Crust

Feral Light – Psychic Contortions Review

By Cherd on April 22, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Crust Punk, Post-Metal, 29 comments

“There are, of course, other styles of metal practiced here, but few Minnesota bands outside of black metal have enjoyed the critical acclaim that acts like False or Obsequiae or Minnesota-by-way-of-Kentucky transplant Panopticon have. Those who have been watching the local scene closely will tell you that Feral Light have turned some heads over the last few years around Minneapolis, not to mention abroad. Enough so, apparently, that their fourth full-length has secured the attentions of heavyweight Italian avant-black label I, Voidhanger.” Minnesota wild.

Charlene Beretah – Ram Review

By Cherd on November 15, 2019 in 2019, Crust Punk, Division Records, Doom Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Sludge, Swiss Metal, Post-Metal, Sludge, 23 comments

“Imagine my surprise when, upon taking this gig, I discovered that some of my fellow writers, including our illustrious boss, were never-sludgers. As I’ve endured their hurtful, anti-sludge rhetoric, I’ve noticed a frequent correlation between sludge hating and symphonic power cheese-loving. As no lover of metallic brie myself, I’m left to wonder if we’re hardwired at the genetic level into these camps just as research suggests we may be similarly inclined toward progressive or conservative politics, or to see a blue and black dress versus the mouth breathing, evolutionary dead-ends who see a gold and white dress. I guess what I’m saying is, if you’re team sludge and wary of anti-sludge sentiment within the body metallic, you’ve got a man on the inside. So let’s wade together into the muck of Charlene Beretah‘s new album Ram. Never-sludgers need not apply.” Sticky business.

Stomachal Corrosion – Stomachal Corrosion Review

By Mark Z. on October 27, 2019 in 2019, Brazilian Metal, Crust Punk, Greyhaze Records, Grind, Reviews, 3 comments

“As one begins to explore metal more and more deeply, one comes to the realization that there are certain ‘legendary’ albums that seem to be appreciated more for being innovative than actually being good. I would argue, for example, that Napalm Death‘s Scum is a pretty mediocre album overall and was far surpassed by the material that followed it, even if it remains a critical piece of extreme metal’s history. This becomes a problem when bands create new releases similar in style to these ‘innovative but not very good’ albums, resulting in records that are neither innovative nor good. But maybe Stomachal Corrosion could escape this fate” Tummy trouble.

Swarn – Black Flame Order Review

By GardensTale on August 6, 2019 in 2019, Crust Punk, Death Metal, Estonian Metal, Raw Skull Records, Reviews, Death Metal, 13 comments

“Old school death metal holds few surprises. Much like Nightwishcore or stoner metal, its sound is so well established that any deviations from the tried and true standard swiftly take it out of the OSDM sphere into modern death, melodic death, or other variations on the theme. If you want to retain that old school buzzsaw to the cranium feel, yet add a different element, you need something that supports the dirty, grimy nastiness with something of a similar murk.” Young murks.

Morne – To the Night Unknown Review

By Huck N Roll on September 10, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Armageddon Label, Crust Punk, Doom Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Doom Metal, Sludge, 63 comments

“There’s heavy, and then there’s heavy. Morne are the latter. If you don’t know the difference, you will after listening to To the Night Unknown, the Boston band’s fourth album. To be honest, I’m wasn’t previously familiar with this group, nor have we reviewed any of their older material here at AMG, but after letting To the Night Unknown melt my speakers and put cracks in my walls for a few weeks, I’ll be exploring their back-catalog tout suite.” Morne is more.

Bind Torture Kill – Viscères Review

By Master of Muppets on February 6, 2018 in 2018, Crust Punk, Death Metal, French Metal, Grind, Hardcore, Reviews, WOOAAARGH, Death Metal, Grind, Hardcore, 34 comments

“This January, the Angry Metal Gods saw fit to bless us with multitudes of favor during what strange, countless aeons of headbanging have typically proven to be the darkest of times for trve believers, and we all say thank-ya. February it may be, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to say goodbye to Jørnuary tidings, and it’s definitely not time to stop saying thank-ya. By the deity-defying powers of Muppets, France, and procrastination, let us bask in the revitalizing glory of 2018’s expectations-shattering induction for just a little longer. Friends, meet Viscères, the second full-length by Bind Torture Kill.” Fashionably late and brvtal.

EP Edition [Things You Might Have Missed 2017]

By El Cuervo on January 1, 2018 in 2017, Reviews, Things You MIght Have Missed 2017, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Post-Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 76 comments

“Last year I compiled a year-end EP post with which I received help from my colleagues and of which I was quite proud. This year I institute this post by repeating it.” Get institutionalized.

Moral Void – Deprive Review

By Kronos on August 11, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Black Metal, Crust Punk, Grind, Hardcore, Powerviolence, Reviews, Translation Loss, Hardcore, Powerviolence, 20 comments

“Last year’s Nails record was as blunt as they come. It’s rare that a band can generate enough hype — and then live up to it — that they can brazenly assert their superiority without being a laughingstock. But the trio did just that, leaving an open challenge to would-be peers in the title track of You Will Never be One of Us. When Moral Void heard the refrain, they thumbed their noses at the speakers. ‘Fuck you, Todd Jones,’ they said, ‘yes we will.'” Join or die.

Henry Kane – Den Förstörda Människans Rike Review

By Eldritch Elitist on February 17, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Transcending Obscurity, Death Metal, 23 comments

“There are a handful of obscure record labels that I’ve learned to pay attention to when their output finds its way into our promo bay; the aptly named Transcending Obscurity is one of them. In recent months they’ve distributed some seriously weird novelty projects that, though not always great, typically provide something fresh that stands out in the crowded sphere of extreme metal. Thus, when I saw they had delivered us a Swedish death metal album, I was immediately intrigued.” You deserve a Kaning.

Thränenkind – King Apathy Review

By Mark Z. on May 4, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Crust Punk, German Metal, Lifeforce Records, Post-metal, Post-Rock, Reviews, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 44 comments

“Sometimes the way you first experience an album is everything. Back in 2013, after finally returning from an extended work trip where I had limited internet access (and thus, no ability to hear new metal releases), Thränenkind’s The Elk took my deprived ears by storm with its Agallochian mix of weepy post-rock and crusty post-black metal. After months of only listening to whatever -core was stored on my iPod at the time, I was captivated, and the German quintet’s debut ended up being one of my favorite albums that year. Three years later sees me in an entirely different set of circumstances.” Stop the presses!