Black Metal

Ketzer – Starless Review

By Mark Z. on January 20, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, 16 comments

“There are several unassailable truths in heavy metal. A brutal death metal concert will always smell like garbage and unwashed socks. The wait for a new Necrophagist album will always be the metal blogosphere’s running joke. And when a band experiences some commercial and critical success after employing a fresh sound, you can bet your Ghost buttplug there will be a slew of imitators there to jump on the bandwagon and catch whatever stray dollars they can.” And that brings us to the flavor of the day.

Slægt – Beautiful and Damned Review

By Grymm on January 17, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Danish Metal, Death Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 13 comments

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Jon Nödtviedt decided to put Dissection to rest after the highly-influential Storm of the Lights Bane and decided to join Dark Tranquillity? Yes, I know, total blasphemy, but weirder things have happened. I mean, W.A.S.P. put out a better record last year than Slayer, for crying out loud. Nothing is completely out of the realm of possibility, right?

Naðra – Allir Vegir Til Glötunar Review

By Madam X on January 16, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Icelandic Metal, Reviews, Signal Rex, Black Metal, 44 comments

“I’m inclined to jump at the opportunity to review any music that surfaces out of the Icelandic metal scene. Their strong talent, adventurous spirit, desire to cross or mix genres and their overall quirkiness usually makes for an exciting listen. That was my expectation with Naðra.” Feel the Icelandic burn!

Batushka – Litourgiya [Things You Might Have Missed 2015]

By Roquentin on January 15, 2016 in 2015, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Polish Metal, Witching Hour Productions, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 77 comments

“Still, even in 2015, when a mysterious black metal band crafts a record that mimics an Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy, it’s bound to raise some eyebrows. Especially when the songs are sung in Russian and the band members are Polish.” If that doesn’t pique the curiosity, you’re a person without curiosity to pique.

The Lion’s Daughter – Existence Is Horror Review

By Mark Z. on January 5, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Black Metal, Post-Metal, Sludge Metal, 25 comments

“Well, 2015 is over and… it was terrible. But rather than bore you with the details, I’ll sum it up like so: rah, rah, rah, I hate my job, I hate my life, I hate everyone and just want to listen to Abstracter in an air-conditioned room while some guy in a Chester the Cheetah costume gives me a back massage. Fortunately, St. Louis black-sludge trio The Lion’s Daughter have produced the perfect soundtrack to my slacker misanthropy with their sophomore LP, Existence Is Horror.” Muppet Cheetah back rubs are overrated.

Gravewürm – Doomed to Eternity Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 5, 2016 in 2015, American Metal, Black Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 24 comments

“Thirty years past its prime, Gravewürm’s songwriting and musical delivery continues to leave a lot to be desired, and after twenty-five years of existence and ten full-lengths, I ask myself the same question before every Gravewürm release: does Gravewürm have anything new—anything at all—to offer in their newest output?” That’s a really good question.

Lychgate – An Antidote for the Glass Pill [Things You Might Have Missed 2015]

By Roquentin on December 20, 2015 in 2015, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Blood Music, English Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2015, Black Metal, 15 comments

“I vividly remember my first encounter with black metal (Burzum), a music so dissonant and evil-sounding that it left twelve-year-old me completely bewildered and flabbergasted. In metal, it was rare and legendary extremes like Gorguts that came close. Until recently, that is, when my ears were graced by the insanity that is Lychgate’s An Antidote for the Glass Pill.” The weirdness is strong with this year’s TYMHM selections.

Ad Nauseam – Nihil Quam Vacuitas Ordinatum Est [Things You Might have Missed 2015]

By Kronos on December 20, 2015 in Avante Garde, Black Metal, Death Metal, Lavadome Records, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2015, Black Metal, Death Metal, 30 comments

“Earlier this year, Grymm called Imperial Triumphant’s incredible sophomore effort Abyssal Gods “the best French black metal album in recent history” and lauded the half-Pyrrhon band as the new bringers of discomfort and disgust, mixing Obscura-influenced death metal with atmospheric black metal and the occasional ukulele. They’re not alone.” Using sickness as salvation.

Iskra – Ruins [Things You Might Have Missed 2015]

By Mark Z. on December 14, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Crust Punk, Things You Might Have Missed 2015, Black Metal, Crust Punk, 18 comments

“Despite what the general public may think, extreme metal is rarely written by extreme people. For all the songs about devouring maggot-ridden brains and summoning Shub-Niggurath, we all know that Corpsegrinder is really just a huge World of Warcraft nerd, and Trey Azagthoth is actually a closet Sailor Moon fanboy (and occasional emulator of the late Steve Irwin). Canada’s Iskra, however, is different.” Different like Glen Benton?

Instigator – Bad Future EP Review

By Al Kikuras on December 13, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, 23 comments

“I love cheese. Think of all the wonderful things that wouldn’t exist without it. Pizza, cheeseburgers, nachos, quesadillas, 2003 Al Roker. Cheese is one of those things that, with rare exception, there can never be enough of. Our mission here at AMG is to be thorough and fair, so we listen to an album at minimum of a good three or six times. Since Instigator’s Bad Future EP is so short you can probably triple that.” Sure, cheese tastes good, but it will clog you up.