Century Media

Morbus Chron – Sweven Review

By Steel Druhm on March 7, 2014 in 2014, Century Media, Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Death Metal, 21 comments

“The times they are a changing! If you were around for my review of Morbus Chron’s 2011 opus Sleepers in the Rift, you know how impressed I was with their Autopsy-laden salute to early American death metal. That album was a sewage leak of nastiness and I still spin it often. Naturally, I expected more of the same with their follow up, but I didn’t get it. Not even close. That’s because Sweven (yea olde English for “visions”) is an enormous departure in style and approach, veering off into the world of proggy, tripped out weirdness, while somehow still remaining death metal.” Wow, this one really knocked Steel Druhm off his feet, and he’s notoriously difficult to knock over. You best read on.

Adrenaline Mob – Men of Honor Review

By Steel Druhm on February 20, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Century Media, Groove Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 33 comments

“Umm, I’ll be honest with you. I really wasn’t looking forward to this album. As much as I worship Sir Russell Allen (Symphony X, Allen/Lande) and his golden pipes of steel, I really hate this hard rock/nu-metal side project he has going on with friends. Their Omerta debut was a painfully shallow, cringe-inducing foray into Disturbed styled nu-metal mixed with grungy barroom rock and it really didn’t work, even with Allen on vocals and Little Lord Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment) on drums.” The Mob is back again. Do they rule yet?

Deicide – In the Minds of Evil Review

By Steel Druhm on November 16, 2013 in 2013, American Metal, Century Media, Death Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 9 comments

It’s time for some Double Deicide!! Yes, I know that sounds like a professional high dive maneuver, but here it’s Steel Druhm and Madam X weighing in on the new opus from those infamous Floridian demon lords. Is In the Minds of Evil a return to the glory days or another safe and stale dose of by-the-numbers death? Opinions may differ, even in this here post!

Warbringer – IV: Empires Collapse Review

By Steel Druhm on October 30, 2013 in 2013, American Metal, Century Media, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 7 comments

“With Hallow’s Eve in the air and the holiday season just around the corner, I feel safe looking back on 2013 and saying it wasn’t the greatest year for metal. It’s certainly true that the better stuff seems to be coming out on the back-end, but overall, it has been a lean time for top-notch albums. This is especially true for the rethrash/thrash genre, with very few albums jumping out and smacking me in the gob. Keeping true to form, the better stuff is seeping out now, with solid releases from Death Angel and Toxic Holocaust and now, a winner from Warbringer. IV: Empires Collapse sees these California rethrashers take a big step from the effective, but somewhat generic Bay Area Thrash sound exhibited on Worlds Torn Asunder by adding a host of classic metal influences along with punk and blackened twists.” October was a good month for rethrash and it looks like Warbringer wanted to end things on a high note with their latest slice of speed.

Vattnet Viskar – Sky Swallower Review

By Grymm on September 18, 2013 in 2013, American Metal, Black Metal, Century Media, Doom Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 7 comments

“Any band or artist worth their salt will marry their influences to create something new, whether said influences are musical, aesthetic, or simply a product of their environment. Vattnet Viskar (roughly translated from Swedish as “the water whispers”) are definitely a product of the state of New Hampshire. When one pictures New Hampshire, he or she thinks of rolling hills with lush greenery, picturesque winters, and rivers of clean, flowing water… all from the northern half of the state. Southern New Hampshire (especially VV’s hometown of Plaistow) is a panoply of industrial parks, gas stations every block or two, oppressively hot summers where you can see the heat rising from the asphalt while walking out of a heavily populated 7-11, and the occasional forest or lake being slowly (and sadly) converted into a housing project. Sky Swallower flawlessly combines the two images into one cohesive, impressive album.” Black metal from the “live free or die” state makes a certain amount of sense and new writer Grymm makes his AMG debut to discuss why.

Turisas – Turisas2013 Review

By Angry Metal Guy on August 23, 2013 in 2013, 4.0, Century Media, Epic Metal, Finnish Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Folk Metal, Viking Metal, 19 comments

We all knew Turisas2013 was going to be a controversial record when the title was released. Turisas2013 doesn’t read like a particularly inspiring name for this Finnish ‘folk metal’ band’s latest record. One commenter quipped that it sounds like what they called the folder where you store the .wav files, not the title of the record itself. On top of that was the remarkably short turnaround time. Turisas isn’t a band known for its quick work, and they were coming off a remarkable and fascinating record from 2011 that I flat out loved. Recent history teaches us that ‘fucking with the formula‘ is generally a bad thing; if a band needs 5 years, give it to them! But just as Orphaned Land faced label pressure, it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if Turisas2013 was produced under pressure from a label that doesn’t want the world to forget that Turisas exists[1. Note: this is entirely speculation. No one told me shit.]. Whatever the reason for looking at a Turisas record in 2013 with the half-baked name of Turisas2013, it’s here… Is it everything you feared?

Witherscape – The Inheritance Review

By Steel Druhm on August 13, 2013 in 2013, 4.0, Century Media, Death Metal, Progressive Death, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 17 comments

“There are few sure things in the world, but there’s one name that screams quality and excellence and that name is Dan Fucking Swanö. From his work on top-notch death metal albums like Edge of Sanity’s Crimson, his collarboration with Bloodbath, Threshold and Demiurg and his proggy solo albums like Moontower, the man has the midas touch and one of the best death roars of all time. He’s also a producer extraordinaire and perhaps the best at making death metal sound the way it should. Witherscape takes his hefty talents and pairs them with unknown instrumentalist Ragnar Widerberg and the result is a concept album about a gothic insane asylum and evil goings on. Musically, it’s a stunning mash-up of Crimson, Damnation-era Opeth, Omnium Gatherum, Mercyful Fate and even King Crimson.” Steel Druhm has a mancrush on Dan Swanö and you should too, unless you’re a woman. Join him as he explains why Witherscape justifies his love.

Orphaned Land – All Is One Review

By Angry Metal Guy on June 25, 2013 in 2.5, 2013, Century Media, Progressive Metal, Reviews, 40 comments

Little has been new in the world of heavy metal for a long time. While the scene continues to crawl up its own ass with retro-this and retro-that and a naval gazing focus on the music of the past while waiting for new and fresh material, Orphaned Land has been one of the few bands that has branched out. These peacenik Israelis have been doing their own distinctive brand of ‘middle-eastern’ melodeath that breathed life into a scene. However, the band’s slow output has been a constant thorn in the side of their label, and after blowing the world out of the water with The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR, there was increased pressure to get a record out in three years. Orphaned Land delivered, and All Is One is that labor of love (and label pressure).

Queensrÿche – Queensrÿche Review

By Dr. Fisting on June 13, 2013 in 2013, 4.0, Century Media, Rating, Uncategorized, 18 comments

“There is so much back story behind Queensrÿche’s new self-titled record that I can’t even scratch the surface in this review. I suggest reading this first. In a nutshell, there are currently two bands bearing the name Queensrÿche — one made up of ex-singer/asshole Geoff Tate and some hired help, and the other consisting of most of QR’s original lineup and new vocalist Todd LaTorre (ex-Crimson Glöry). This review refers to the latter version of the band.” Mr. Fisting is our resident QR/Geoff Tate gossip columnist and overall fanboy and he’s been waiting a long time for this bad boy. Can it resurrect the glory of this once proud band? Can we avoid mocking Mr. Tate? Only the needle knows….

White Wizzard – The Devil’s Cut Review

By Happy Metal Guy on June 10, 2013 in 2013, 5.0, American Metal, Century Media, Earache Records, Heavy Metal, Reviews, 40 comments

“Everything about this record is perfect. From the wacky, bright, colorful and sharp-looking album artwork to the catchy operatic singing, Los Angeles band White Wizzard makes sure that every detail not only pays homage to traditional heavy metal, but is also (more importantly) given a modern touch as well. The musical similarities to earlier heavy metal bands (especially Judas Priest and Iron Maiden) can definitely be heard [O RLY? – AMG]. But the music sounds a little too modern to be considered ‘traditional heavy metal.'” Whenever the word ‘perfect’ starts getting tossed around the AMG office, the staff gets mighty nervous. Happy Metal Guy always gives us trouble, but now the psychotic horse is fully out of the burning stable and White Wizzard is to blame. Oh, the huge manatee!!