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The Skull – For Those Which Are Asleep Review

The Skull – For Those Which Are Asleep Review

By Dr. Fisting on October 22, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Tee Pee Records, Doom Metal, 3 comments

“The Skull has an origin story that’s weirder than most. A few years back, several members of doom legends Trouble found themselves out of the band, and decided to form a “tribute” to their former group. Besides the irony of a tribute band containing 3/5ths of the band they are tribute-ing, The Skull quickly proved their credentials onstage. At a packed hometown gig in Chicago, I witnessed the band deliver a set of long-unheard Trouble classics. Eric Wagner (vocals), Jeff Olson (drums) and Ron Holzner (bass) sounded predictably solid, while Lothar Keller and Matt Goldsborough handily replicated the guitar interplay of Trouble’s recorded work. But when the band announced an album of original material, I was skeptical at first…” Can The Skull give us more trouble than Trouble? One can only hope.

Orange Goblin – Back From the Abyss Review

Orange Goblin – Back From the Abyss Review

By Steel Druhm on October 3, 2014 in 2014, Candlelight Records, Doom Metal, English Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, 3 comments

“The pub gremlins known as Orange Goblin are back and once again, they’ve been fed after midnight and doused with way too much cheap beer and rotgut whiskey. For the uninitiated, that means more rowdy outlaw biker rock filled with southern blues, doom and stoner influences that all get sent crashing into the rocks of macho bravado and testosterone. Following up 2012s enjoyably soused A Eulogy for the Damned, Back From the Abyss keeps the sketchy pool hall chic intact and adds more dumbbells, prison tattoos and Lemmy-isms for a potent potable of in-your-face, no bullshit biker metal.” Grab the moonshine and the brass knuckles, the Goblins are back in the bar!

Mr. Fisting Comments: Evolve or Die

Mr. Fisting Comments: Evolve or Die

By Dr. Fisting on August 25, 2014 in Blog Posts, 32 comments

“As someone who entered the world of metal during the mid-1990s, I quickly got used to bands evolving and changing established formulas. We never knew if someone’s next album was going to go techno, or go punk rock, or invent new subgenres entirely. Granted, a lot of these “experiments” had commercial motives behind them, and oftentimes the results straight-up sucked. But still, there’s something to be said for being surprised.” Mr. Fisting is tired of metal bands playing it safe and he’s pissed at metal fans too. Give us hell, Fisting!

Goatwhore – Constricting Rage Of The Merciless Review

Goatwhore – Constricting Rage Of The Merciless Review

By Madam X on July 10, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Metal Blade, Releases, Reviews, Sludge, Black Metal, Death Metal, Sludge Metal, 11 comments

“Dripping savagery and gnashing bared teeth, that can only mean one thing… Goatwhore’s back! For those not familiar with the piss and vinegar thrashing of Blood for the Master or going back a little further the Satanic ritual of The Eclipse of Ages Into Black, Goatwhore are a stewey blackened death “project” with an all American, New Orleans twist that borrows not only members, but also the subtle influence of metal veterans Crowbar, Acid Bath, Soilent Green and Nachtmystium.” Blackened swamp thrash hath returned.

Angry Metal Guy’s Unsigned Band Rodeo: Witch Ripper – Witch Ripper

Angry Metal Guy’s Unsigned Band Rodeo: Witch Ripper – Witch Ripper

By Angry Metal Guy on April 19, 2013 in Angry Metal Guy's Unsigned Band Rodeo, Blog Posts, 5 comments

In our new monthly feature, which will show up here on the 15th of every month and run over the next few days, I (Angry Metal Guy) will select 5 bands at random (usually those who have followed my directions and have bandcamp accounts) to get blurbed by every member of the AMG staff. The idea is to do at least a bit of our part to point out that the metal underground is still an important part of the world of metal. While we simply don’t have the manpower to produce regular reviews of unsigned bands, this is my attempt at a minor mea culpa if nothing else. So enjoy Angry Metal Guy’s Unsigned Band Rodeo and our fifth and final entry: Witch Ripper!

Angry Metal Guy’s Unsigned Band Rodeo: Boudain – Boudain EP

Angry Metal Guy’s Unsigned Band Rodeo: Boudain – Boudain EP

By Angry Metal Guy on April 16, 2013 in Angry Metal Guy's Unsigned Band Rodeo, Blog Posts, 8 comments

In our new monthly feature, which will show up here on the 15th of every month and run over the next few days, I (Angry Metal Guy) will select 5 bands at random (usually those who have followed my directions and have bandcamp accounts) to get blurbed by every member of the AMG staff. The idea is to do at least a bit of our part to point out that the metal underground is still an important part of the world of metal. While we simply don’t have the manpower to produce regular reviews of unsigned bands, this is my attempt at a minor mea culpa if nothing else. So enjoy Angry Metal Guy’s Unsigned Band Rodeo and our second entry for April 2013: Boudain!

Xibalba – Hasta La Muerte Review

Xibalba – Hasta La Muerte Review

By Alex Franquelli on August 9, 2012 in 2.5, 2012, American Metal, Hardcore, Reviews, Southern Lord, Hardcore, 1 comment

Xibalbá is the name of the Mayan underworld: not exactly a nice place, it must be said. A cave next to Alta Verapaz, somewhere in central Guatemala, is the entry to this domain whose hottest places, to quote none other than Dante Alighieri, “are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.” If there’s a circle which refuses to stay neutral in favour of a purely negative stance, it’s a band from Southern California whose name, doom and gloom take us straight to the Mayan idea of hell.

Goatwhore – Blood for the Master

Goatwhore – Blood for the Master

By Steel Druhm on February 6, 2012 in 2012, 4.0, American Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 10 comments

Holy shite, this is a feisty and fiery one! One of the most successful “project” bands in recent memory, Goatwhore has come roaring back, filled with piss, bile and cayenne peppers on album five, Blood for the Master. This is nasty, blackened death/thrash from the most stagnant bayou of the Big Easy and it’s the musical equivalent of a gator attack.