Dec22

Feelingless – Metal against Animal Cruelty Review

By Maddog on December 8, 2022 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 22 comments

“That title is great advertising. The details are even better. Feelingless is a nonprofit side project of Hugo Markaida from Spanish melodeath band Rise to Fall. Feelingless and record label Noble Demon have pledged to donate all proceeds from debut album Metal against Animal Cruelty to animal shelters in Spain and animal welfare charities abroad. I wasn’t familiar with Markaida’s other work, and reviewing a record that straddles melodic death metal and metalcore is risky business. But after reading that blurb, I couldn’t help but be intrigued.” Up with animals.

Ready for Death – Ready for Death Review

By El Cuervo on December 7, 2022 in Reviews, Hardcore, Thrash Metal, 9 comments

“I’m currently compiling Angry Metal Guy’s annual EP, demo, split and collaboration article, and it’s always a compelling reminder that less is more when it comes to song and album lengths. Only very particular artists can write long-form material which is truly engaging front to back, whereas everyone else can convey their best ideas in much shorter form. Enter Chicago’s Ready for Death and their eponymous debut album. It’s marketed as a full release but that’s a full release in grind terms; 10 tracks across just 22 minutes is all you’ll hear here.” Nasty, brutish, and short.

Woods of Desolation – The Falling Tide Review

By Ferox on December 5, 2022 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Post-Metal, 33 comments

“Australia’s Woods of Desolation makes metal to metaphor by. The band’s evocative style of blackgaze, preoccupied with the natural world and the passage of time, provokes strong reactions from their small but passionate cadre of fans. The Falling Tide is WoD’s first album since 2014’s As the Stars. That one dropped during what can be called Peak Blackgaze, when outfits like Alcest and especially Deafheaven briefly captivated mainstream audiences and divided the backpatch set with their twinkling takes on metal’s trvest subgenre.” All star gazers.

Hetman – Black Heart Review

By Thus Spoke on December 5, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, 6 comments

“The bucket of solo black metal(-adjacent) projects is seemingly bottomless. Hetman—or alternatively Getman as the two transliterations are interchangeable—were an unknown quantity to me until now. The solo project from Cerberus of equally underground black/death project Demonium, with ex-Demonium member Storm providing session drums, Hetman’s black metal de choix is noteworthy in at least one respect. Rather than opting for an atmospheric, raw, or electronica-fused approach, they favor the folky variety.” Folking the darkness.

Gavran – Indistinct Beacon Review

By Cherd on December 4, 2022 in Reviews, Post-Metal, Sludge, 22 comments

“Submitting a new metal record for review in December is a hard row to hoe. The List Industrial Complex is gaining critical velocity, which means folks in our position are re-listening to the albums that most impressed us over the last 11 months and catching up on the highly regarded albums we haven’t yet heard. Unless you’re bringing your A game – or maybe the A game of a better band than yours – there’s a really good chance your album is going to be underwhelming by contrast. Dutch sludge doom band Gavran boldly present their sophomore full-length Indistinct Beacon this first week of December, the official start of EOY activity.” Indistinct scheduling.

Veilburner – VLBRNR Review

By Kenstrosity on December 3, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 26 comments

“Lurkers in the Capsule of Skull was my 2021 Album o’ the Year. It should’ve been Ferrous Beuller‘s as well, though I suppose it’s easier to forgive him his transgressions since he did award Imperative Imperceptible Impulse his crown. In any case, Lurkers was another installment in an almost unfuckwithable string of killer material from Pennsylvania mind-flayers Veilburner. Their sixth record in a mere eight years of existence, the too-poor-for-vowels VLBRNR, has big shoes to fill to live up to the standard set by Lurkers.” Veils yet unburned.

Celestial Season – Mysterium II Review

By Steel Druhm on December 2, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 23 comments

“After taking some 20 years off, Dutch gothic doom-death act Celestial Season roared back in 2020 with a startingly ambitious comeback album called The Secret Teachings, then followed up in April of this year with Mysterium I. Now just a scant 7 months later they’re back with the second part of a planned trilogy, dropping Mysterium II in time for Christmas stocking stuffing.” Eggnog and seasonal mysteries.

Hammers of Misfortune – Overtaker Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on December 1, 2022 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Thrash Metal, 84 comments

“It’s not easy being John Cobbet, legendary underground guitarist of Vhöl, ex(ish)-Ludicra,] ex-The Lord Weird Slough Feg, and mastermind of Hammers of Misfortune. Along with his long-collaborating partner Sigrid Sheie (also of Vhöl), Cobbet has, at his own pace, pumped out eclectic success after eclectic success with his rotating Hammers crew.” Hammers time.