Dark Tranquillity

Baptism – V: The Devil’s Fire Review

By Grymm on July 19, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Black Metal, 6 comments

“We, as humans, tend to gravitate towards comfort. More often than not, we settle into a nice daily routine, indulge in the same foods, listen to the same bands over and over again, etc. Sure, we can sometimes venture out of our comfortable norms and find some new, exciting things to fawn over, but we have our own little bubbles and dang-nammit, we ain’t leavin’ them! One of those things that has grown comfortable as of late is the variety (or lack thereof) of black metal as a whole.” Bubbles? Bubbles?? I’m the Prince of fookin’ Darkness!

The Foreshadowing – Seven Heads Ten Horns Review

By Grymm on April 19, 2016 in 2016, Cyclone Empire, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, 38 comments

“Imagine, if you will, a world torn asunder by racial and cultural intolerance. Entire countries are erased, and many religions are shunned, their followers persecuted or worse. Now picture, if you can, a united Europe acting as a new Babylon, a holy ground for those seeking shelter from the bitter storms of prejudice and hate, and bustling with diversity, all while impending doom is just looming over the amber horizon. Such a lofty world is given life on Seven Heads Ten Horns, the fourth album by Italian gothic doom sextet, The Foreshadowing.” A concept album about the 2016 American election cycle? That was fast!

Palace of Worms – The Ladder Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on April 5, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Broken Limbs Recordings, Reviews, Black Metal, 18 comments

“For those engulfed in the US Black Metal (USBM) scene, California’s Palace of Worms may be a familiar name to you. For everyone else, the band mixes Pacific Northwest Black Metal (PNWBM) and the ethereal beauty of Alcest (Alcest-core) with some signature Norwegian Black Metal (TRVEBM) rawness.” March of the Acronyms!

Slægt – Beautiful and Damned Review

By Grymm on January 17, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Danish Metal, Death Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 13 comments

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Jon Nödtviedt decided to put Dissection to rest after the highly-influential Storm of the Lights Bane and decided to join Dark Tranquillity? Yes, I know, total blasphemy, but weirder things have happened. I mean, W.A.S.P. put out a better record last year than Slayer, for crying out loud. Nothing is completely out of the realm of possibility, right?

Evil Drive – The Land of the Dead Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 15, 2016 in 2016, Finnish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Mighty Music, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 31 comments

“Every promo to hit my desk receives an initial listen without the reading of websites, promo sheets, or any such fuel that would result in premature judgment. Sometimes absorbing myself in the artwork or the musical theme of the album transforms a mediocre first-listen into something worthwhile. Other times it does not.” Will such a fair and even-handed approach make Evil Drive a pleasure trip?

Solution .45 – Nightmares in the Waking State Pt. I – Review

By Steel Druhm on November 17, 2015 in 2015, AFM Records, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Swedish Metal, 23 comments

“Why is everything in my November promo bin a part I or IV of something bigger? I’m starting to feel like I’m trapped at the Third-Tier Fantasy Fiction Fan Con and I’m dreading what lurks around the next corner. Will it be The Atomic Dragon Bosoms of Gefilte Pt. VII? The Purple Cloak of Chromatic Unicorn Fabulousness Pt. X? Can’t we just do one-off albums again, people?”

Reject the Sickness – Chains of Solitude Review

By Saunders on November 13, 2015 in Belgian Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Mighty Music, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 14 comments

“The dramatic fall from grace of the often maligned melodic death metal sub-genre is well documented among metalheads. Things were looking so damn rosy during the ’90s heyday.” Ah, those were the days.

Melted Space – The Great Lie Review

By El Cuervo on October 20, 2015 in 2015, French Metal, Reviews, Sensory Records, Symphonic Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Metal, 28 comments

“Melted Space. A project with more vocalists than Avantasia and more guests than a free beer and sex party. An ambitious metal opera, Pierre le Pape draws together myriad musicians and vocalists in depicting his epic vision on this debut, The Great Lie. It’s a monumental work….” And off to Finishing School we go to get some much needed culture.

Housebreaking – Against All Odds Review

By Grymm on October 14, 2015 in 2015, Bakerteam Records, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Nu Metal, 18 comments

“Yes, folks, there’s a band called Housebreaking, and their second full-length, Against All Odds, is here, and is promoted as a cross between Amon Amarth, Rammstein, Dark Tranquillity, and… Soulfly?” If they pull off that epic mix, you may need to put some newspapers down.

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?