Barren Earth

Disillusion – The Liberation Review

Disillusion – The Liberation Review

By L. Saunders on September 6, 2019 in 2019, German Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Prophecy Productions, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 47 comments

“I’ve gushed about the astonishing debut album from Germany’s Disillusion before, and consider 2004’s Back to Times of Splendor to be one of melodic death metal’s finest post millennium offerings. Following-up their phenomenal masterwork was always going to be difficult, so rather than repeat themselves Disillusion took a significant and questionable stylistic detour on 2006’s ambitious but underwhelming Gloria. Now, following a Tool-length break from the studio, Disillusion make their long-awaited and highly anticipated return via their third LP, entitled The Liberation.” Under no illusions.

Amorphis – Queen of Time Review

Amorphis – Queen of Time Review

By Angry Metal Guy on May 17, 2018 in 2018, Death Metal, Finnish Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Death Metal, Heavy Metal, 216 comments

“Angry Metal Guy‘s Law of Diminishing Recordings™ will rear its head eventually. Nearly every revered band in the metal scene has seen a glorious upsurge followed by a progressive diminishing over time. It’s been literally thirty years since my favorite album of all time was released, which is the same year that Metallica released …and Justice for All. Neither band fully recovered. In fact, all of my favorite bands from when I was 25 have grown increasingly uninspiring. Except Amorphis.” Fight the law!

Barren Earth – A Complex of Cages Review

Barren Earth – A Complex of Cages Review

By Angry Metal Guy on March 29, 2018 in 2018, Century Media, Death Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 157 comments

“A Complex of Cages doesn’t break open Barren Earth’s sound to be something dashingly new. Rather, it shows these Faroe-Finns rocking out mid-paced death riffs, offsetting it with cleaner parts and littering the heaviest sections with borderline orchestral black metal. All of this is built on the sturdy base of Amorphis riffs that permeate nearly every song on the album.” Elegy to the earth.

Hamferð – Támsins likam Review

Hamferð – Támsins likam Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 11, 2018 in 2018, Doom Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Doom Metal, 80 comments

“Hamferð plays a style of doom that is thankfully impervious to serious trendiness. Truly excellent funeral doom is pretty rare, and I have developed a bit of an aversion to the doom genre because my promo inbox is populated by a glut of stoned, raw-water-drinking hipsters trying to play Black Sabbath riffs as though they were interesting and/or novel nearly 50 years after they were first written. But when done well, doom metal can be an intense, beautiful, and crushing genre. And Hamferð does it well.” Welcome the end.

Clouds – Departe Review

Clouds – Departe Review

By Steel Druhm on November 16, 2016 in 2016, Doom Metal, International Metal, Reviews, Self-released, 47 comments

“Sometimes a piece of music is entirely about a single, specific feeling, be it rage, joy or sadness. Departe, the second album by atmospheric post-doom super group Clouds, is definitely about the latter, and it attempts to drown the listener in a vast sea of chilling, cloying melancholy without offering the slightest hint of hope or beam of light. Formed by members of The 11th Hour, Eye of Solitude, Rapture, Barren Earth and Shape of Despair, the line up reads like doom royalty and their vast experience helps make this one of the bleakest, most depressive listens of this year or any other.” Got something in your eye? You’re about to.

Be’lakor – Vessels Review

Be’lakor – Vessels Review

By El Cuervo on June 17, 2016 in 2016, Australian Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Napalm Records, Progressive Death, Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 53 comments

“Hey kids. I’ve been away a while. Real life grabbed me by the collar and I couldn’t ignore it for fear of fucking up my future. But unlike your father who left for those cigarettes 10 years ago, I have returned. And what a way to return – the new Be’lakor, the critically-acclaimed melodeath darling child from Down Under.” What a way to make a re-entrance!