British Metal

Binah – Phobiate Review

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.

A Forest of Stars – Grave Mounds and Grave Mistakes Review

A Forest of Stars – Grave Mounds and Grave Mistakes Review

By Akerblogger on September 28, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, British Metal, Prophecy Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, Progressive Metal, 62 comments

“A Forest of Stars have been traveling on an upwards cosmic trajectory since their third full-length, 2012’s A Shadowplay for Yesterdays. For a band who didn’t have plans to record anything after their 2008 debut, or even play live, A Forest of Stars are a great example of what a collective and relentless passion and creativity can do for a band.” Starry starry night.

Anaal Nathrakh – A New Kind of Horror Review

Anaal Nathrakh – A New Kind of Horror Review

By Grymm on September 26, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, British Metal, Grind, Metal Blade, Reviews, Black Metal, Industrial Metal, 176 comments

“2018 marks an anniversary year of sorts. On November 11th, it will mark one hundred years since the end of World War I, a war that was supposed to end all wars, but instead introduced trench warfare and chemical weaponry, forever changing the landscape of combat to this day. To give attention to this, British duo Anaal Nathrakh, themselves celebrating twenty years as a band this year, crafted an album that gives respectful tribute to the writings, poetry, and the sheer terror that World War I brought to those who survived to tell it.” Dead in a ditch.

Dunbarrow – II Review

Dunbarrow – II Review

By GardensTale on September 23, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Doom Metal, Proto-Metal, Reviews, RidingEasy Records, Doom Metal, 37 comments

“Distortion and metal are so closely connected it’s difficult to see them separated at all. Yes, there are some bands who don’t utilize distortion, primarily in the power metal section of the mall, and yes, there are artists that use distortion without being primarily metal. However, by and large, metal means distorted guitars. There’s a reason many agree that metal was invented when Black Sabbath introduced that evil guitar tone to the world. Dunbarrow, however, see it as a challenge to be heavy like Sabbath without layering on the distortion, and to this end they look toward the forebears of our genre, evident in the luxurious lapping at the puddles of the 70s with their sophomore album, inspirationally titled II.” But this goes to 11.

Crippled Black Phoenix – Great Escape Review

Crippled Black Phoenix – Great Escape Review

By Huck N Roll on September 13, 2018 in 2018, Ambient Metal, British Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Season of Mist, Ambient Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Rock, 90 comments

“Yes, this album cover needs a unicorn. It’s the first and foremost thing any of us noticed in the AMG World Headquarters break room. I don’t know what’s going on with this horse, but it won’t be good when and if it comes back down to earth. I suppose it’s escaping, although maybe it’s just simply jubilant. At eleven songs and over 74 minutes, is Great Escape going to make me jubilant, or am I going to want to make my escape?” Unicorn in the sky. Making little children cry.

Allfather – And All Will Be Desolation Review

Allfather – And All Will Be Desolation Review

By Mark Z. on September 6, 2018 in 2018, Hardcore, Reviews, Rotting Throne Records, Sludge Metal, Hardcore, Sludge Metal, 75 comments

“If the conversations I’ve seen on the interwebs are any indication, 2018 hasn’t been the greatest year for metal. In that regard, Allfather’s new album should come with an apology. Sorry for breaking your fucking necks, the sticker would read. But we had to remind you what good metal is all about.” Father knows beast.

Leeched – You Took the Sun When You Left Review

Leeched – You Took the Sun When You Left Review

By Grymm on August 21, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Grind, Hardcore, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Hardcore, 45 comments

“In one month, I’ll be having my 5-year anniversary with Angry Metal Guy and His Amazing Super-Friends, and I’ve learned some major lessons in those five years. First, you never ever leave the toilet seat up in the bathroom next to the dungeon my office. Second, use of the word “samey” is grounds for immediate extraction from our building by way of a high-powered pneumatic catapult. And finally, critique the music you are subjected to without the beautifully colored shades of hype from others.” Taking the sun and going home.

Ravens Creed – Get Killed or Try Dying Review

Ravens Creed – Get Killed or Try Dying Review

By GardensTale on August 13, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Crust Punk, Death Metal, Reviews, Xtreem Music, Crust Punk, Death Metal, 28 comments

“Among the uninitiated, metal has a reputation for being “that angry sort of music.” Of course, we know better than that. Many progressive and power metal bands wax about life-affirming statements in flowery language, and even many heavy metal bands aim more for fun and camaraderie than anger and skull-bashery. With more extreme forms of metal, it’s easier to see where the ignorant come from, but even black metal commonly puts subjects like evil and subversion ahead of sheer violence. Ravens Creed, however, have no problem giving in to the stereotypes.” Violence begets other violence.

Yer Metal Is Olde: Bruce Dickinson – The Chemical Wedding

Yer Metal Is Olde: Bruce Dickinson – The Chemical Wedding

By Huck N Roll on August 7, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Heavy Metal, Yer Metal Is Olde, Heavy Metal, 100 comments

“1998 was not metal’s finest year. Nu-metal was rearing its ugly head and 80s bands were withering on the vine. It had also been five years since Bruce Dickinson left Iron Maiden, and while he had released a few decent albums since (and Iron Maiden had released, um, The X Factor), he wasn’t setting the world on fire with legendary recordings. Unlike with Ozzy and Black Sabbath, a separation did not inspire Bruce nor Maiden to go above and beyond – at least, not until 1998, when Dickinson released The Chemical Wedding and Maiden dropped Virtual XI on us.” Married to metal.