Dimmu Borgir

Aeternam – Ruins of Empires Review

By GardensTale on February 25, 2017 in 2017, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Uncategorized, Symphonic Metal, 67 comments

“Us no-wage slaves ceaselessly cranking the almighty Angry Metal Guy Patented Review Mill (patent pending) usually have the choice between handing a review in at least 12 days before release or receiving 50 lashes and a metalcore promo. But now and then, the brutal roar of Steel Druhm’s voice comes through the trap door above, barking orders to review a promo that has already been released but is so good it still requires a write-up, lest the unwashed masses find themselves missing out. Such was the case with Aeternam’s latest opus, Ruins of Empires.” Sand, Steel and slave labor.

Infernal Angels – Ars Goetia Review

By GardensTale on January 17, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Death Metal, Italian Metal, My Kingdom Music, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 11 comments

“Expectations can be an odd thing when dealing with hybrid genres. The more genres descriptors added to the band’s tag, the harder it gets to form a view of what you’re going to listen to, and it doesn’t just apply to blackened melodic industrigothic deathfolk. Take Infernal Angels, now releasing their 4th album in 15 years. Various sources I checked listed the band as melodic black metal, melodic black/death metal, or plain black/death metal.” Get in your pigeonhole!

Balfor – Black Serpent Rising Review

By Steel Druhm on January 11, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Death Metal, Drakkar Productions, Reviews, Ukrainian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, 16 comments

“Way back in 2011 I was pleasantly surprised by a little known Ukrainian blackened death act called Balfor. So much so that I wrote a Things You Might Have Missed for their sophomore outing Barbaric Blood. Their highly effective fusion of Immortal-riffs and In Flames guitar virtuosity really got to me and though it wasn’t very original, it left me looking forward to hearing more from them. It took over five years for them to resurface and they do so with a radically different line up with only founder Thorgeir Berserk returning, but Black Serpent Rising is finally here.” Snake bite, on my leg!

Dark Portrait – A Harrowing Atrocity Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 15, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Gothic Metal, Greek Metal, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Xperiment XIII, Black Metal, Gothic Metal, Symphonic Metal, 23 comments

“It was with great reluctance that I took Dark Portrait’s A Harrowing Atrocity for review. It’s nothing against the band, but with the end of the year deadlines looming, TYMHM articles to write, and a top-ten list to hash out, there is little time for those unfortunate albums whose label thought it appropriate to release in the blackest month of the year.” From the promo dead pit comes…blackness.

Devilment – II – The Mephisto Waltzes Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 24, 2016 in 2016, English Metal, Gothic Metal, Groove Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Gothic Metal, Groove Metal, 47 comments

“Though Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth continue to deliver some decent material, I struggle to find that initial pleasure I once felt with releases like Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, Spiritual Black Dimensions, Dusk and Her Embrace, and Cruelty and the Beast. And, for the most part, I had a falling out with both bands. But, I recently discovered a musical venture of Dani Filth’s I had no idea existed—one that I am rather enjoying.” If you can’t have the King, at least you can wallow in Filth.

Ars Moriendi – Sepelitur Alleluia Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 18, 2016 in 2016, Archaic Sound, Black Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 48 comments

“The only thing I knew going into Ars Moriendi was that this black metal outfit is from France. which means they’re probably weird as shit. But, being the fan I am of Spektr, Reverence, and Blut aus Nord, I wasn’t too worried. So, not expecting anything novel, I put in my buds and fired up Sepelitur Alleluia. And, oh lordy, I was taken by surprise. It turns out there is more to Ars Moriendi than meets the eye (or ear).” French black metal is weird, and their wine is okay too.

Noctem – Haeresis Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 3, 2016 in 2016, Art Gates Records, Black Metal, Death Metal, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Spanish Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, 29 comments

“Boy, does Noctem bring back memories. Back in 2014, Exilium was one of the better albums I reviewed. A lot of this had to do with the fact that I was a n00b in 2014 (Exilium being one of the first reviews I ever wrote for AMG). But, even so, it stuck with me for the rest of the year. So, you can imagine the excitement and nostalgia I felt when this newest album, Haeresis, showed up in my inbox.” Reflections of a semi-former n00b.

Epica – The Holographic Principle Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on September 20, 2016 in 2016, Dutch Metal, Eurocore, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Eurocore, Symphonic Metal, 94 comments

“The cultish devotion to contemplating endless variations of Descartes’s “evil demon” question mixed with Hume’s ridiculous skepticism has led some philosophers to seriously contemplate if saying “I have hands” is a valid assertion because we can’t definitively prove that we’re not just brains in vats (BIVs) imagining the whole world, our hands included. Somehow this line of thought is still taken seriously, and it’s given us plenty. It’s given us proof positive that if your philosophy abandons Aristotle and Aquinas, it’s going to be terrible. It gave us The Matrix; a good action flick. It’s also given us a record based around wondering whether our world is actually just an elaborate VR simulation in the form of Epica’s The Holographic Principle.” To glee or not to glee.

Ancient – Back to the Land of the Dead Review

By Lord Lucan on September 18, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Greek Metal, Italian Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Soulseller Records, Black Metal, 60 comments

“I find black metal deeply polarizing. While helplessly captivated by the cold, desolate aura of much of the genre’s higher quality output, I also find myself mind-numbingly frustrated when magnificent records are in my view ruined by intentionally dreadful production, sounding as though they were recorded not in a studio but rather in a metal bin at the bottom of a distant lake (Transilvanian Hunger anyone?). Founded in Bergen in the early nineties by frontman Aphazel, the aptly-named Ancient have been diligently plying their trade for almost a quarter of a century now, establishing a back catalogue of uncharacteristically lush-sounding black metal and recruiting a small but loyal following along the way.” Old and cold, or old and bold?

Elderblood – Messiah Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on May 25, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Osmose Productions, Reviews, Ukrainian Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 10 comments

“I used to live near a funny little Polish deli, and my mother would often buy meats from there because Poland seems to do quite well in that area, especially sausage. I don’t recall my experiences in that place very well (I was probably about ten the last time I was there), but it’s apparently common knowledge that you weren’t exactly treated wonderfully there unless you were obviously Polish. Sounds like a bit of a strange business strategy, but I suppose the free market can always use innovation, no matter how small or eccentric. Elderblood hails from Ukraine, but judging by how they sound on their second full-length Messiah, they could waltz right into that deli and get lavished with attention and sausages.” Raining Sausage!!