Borknagar

Iskald – Innhøstinga Review

By Grymm on August 28, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Indie Recordings, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 60 comments

“Growing up, I’ve been blessed with watching great matches over the years as they happened. Ric Flair vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat for the WCW Heavyweight title. Mankind vs. The Undertaker at the 1998 Hell in a Cell. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Bret “The Hitman” Hart at Wrestlemania 13, where both men did a double-turn. So you may be wondering why it is that I discuss historic matches in regards to Iskald’s fifth full-length, Innhøstinga. This entire album reminded me of another legendary wrestling match…” Grapple with the blackness.

In Vain – Currents Review

By Angry Metal Guy on February 12, 2018 in 2018, Death Metal, Indie Recordings, Norwegian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 1 comment

“Norway’s In Vain is a melodic death metal band with a blackened edge to them. The band, which double’s as Solefald’s live band and features Sidre Nedland who is the brother of Lazare, is back after five years with their fourth album, entitled Currents. They released Ænigma back in ’13 and it was mightily well-received.” You won’t believe what happens next!

Heidevolk – Vuur van Verzet Review

By Dr. Wvrm on January 23, 2018 in 2018, Dutch Metal, Folk Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Viking Metal, Folk Metal, Viking Metal, 59 comments

“I’m a bit of a Johnny-come-lately when it comes to folk. I occupied the Ensiferum / Finntroll bandwagon for a decade, but the Viking folk of Heidevolk came to me as a recent and pleasant surprise. They are not Bathory, not Korpiklaani, not Týr or Vintersorg, but the Dutchmen blend the aesthetics and strengths of each into one cohesive package.” Go folk yourself.

Sons of Crom – The Black Tower Review

By Steel Druhm on August 19, 2017 in 2017, Bindrune Recordings, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Nordvis Produktion, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 18 comments

“The AMG promo sump is a murky, fetid cesspool, and you don’t always find exactly what you expected when delving into its brackish, primordial ooze. Swedish two-man band Sons of Crom were clearly labelled as “epic heavy metal” by some AMG toadie, which to my mind conjures images of Atlantean Kodex and triggers my involuntary salivation reflex. The band’s second full-length, The Black Tower is many things, with epic being one of them, but they’re quite far afield from what I was expecting.” From sump to summit.

Havukruunu – Kelle surut soi Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on April 28, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Naturmacht Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, 71 comments

“I love that we can bicker and fight about a band or record and can still be friends. Friends that share a passion for a message, a form of music, and a lifestyle that many can’t understand. I love that the reasons for a band being my favorite can also be the same reasons others hate them. And I love that certain bands just have something that I ‘get,’ even if others around me don’t get it. So, for the same reasons I ‘get’ Bathory and Immortal, I also ‘get’ Havukruunu. Many have argued that Havukruunu are a copycat outfit, preying on a style created decades ago. But debut album Havulinnaan was more than that. And now, Kelle surut soi is even more than Havulinnaan.” Blood, Fire, Refresh.

Patria – Magna Adversia Review

By Treble Yell on March 6, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Brazilian Metal, Reviews, Soulseller Records, 11 comments

“We know that art is often wrought in the forge of circumstance but beyond the personal biases, trials and tribulations of everyday life can the very climate we live in serve as a catalytic muse? Louisiana’s turgid humidity spawned swampy sludge metal and the pallid, frozen wastes of Scandinavia formed the backdrop against which black metal performs its danse macabre. It’s the latter’s frigid fingers that grip Magna Adversia, the latest release by Patria. But rather than hailing from Norway or Sweden, the band inhabits the mountainous south of Brazil.” Brazil is not a frostbitten kingdom.

Ex Deo – The Immortal Wars Review

By Madam X on February 16, 2017 in 2017, Canadian Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Metal, 53 comments

“With the strength of 37 mighty African elephants, Hannibal marched 40,000 of his bravest men, 1,500 miles through the Alps, to challenge Rome’s supremacy on their own soil. Such is the premise of Ex Deo’s latest historical undertaking.” People show know when they’re conquered by historical metal.

Angry Metal Guy’s Supplemental List(s)

By Angry Metal Guy on January 3, 2017 in 2016, Blog Posts, 96 comments

Yesterday I published my Top 10(ish) of 2016 and it’s a good list. But as has been pointed out, a lot of the supplemental material I usually include was missing. So today I’m posting a follow up: Angry Metal Guy’s Supplemental List(s). This should give you insight into some of the things which weren’t included, as well as a couple of other things I’ve been thinking about posting lists of for a while. This is being thrown together quickly and unplanned. But I just think you guys deserve it and I like list-making. It’s probably something I should list under my hobbies on Facebook.

Eternal Deformity – No Way Out Review

By Eldritch Elitist on November 13, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Polish Metal, Reviews, Temple of Tortorous Records, Gothic Metal, 27 comments

“By the time you read this, Halloween 2016 is long gone. Oral surgeons have deposited their paychecks earned at the expense of children unfortunate enough to chomp down on razor blades, and your cranky olde neighbor is probably marching across the street right now to ask when the hell you’re getting that damned rotting jack o’ lantern off your porch. As I’m writing, however, the night of Halloween is still young, and I have an appropriately eerie soundtrack to accompany the festivities.” The pumpkin stays right where it’s at, bub.

Sulphur – Omens of Doom Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 7, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Death Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 47 comments

Sulphur (or sulfur in the States) is ungodly, foul smelling shit. This isn’t exactly news to anyone but you don’t know the half of it until you have actually jousted with the likes of benzyl or ethanethiol. There aren’t many chemicals I’ve worked with that linger on your mustache and penetrate your clothes like sulfur. It’s pungent, it’s offensive, and it’s fucking nauseating. While I’ve had my fair share of encounters with sulfur, I have never encountered its black-metal equivalent—which is odd considering I’ve been a fan of Øyvind Madsen’s other project, Vulture Industries, for years. With a name like Sulphur, I had expected some unsettling, engulfing black metal to match the stomach-turning feelings I get when “sulfur” is mentioned.