British Metal

Exit…Hall Left: The Weenie Metal Round-Up [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Dr. Wvrm on December 27, 2018 in 2018, Alt-Metal, American Metal, Black Metal, British Metal, Chinese Metal, Doom Metal, Dutch Metal, Epic Metal, German Metal, Hard Rock, Israeli Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, Synthwave, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Alternative Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Hard Rock, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Non-metal Metal Things, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, Synthwave, 68 comments

“Not everyone can be BRUTAL ENOUGH!!! Some of us are hobbits; diminutive, folksy, averse to Camo™ and Camo™-derived accouterments. Maybe you just want to smell the flowers, despite your allergies. That’s ok. We’re here for you.” Hello, weenies.

Venom – Storm the Gates Review

By Ferrous Beuller on December 17, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, British Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Spinefarm, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 44 comments

“It’s always sad when a band has an internal branding dispute of such magnitude that it gives rise to two separate, but identical, entities. In this case, UK legends Venom are now forced to share a moniker with Venom Inc. and it may not be such a bad thing. Last year I reviewed the corporate crusher’s debut, Avé, where I waxed pompous over its unremarkable, but undeniably decent, content. Now, the black metal originals have returned with no less than their fifteenth studio album Storm the Gates.” Sounds of a poison fading.

Rolo Tomassi – Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By GardensTale on December 4, 2018 in 2018, Avante Garde, British Metal, Ipecac Records, Mathcore, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Avante Garde, Mathcore, 60 comments

“Rolo Tomassi is an enigma. It’s a band that feels like it shouldn’t be metal, yet it undeniably is. Frontwoman Eva Spence, with her petite stature, sharp fashion sense and pixie haircut, seems more at home in an eco-friendly coffee bar than a metal venue. They seem to hang more around the indie scene than denim-filled dive bars. Hell, they’ve been favorably reviewed by NME, and if that’s not a condemnation of metal cred I don’t know what is.” Cred is for posers.

Solstice – White Horse Hill [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Huck N Roll on November 30, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Dark Descent Records, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 51 comments

“I love to hear music from bands that faded away decades ago, only to come back with renewed fury. Satan, anyone? Sorcerer? The list goes on, and now we can add Solstice to it. Stylistically similar to Sorcerer and Khemmis, these venerable Brits put out a couple of albums in the 1990s before disappearing from the scene, only to reappear in 2013 with a comeback EP, Death’s Crown Is Victory. Immaculately recorded and arranged, the four songs presented were top-notch epic doom. And now, five years after that—and a full twenty after their last full-length—Solstice present us with White Horse Hill, and it is glorious.” Won’t you ride their White Horse?

Jo Quail – Exsolve [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By sentynel on November 28, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, British Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Post-Rock, Reviews, Self-released, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Atmospheric Black Metal, Non-metal Metal Things, 66 comments

“I love the cello. I don’t think there are any other instruments which offer the tonal range and gorgeous timbre a cello can. I also think it’s criminally underused in heavy music. Apocalyptica demonstrate it can sound metal as hell, yet otherwise it’s mostly limited to a few cameo appearances. This brings me to Jo Quail, experimental cellist, loop pedal wizard, and versatile session musician. Her own back catalog is largely a post-rock/modern classical blend, and after a year in which she’s supported acts like Myrkur, Amenra, Boris, and Winterfylleth, their influence clearly shows on her new record. With her sound evolving towards post-metal and atmospheric black metal, her new album is an interesting development.” Cello, my friends.

Bast – Nanoångström Review

By Akerblogger on November 24, 2018 in 2018, Burning World Records, Doom Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 15 comments

“Bast bask in the light of the vast. Lengthy compositions are their forte, stringing together gut-wobbling strings of sludge, doom and black metal. Nanoångström is this British three-piece’s second full-length, a record that continues the stylistic approach of 2014 debutSpectres by precariously balancing on the border between black metal and doom metal. In an attempt to do something different with two well explored genres, Bast espouse the black metal moods of Winterfylleth and Altar of Plagues and the sludgy experimentation of Neurosis in a unique post-whatever pie.” Clean your plate.

Spearhead – Pacifism Is Cowardice Review

By Mark Z. on November 23, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, British Metal, Death Metal, Invictus Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 35 comments

“Sometimes blackened death metal feels like the only music that matters. No, more than that—it feels like the only thing that matters. The pummeling drums, the frenzied riffs, the scathing vocals—it just makes me want to put my fist through a wall, rip off my shirt, and go skullfuck the nearest quadruped. When the need arises to rally my inner Z-beast, Angelcorpse often does the trick, but they’re not the only game in town.” Tip of the spear.

Tank – Sturmpanzer Review

By Huck N Roll on November 13, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Dissonance Productions, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 80 comments

“Sometimes we get what we want, and sometimes we get what we deserve. Here I am, trudging towards the end of the year, relying on headmistress Madam X to dole out the review rewards and punishments as she sees fit – except for this week. This week, she forgot about little old me, and what did I see lurking in the promo bin? Tank. How did Steel Druhm, my cohort in late-middle-age, not grab this? Both of us remember the original Tank from way back in the early 80s, with their punk/proto take on the whole NWOBHM movement briefly endearing them to many.” Tanked.

Yer Metal is (25 Years) Olde: Carcass – Heartwork

By Grymm on October 18, 2018 in British Metal, Death Metal, Yer Metal Is Olde, Death Metal, 71 comments

“Heartwork, the fourth album by Liverpool’s Carcass, was an anomaly in 1993 for several reasons. Sure, the signs existed on 1991’s Necroticism – Descanting the Insalubrious that the Brits were growing more proficient at their instruments, and were slowly leaving their goregrind roots behind them. But while Necroticism kept one foot in their murky, surgically grotesque past, Heartwork, saw Carcass eschewing gory lyrics and guitarist Bill Steer’s growls entirely, trimming the fat considerably, and saw them streamline their attack with incredible lead guitar work, hooks galore, and a simplified verse/chorus/verse approach, angering their diehard fanbase.” Still working.

Binah – Phobiate Review

By Kronos on October 1, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Death Metal, Osmose Productions, Progressive Death, Releases, Reviews, Death Metal, Progressive Death, 51 comments

“Binah hope to align themselves with well-loved death metal bands like Morbus Chron and Horrendous who have spliced psychedelia into the classic death metal sound. It’s at once progressive and regressive, hearkening back to the genre’s early ’90s heyday while venturing far outside of the footprint of a typical death metal band. And while these Englishmen are not quite so adventurous as either of those touchstone bands, Phobiate still wraps itself around unexpected corners combining Swedish heft and a sprinkle of Finnish eccentricity.” Serious Binahess.