Convulsing

Nightmarer – Deformity Adrift Review

By Dear Hollow on May 3, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, Industrial Metal, 58 comments

“I didn’t know what to expect with Deformity Adrift. Although I knew it’s rooted in the inherently unfriendly style of dissonant death metal, I wasn’t sure which breed: perhaps the scathing apathy of Mithridatum, the sun-bleached Altars, the occult mumblings of Mitochondrion, or the twisted technicality of Asystole, to name a few. I shrugged and thought, “I’ve seen it all” and pushed play on Nightmarer. What tormented me about the Berlin/Portland quartet is that, despite my best efforts to describe it with bands of similar ilk, I cannot put words to its latest foray. It rides the line neatly between the haunting devastation of its influences and a tantalizingly listenable quality that defies the need for abstraction. Nightmarer has created a unique dilemma.” DilemmaER!

Altars – Ascetic Reflection Review

By Dear Hollow on July 8, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, 73 comments

“Beyond its cover’s deceptively pastoral mountain scene, Altars offers something lurking underneath. On paper, the trio deals in a collision of dissonant death metal name-drops we’ve come to expect, and it would be easy to stop there. But we won’t, because there’s something else. Ascetic Reflection’s unique take settles in the negative spaces between lurching and punishing with clarity and nimbleness, allowing its meditative lurch to burrow into listeners’ skin. Holding mirrors of the self and the divine and the futility therein, the aptly named Ascetic Reflection deals in shredding pain.” Altars of radness.

Tumba de Carne – Decatexis // Perpetuo Altar Review

By Kronos on September 24, 2021 in Reviews, Death Metal, 13 comments

“After maybe 300 reviews, I’d estimate I’ve locked up several kilobytes of server space recommending artists work with Colin Marston. As a result, I of course take full credit for all the bands that line up to record with him and receive a small monthly stipend from the Menegroth budget. But not every band has to take that advice, and since my kickback is limited by studio throughput, I’m in the market for another producer to praise/shake down. That’s where Argentina’s Tumba de Carne come in.” Tumba thumper.

Mylingar – Döda Själar Review

By Master of Muppets on July 31, 2019 in 20 Buck Spin, 2019, Amor Fati Productions, Death Metal, Experimental Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Uncategorized, Death Metal, 47 comments

“Simply saying these Swedes sound insane would be completely underselling the bands bestial brand of barbaric blackened brutality. Döda Själar is death metal of the blackest, filthiest variety, the kind you turn to when Incantation or Convulsing just can’t quite hit that horrid spot.” Overkilled.

Ferrous Beuller’s and GardensTale’s Top Ten of 2018

By Ferrous Beuller on December 21, 2018 in 2018, Blog Posts, Lists, 139 comments

Ferrous Beuller and GardensTale need to unburden themselves and share all their picks for the best of 2018. Be polite and sit quietly until they’re done, then you can go outside and get a cupcake.

Convulsing – Grievous [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Ferrous Beuller on December 19, 2018 in 2018, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Black Metal, Death Metal, 90 comments

“Convulsing might just command one of the best combinations of atmospheric black and death metal I’ve ever heard. Sloan has a rare ability to fuse dense death metal riffing with a suffocating black metal fluidity. Grievous somehow manages to bludgeon yet persuasively menace in one fell blow.” Death spasms.

P.H.O.B.O.S. – Phlogiston Catharsis Review

By Master of Muppets on September 7, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Doom Metal, French Metal, Industrial Metal, Reviews, Transcending Obscurity, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Industrial Metal, 46 comments

“If there’s any country you can trust to surrender untold riches ov blackened gold after relatively little investigative prodding, it’s France. Harboring such harbingers of box-breaching blackness as Alcest, Deathspell Omega, and Blut Aus Nord, the French black metal scene is very much alive and mentally unwell, and in France Muppet trusts. Muppet also trusts in Transcending Obscurity Records to the extent that a French black metal act appearing on their roster would normally be the epitome of Master-bait music.” Stop touching your promo.

Atavisma – The Chthonic Rituals Review

By Master of Muppets on July 31, 2018 in 2018, Death Metal, Doom Metal, French Metal, Memento Mori, Reviews, Sludge Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, 148 comments

“Get your shitkickers on and nightlights ‘n Prozac at the ready, yo, today we’re going somewhere filthy and utterly devoid of light or joy. France’s Atavisma will be dragging us pleasantly by the throat through a subterranean and sinister network ov nightmares which they call The Chthonic Rituals. I’m just here to narrate the whole ordeal and giggle as you lot wail and bump into each other in the dark.” Bumping in the night.