Enslaved

Enslaved – E Review

By Angry Metal Guy on October 13, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Nuclear Blast, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Black Metal, Progressive Rock, 149 comments

Enslaved is Norway’s biggest and most successful (currently active) metal band. They have garnered a following of intensely loyal fans who adore their every release with the fervor of the newly converted. In fact, I once counted myself a huge fan. There was a string of records that Enslaved released between 2000’s Mardraum: Beyond the Within and 2008’s Vertebrae which are practically unassailable. Not every one of those albums was perfect—Isa and Ruun were both only great records when sat side-by-side the excellent Below the Lights and Vertebrae, but they were consistently addictive listens from a band that could do no wrong. And I, along with everyone else, lathered Axioma Ethica Odini with praise, only to declare it one of my biggest disappointments of the year in 2010. I meh’d the hulking RIITIIR, and ¯\_(ツ)_/¯’d its follow-up In Times, declaring it a testament to the excesses of the modern recording industry. In sum: Enslaved went from being one of my favorite bands in 2008 to being a band whose newest release almost didn’t get reviewed by me. But with all the ranting and raving about how E is the best album they’ve put out in a while, I couldn’t keep myself away.

Sarke – Viige Urh Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 12, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Indie Recordings, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 25 comments

“Well, the cold has begun to settle in. Which means dark, frigid, unforgiving black metal will soon permeate the air of the Grier home. You can expect nothing less than the raw, primitive output of old-school Mayhem, Darkthrone, Enslaved, and Celtic Frost. It’s the right metal for the right season. The kind that you can almost feel blow through the pines as you walk over the fallen needles. The kind ‘Where Cold Winds Blow’ ‘Under a Funeral Moon,’ just ‘(Beyond the) Northern Winds.’ It’s the time of the year where I find myself once again—burrowing under cottonwood leaves until the warm suns of spring arrive to dry them out. So, it’s only fitting that one of my favorite black metal vocalists is back with an October release.” Winterize your ears.

Hexenklad – Spirit of the Stone Review

By Dr. Wvrm on July 29, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, CDN Records, Folk Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 11 comments

“Hailing from the wooded glens of Ontario, Hexenklad come bearing as many cursed furs as their teetering carts can bear. Many will recognize SIG:AR:TYR guitarist Mike Grund, but only those hooked into the Canadian black metal scene may notice frontman Timothy “Voldemort Voldamares” Johnston, former member of the now-defunct Eclipse Eternal and contributor to David Gold tribute Heart of Gold.” From the Great White (Blackened) North.

BardSpec – Hydrogen Review

By Grymm on June 28, 2017 in 2017, By Norse Music, International Metal, Not Metal, Reviews, Ambient, Not Metal, 32 comments

“We here at Angry Metal Guy Unlimited Turbo Duo Deluxe Enterprises take pride in bringing you timely reviews of all things metal. That said, sometimes our heroes will go off the beaten path and create something that’s neither metal nor angry. For instance, Enslaved guitarist Ivar Bjørnson, looking to branch out into different streams of musical consciousness, has put down his guitar in favor of a MacBook. Yes, something ambient has been brewing in his awesome beard, and with the help of Today is the Day’s Steve Austin on guitar and effects, we have the debut BardSpec album, Hydrogen.” Mac attack.

In Tormentata Quiete – Finestatico Review

By GardensTale on June 20, 2017 in 2017, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Italian Metal, My Kingdom Music, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Black Metal, Symphonic Metal, 24 comments

“I don’t know any bands that sound quite like In Tormentata Quiete. The vocals are the heart and soul of the band, but where this often indicates an accessible band with a single, capable vocalist, ITQ uses everything but the kitchen sink in its range of styles. Two equally capable ladies bring harmonic symphonies that without context might have befitted a progressive Nightwishcore band, but here they balance out Marco Vitals. The only male listed in the vocal department, I am forced to conclude this one man is responsible for the grandiose, operatic clean vocals, the hushed whisper of the spoken sections, the occasional guttural growl, and the absolutely caustic black metal screech.” Many tongues, few spit-ups.

Svart Crown – Abreaction Review

By Roquentin on March 4, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Century Media, Death Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 32 comments

“‘Malevolence.’ That word resonated through my mind as I listened to the fourth full-length by French death/black outfit Svart Crown. A word so mundane and exploited in adjective-laden reviews that it appears frivolous when used to describe metal. Yet, when Abreaction is concerned, the seeping and creeping feeling suggested by the word seems almost palpable, venturing beyond just a cool appellation and into territories of real unease.” You merely adopted the evil.

Helheim – landawarijaR Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 13, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Viking Metal, Black Metal, Viking Metal, 35 comments

“I think everyone feels a little relief when a year comes to an end. I’m not quite sure why this is—considering that January 1st is just as busy as December 31st—but the phenomenon is real. Be it my real job or my fake one, there’s plenty to get done before the year’s end. Between grading and submitting them, there was still the task of cataloging promos this year’s records and preparing for the Season of Lists.” AMG is the ONLY job!

Draugsól – Volaða Land Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 10, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Death Metal, Icelandic Metal, Reviews, Signal Rex, Black Metal, Death Metal, 14 comments

“It’s no secret that—following a legacy now two decades old—black metal is synonymous with Scandinavia. For most, this refers to Norway and Sweden, but, depending on who you ask, this may also include Finland and Iceland. Regardless if these countries meet the rules for the “Scandinavia” tag, they have a plethora of black metal bands, with legacies all their own. And I thank that goat-headed deity for that.” Feeling Scandinavia, looking frozen tundra.

Violet Cold – Magic Night Review

By Treble Yell on December 4, 2016 in 2016, Azerbaijan Metal, Black Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Tridroid Records, Post-Metal, 40 comments

“If you had said to me that an experimental, one-man shoegaze black metal album would end up as one of the best releases of the year, I would’ve replied with ‘Who are you and what are you doing in my home?’ Incredulity would twist the contours of my face as I struggled to reconcile that such a combination could come together so beautifully, stripping away my defenses and pouring itself into every exposed cavity.” Dental metal?

Black Hole Generator – A Requiem for Terra Review

By Madam X on November 14, 2016 in 2016, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 7 comments

“Give this some thought for a second: you’re putting together a black metal dream team, who would it include? I wonder how many of you would arrive at noted producer and Vulture Industries’ frontman – Bjørnar E. Nilsen, and guitar aficionados Arve Isdal (Enslaved, I, Audrey Horne) and Gjermund Fredheim (Taake, Orkan).” Super groups doing stranger things.