their debut, and promises grim melodies from the “floor of the Australian forest.” The question of whether Australia has forests or not crossed my mind, but over-analysis is rarely a good idea with metal.” Under the Down Under moon.

Ashen – Ritual of Ash Review

By Kenstrosity on January 12, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, 40 comments

“One of my good friends hates Dutch tilts. His vehemence against the technique stems from its serial overuse, especially in the horror genre. Much like him, struggling to love anything that generously applies Dutch tilts, I struggle to love much of HM-2 death metal. Outside of the classics and a few modern upstarts, this particular guitar tone, for whatever reason, brings with it an overused set of songwriting tropes that render many albums of this style totally forgettable. Australian newcomers Ashen aim to change my mind with their debut record, Ritual of Ash.” Ash lovers.

Cherd’s Raw Black Metal Muster [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

By Cherd on December 20, 2022 in Things You Might Have Missed 2022, Black Metal, 71 comments

“There are two types of people in this world: those who appreciate raw black metal, and those who live fulfilling lives with friends and careers and family who speak to them at holiday gatherings. I’ve declared my love of raw black metal here before, and since the advent of Bandcamp, the kvltest of all metal genres has become infinitely more accessible. Every year I wade through acres of tape hiss and tinny treble, looking for the half dozen or so raw black releases that rise above the buzzing tangle of cobwebs to rarified, putrid air, and this year, I’ve finally decided to document my findings.” Colonel Muster in the basement with a spiked club.

Gorotica – Morbid Menagerie [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

By Ferox on December 19, 2022 in Things You Might Have Missed 2022, 27 comments

“Your beloved Aunt Maxine passed away after a long illness, and now the family faces a choice between two admittedly less-than-ideal options. Is it better for necrophiles to take their pleasure with what remains of the old gal, or for ghouls to cook her up into a delicious fricassée? The corpsefucking cannibals in Gorotica answer this question with an enthusiastic “por que no los dos?”” Corpus delickti.

Freedom of Fear – Carpathia [Things you Might Have Missed 2022]

By Saunders on December 6, 2022 in Things You Might Have Missed 2022, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 30 comments

“As the year grinds to a close, it is time to reflect on the rich heavy music landscape of 2022 and unload the Things You Might Have Missed tradition. Released in October, the sophomore full-length from unheralded Australian outfit, the oddly named Freedom of Fear, has rapidly grown on me like a fast-advancing fungus.” Fear is the earkiller.

Woods of Desolation – The Falling Tide Review

By Ferox on December 5, 2022 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Post-Metal, 33 comments

“Australia’s Woods of Desolation makes metal to metaphor by. The band’s evocative style of blackgaze, preoccupied with the natural world and the passage of time, provokes strong reactions from their small but passionate cadre of fans. The Falling Tide is WoD’s first album since 2014’s As the Stars. That one dropped during what can be called Peak Blackgaze, when outfits like Alcest and especially Deafheaven briefly captivated mainstream audiences and divided the backpatch set with their twinkling takes on metal’s trvest subgenre.” All star gazers.