Children of Bodom

Syn Ze Șase Tri – Zăul moș Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 28, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Code666 Records, Folk Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Romanian Metal, Symphonic Metal, Folk Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 37 comments

“I have to admit, I’d never heard of Syn Ze Șase Tri before I grabbed their 2017 release Zăul moș. For six years these Romanian black metallers have been roaming the earth without my knowledge—dropping their unique brand of symphonic black/death on the planet. Though these Transylvanians hail from the same hometown as Negură Bunget, things are done differently. Both bands have their folky songwriting and both have their native mythologies and concepts, but Syn Ze Șase Tri focuses on bigness.” Transylvania? Symphonic black metal? Big? Just in time for Halloween.

Mors Principium Est – Embers of a Dying World Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 11, 2017 in 2017, AFM Records, Finnish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 69 comments

“Our readers seem to know our tastes better than we do. So, it’s probably not surprising to anyone that I’m reviewing (and loving) the new Mors Principium Est record. Especially when you compare it to my top picks of 2016. This is my bread ‘n’ butter and MPE’s crushing melodeath (from Inhumanity to their new record, Embers of a Dying World) is as much a part of me as my gray hair.” Thrash that olde gray head, he said.

Deathless Legacy – Dance with Devils Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on January 25, 2017 in 2017, Alt-Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Rock, Scarlet Records, Alt-Metal, Rock, 26 comments

“Despite trying to sound like Death SS via their humble beginnings as a tribute to those guys, Deathless Legacy comes across more as a soporific Halloween-themed Nightwish, but with worse vocals. There are plenty of keyboards, and the tempos don’t generally get too lively. Sadly, ‘Monster Mash’ may actually make for an apt comparison.” So much for the Transylvanian Twist.

Undrask – Battle Through Time Review

By Dr. Wvrm on January 20, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Melodic Death Metal, 43 comments

“With a basic internet connection offering an up-to-the-minute cornucopia of quality metal releases, snap judgments have become an unfortunate way of life. On my first listen, Undrask came off as middling melodeath in the vain of acts emulating Clayman—In Flames and peak Children of Bodom. Packaged in a blue-and-orange visage that could leave Michael Bay weak in the knees, debut Battle Through Time initially left me stifling a yawn. Sorry, better luck next time. NEXT!” A funny thing happened on the way to the review.

Whispered – Metsutan: Songs of the Void Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on May 14, 2016 in 2016, Finnish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Redhouse Finland Music Publishing, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 38 comments

“Remember when Tom Cruise got cast as The Last Samurai in 2003? Some people on the Internet really do, and take time out of what must be a rich and fulfilling life to vomit up prose so salty it gives Dutch licorice a run for its money. Naturally it’s made into a sociopolitical issue, but I’m going to leave that alone because I’m not a fifth-rate hack who feels compelled to use the metal blog I write for as a soapbox to spew typo-laden opinions on contemporary politics and the like. Anyway, Mr. Cruise remained The Last Samurai for about a year, because in 2004 Finnish Samurai metal band Whispered came into existence.” Eat it, Tommy!

Battlecross – Rise to Power [Things You Might Have Missed 2015]

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 18, 2015 in American Metal, Metal Blade, Things You Might Have Missed 2015, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 23 comments

“It comes of no surprise to those of you restlessly commenting on EVERY FUCKING review, YMIO, and TYMHM article that I got truly thrashed this year. Being a product of the Bay-Area heyday, I haven’t had much fun with any of the modern thrash output storming the iTunes racks in the last decade or so. But 2015 gave me a few monsters I will love for eons to come.” The Doctor is a thrashard.

Children of Bodom – I Worship Chaos Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 9, 2015 in 2015, Finnish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 38 comments

“Sometimes I forget what Children of Bodom used to sound like. While they retain some of the elements from Something Wild and Hatebreeder, these Finns have almost entirely abandoned that cold-blooded power metal title.” Ready for another deathroll with your hate crew? What the hell does that even mean?

Nekrogoblikon – Heavy Meta Review

By Madam X on May 22, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Folk Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Music Box, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Folk Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Progressive Metal, 13 comments

“We all have a little touch of crazy inside us. You know what I mean; trapped laughter that rumbles out with such force it makes your belly hurt. Sadly with all the hullabaloo and day-to-day grind we forget to stop and breath, but more importantly, we forget to laugh. American melo-death merchants, Nekrogoblikon have made it their mission to remind us that tapping into our crazy and embracing the silly is just downright necessary and I support that!” Goblins are the medium, meta is the message.

Ensiferum – One Man Army Review

By Angry Metal Guy on March 9, 2015 in 2015, Finnish Metal, Folk Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, 21 comments

“Ensiferum isn’t Finland’s most popular or well-loved melodic folk/viking metal band, but they certainly are a band whose legacy cannot be ignored. For me, they revolutionized the music I was listening to in 2001 with their immense self-titled debut Ensiferum, which took Children of Bodom and made it fruitier.” Fruity Viking metal is an important part of any balanced diet.

Mors Principium Est – Dawn of the 5th Era Review

By Angry Metal Guy on December 5, 2014 in 2014, AFM Records, Death Metal, Finnish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 40 comments

“The first time I heard Mors Principium Est was at the end of 2012 when I discovered that they had been slotted to release their first record in five years in December. Somehow in the course of my metal journey I’d managed to miss a band that few have anything bad to say about. In fact, despite being a bit late to the scene—with a debut record in 2003—Mors is one of those bands that everyone I know seems to either not know or love. And AFM releasing your new record in December? Not helping. This time of year is when lists blossom and we bloggers start going through all the stuff we’ve heard and a lot of the stuff we haven’t: new records have trouble finding their way on to our radars in December. AFM seemed to be telling them: ‘No end of year lists for you.'” December? Must mean AFM is releasing a new Mors Principium Est record. AMG has the scoop.