Black Sabbath

Arcana 13 – Danza Macabra Review

By Steel Druhm on March 2, 2016 in 2016, Aural Music, Italian Metal, Occult Rock, Occult Rock, 28 comments

“AMG Himself likes to use helpful descriptors to mark band promos on the master spreadsheet so the staff knows what’s what. Having never heard of Arcana 13, my eyes were drawn to his cursory note describing them simply as “Ghost-core.” With my interest thusly piqued I gave Danza Macabra a spin and as advertised, it’s somewhat Ghost-y occult rock, but they make things more interesting by dialing up the heaviness and incorporating a good amount of Khemmis-esque stoner doom along with weird Danzig and Tiamat-isms.” From the crypt comes…monster riffs!

Flummox – Selcouth Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on February 6, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Tridroid Records, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, 19 comments

“I usually try to pick bands to review based on my prior knowledge of them, partly because I’m risk-averse, but mainly because I’m very lazy and I dislike having to make the effort to look up a band’s information. Unfortunately, this same laziness also means I’m often last to check what’s available for review, so end up with the unknowns spurned by the rest of the AMG workforce. Flummox were one such unknown, but I had a good feeling about the band. Distinguishing themselves from the rest of the metal scene with a quirkiness that extends from their artwork to their lyrics to their range of musical influences, on paper Flummox are a fascinating prospect. Though generally not a fan of jam-bands, especially on record, a sneak preview of “The Ghost of Ronnie Dio” suggested Flummox could combine their influences and personality into well-written, entertaining, proper songs. So how does Selcouth fair as a whole?” Guess.

Brimstone Coven – Black Magic Review

By Grymm on January 28, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Doom Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, 25 comments

“Oh, Ghost… what have you brought upon us? Since the masked Swedes hit paydirt with their patented brand of Scooby-Doobie Doom™ via Opus Eponymous back in 2010, there’s been an influx of retro-rockin’ stoner doom bands looking to drive their own Mystery Machines™ over well-navigated roads. Granted, for each one that wows us, there are several more that we wish would just go away. Those meddling little brats! I would have gotten away with it if not for them.

Stryper – Fallen Review

By Steel Druhm on October 17, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Frontiers Records, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 71 comments

“Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking. Why is there a Stryper review in my news-feed? Well, it’s there because the infamous yellow and black bumblebees of Christian metal are back with a new album called Fallen, and since we covered W.A.S.P. in their post-Satan phase, it only makes sense we cover these saintly chaps in their Still-God phase (AMG would strongly disagree, but he’s traveling and doesn’t know about this yet).” The path of the righteous is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil metal reviewers.

Windhand – Grief’s Infernal Flower Review

By Steel Druhm on September 17, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Doom Metal, Drone, Relapse, Reviews, Doom Metal, 11 comments

“Windhand is the bane of those cursed with ADD. They write long, glacially slow, minimalist doom songs with little variation or tempo shifts. Their songwriting approach is mostly limited to unearthing one mammoth riff and beating you with it for anywhere from six to fourteen minutes without respite, mercy or bathroom breaks.” The beatings will continue until morale improves and/or cake is served.

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – The Night Creeper Review

By Madam X on August 31, 2015 in 2015, Doom Metal, English Metal, Reviews, Rise Above Records, Doom Metal, 13 comments

“An American author, poet, philosopher and historian by the name of Henry Thoreau once said “If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment.” Nowhere does that apply more than to Uncle Acid.” Do you have a (night) creepy uncle?

Khemmis – Absolution Review

By Steel Druhm on July 7, 2015 in 20 Buck Spin, 2015, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 28 comments

“2015 may not end up a magical year for metal, but it has certainly dropped some earth-shaking doom on the unsuspecting masses. In the wake of mammoth shit kickers from Crypt Sermon and Goatsnake, we must now reckon with the ponderous girth of unheralded Colorado doomers, Khemmis and their righteous debut, Absolution.” your doom is at hand once again.

Goatsnake – Black Age Blues Review

By Steel Druhm on June 21, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Southern Lord, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, 21 comments

“Goatsnake was originally formed by veterans of seminal doom act The Obsessed, and though they’ve rattled around since 1996, they haven’t been the most prolific crew in the doomiverse. With only two albums and a few EPs to their credit and their last full-length dropping way back in 2000, they would already be relegated to a footnote in the Big Book of Doom if not for how righteous early works like Goatsnake Vol. I were, and the sheer number of bands ripping off their sound.” Goat and snake…unite!

Succubus Irons – The Gorgon’s Lullaby Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on May 12, 2015 in 2015, Canadian Metal, Doom Metal, PRC Music, Reviews, Doom Metal, 16 comments

“Billed as progressive doom metal and originating from Québec, I anticipated something both quintessentially Canadian-weird (you know what I mean) and long. But no sooner had I finished applying the gravy to my poutine and the record ended. I know that it takes me precisely 32 minutes to make poutine – what on earth is going on? A half-hour prog/doom album?” What’s this all aboot, eh?

Monolord – Vænir Review

By Roquentin on April 28, 2015 in 2015, Doom Metal, Reviews, RidingEasy Records, Stoner Rock, Swedish Metal, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 7 comments

“The first long length from Gothenburg doomsters Monolord, last year’s Empress Rising, enjoyed a surprising level of success and acclaim, the likes of which is usually the result of a combination of solid, but not great music and circumstances which fall under the banner of “hype.” Releasing a second album just a year later and following such a highly esteemed record made more likely the possibility of the enthusiasm bubble bursting. Vænir (named after Sweden’s largest lake) could have easily turned out a dud.” Hype, drama, doom – it’s all here, folks.