Emperor

Forteresse – Thèmes pour la Rébellion Review

By El Cuervo on June 15, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Reviews, Sepulchral Productions, Black Metal, 17 comments

“I’m largely done with black metal as it was in Norway in 1993. That raw, lo-fi, stripped-back approach to black metal had its place and developed metal in so many ways but it’s definitely had its time. Bands such as Ulver, Emperor and Enslaved were already beginning to move the sound into unprecedented regions in the mid-late 90s. Now in 2016 it’s rare that I listen to that sort of no frills attached, no genre cross-over, nothing added to that furious, godless formula.” But there are always exceptions.

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!!

Enthean – Priests of Annihilation Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on May 11, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Unsigned Bands, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 17 comments

“Instead of my usual modus operandi of writing something about food and/or beer and relating it to the band and/or record in question, I’m switching things up a bit and kicking this off with mentioning my biggest issue with American melodic black-ish/death-ish crew Enthean’s new full-length Priests of Annihilation. Writing this review, I kept coming back to G.K. Chesterson’s idea that we don’t have a lack of wonders, but a lack of wonder. This record, as I see it, is a reflection of that.” Is technicality the enemy of wonder?

Ihsahn – Arktis. Review

By Angry Metal Guy on April 3, 2016 in 2016, Candlelight, Melodic Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Progressive Metal, Spinefarm, Black Metal, Progressive Metal, 58 comments

“Ihsahn is always in motion. Following a storied career in one of the premier black metal bands of all time, he’s released five full-length albums. Nearly all of those records have been critically acclaimed, but only one has been critically acclaimed by me. While I enjoyed The Adversary, Ihsahn’s post-Emperor zenith was angL. Starting with After, however, Ihsahn started to lose me. What made his earlier material so good—riffs, riffs, more riffs, and slick composition (also riffs)—began to be replaced by increasingly abstract compositions. And when songs like “Scarab” started getting replaced with tracks like “M,” I stopped enjoying new Ihsahn albums. Yet Arktis. marks the next phase for Ihsahn, having finally left the Nihilists behind him.” Praise Zarathustra!

Ragnarok – Psychopathology Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 27, 2016 in 2016, Agonia Records, Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 26 comments

“There really isn’t much more to be said about Ragnarok that hasn’t already been said by our beloved Noctus and Madam X (and the rest of the black metal community). Ragnarok, like Urgehal, are one of the most underrated black metal acts on the planet. Perhaps it’s due to their consistency and unwillingness to fix-what-isn’t-broken that’s kept them from reaching black metal stardom (if “stardom” is actually attainable in this genre).” Consistency is the hobgoblin of great black metal (because it requires hobgoblins).

Hyperion – Seraphical Euphony Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on February 24, 2016 in 2016, Black Lion Productions, Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 71 comments

“Crack a beer and get comfy folks, it’s storytime. Our tale is about a brave group of Swedes who decided to storm the castle of greatness, knowing full well the dangers and hardships they’d face. The lofty standards of age-old records loved worldwide would need to be breached. Our protagonists would need to deftly maneuver within clear and defined stylistic boundaries. These Swedes go by the name Hyperion, and the tome of their triumph is called Seraphical Euphony. Storytime!

Sarpanitum – Blessed Be my Brothers… [Things You Might Have Missed 2015]

By Jean-Luc Ricard on December 18, 2015 in Death Metal, English Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2015, Willowtip, Death Metal, 14 comments

“Sarpanitum is now over a decade old, which is terrifying because it seems like only yesterday that I first stumbled on them in Zero Tolerance magazine’s Death Metal Special Part II (featured alongside yours truly, believe it or not). That was in 2006. Identified as promising UK death metal hopefuls, both they and I have since amply justified that tag with our prolific outputs of… one full-length record each.” Slow and steady wins the death race.

Trivium – Silence in the Snow Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 3, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Roadrunner, Metalcore, 84 comments

“Well, kids, let this be a lesson to you all. Dropping clickbait jokes and fucking too much with the AMG HR department results in the dropping of various hammers. In my case, punishments manifested themselves in the form of name-calling (Steel called me a “Master Baiter”) and a metalcore promo for review.” The core will flow until you praise our new logo.

The 3rd Attempt – Born in Thorns Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 23, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 48 comments

“When I heard Tchort put together a black metal band that combined elements of Carpathian Forest and Blood Red Throne with those of Gorgoroth, Immortal, Bathory, and even Motörhead, I nearly shat myself. After a decade trying to fill the empty crater in my achy-breaky heart with more of Nattefrost’s sadomasochism, I’m stoked to hear the master-behind-the-riffs unleash a sultry combination of all he is; black thrash, blackened rock ‘n’ roll, Scandinavian death, and a variety of surprising twists.” Its time to strap on the assless chaps again and take a run through the forest.

Ninkharsag – The Blood of Celestial Kings Review

By Madam X on May 9, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Candlelight Records, English Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 32 comments

“Reaching the fourth decade of living can be a somewhat stressing time in anyone’s life. Yourself, friends and family start to be affected by an almost insurmountable amount of maladies of body and mind. One may be what could only be defined as chronic musical disappointment.” Will a throwback black metal act trigger the symptoms?