Feb19

Cold Colours – Northernmost Review

Cold Colours – Northernmost Review

“It’s at times like these—wherein I pick up something from the promo bin of a genre which I haven’t visited in a while—that I am reminded of my indiscriminate taste in metal. In this instance I have selected Northernmost, the fifth installment of atmospheric death-doom from Minneapolis quintet Cold Colours. This will be my first foray into Cold Colours’ music, and my hope was that Northernmost could light a fire within me to check out everything the band released over their over-20-year span.” Terminal ennui.

Continuum – Designed Obsolescence Review

Continuum – Designed Obsolescence Review

“The internet has created an interesting world where, no matter how esoteric what you do or like is, someone else is doing or enjoying the very same thing. On the one hand, this is great; it’s easier than ever to get recommendations on obscure Brazilian goregrind bands, because there’s a small online community devoted to just that. On the other hand, it’s a bit haunting to some types of people to be not whatsoever original in their tastes.” Fetish-tech.

Candlemass – The Door to Doom Review

Candlemass – The Door to Doom Review

“It’s interesting to watch things come full circle with Candlemass. Having helped reboot doom metal in the 80s with their excellent Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, the band launched a career spanning several decades. While their output varied in quality over the years, they are rightfully considered a legendary doom band. 2012s Psalms for the Dead was supposed to be their swan song, and founder Leif Edling has since kept busy with his Avatarium and Krux projects. The urge to reform his original band proved too great however, and for this reunion Leif even managed to dig up original vocalist Johan Langquist, who hasn’t done anything since Epicus Doomicus.” Doom at your door.

Dead Witches – The Final Exorcism Review

Dead Witches – The Final Exorcism Review

“The years have not been kind to Electric Wizard. After the monumental fuzz-fest Dopethrone, the band’s quality has slowly scooted downhill, owing allegedly to drama behind the scenes causing the band to coast endlessly. Drummer Mark Greening left after a high-strung tour in 2003 and, though he briefly rejoined in the early 2010s, in the end he decided to follow his heart to greener pastures. This quest ended with the founding of Dead Witches, whose sophomore slab of burly stoner-doom lands this month.” Which witch?

Basilysk – Emergence Review

Basilysk – Emergence Review

“The word “emerge” comes with sinister connotations. Think about where things emerge from: the fog, underneath things, out of the shadows and darkness. For Philadelphia quartet Basilysk, their debut full-length comes after almost a decade of honing their craft in obscurity with a series of demos.” Does Emergence find this independent Philly act emerging from the crowd?

Opprobrium – The Fallen Entities Review

Opprobrium – The Fallen Entities Review

“Opprobrium actually started life as Incubus. No, not the band whose name you were cursing the 10,000th time you heard “Drive” on the radio back in 2002—this Incubus was an early American death-thrash group who drew comparisons to Sepultura with their two classic albums, 1988’s Serpent Temptation and 1990’s Beyond the Unknown. Brothers and founding members Moyses and Francis Howard even share Sepultura’s Brazilian heritage and were inspired to write a third album after a trip to their homeland in 1999.” Beast from the past.

Wachenfeldt – The Interpreter Review

Wachenfeldt – The Interpreter Review

“Hello, Friend. Are you still feeling sad because the latest Behemoth didn’t quite tickle your fancy? Are you experiencing anxiety and depression because you’re worried that your occult-themed music isn’t truly glorifying the Evil One? Are you craving some sinister blackened death metal with a heaping helping of thrash, Crowleyan lyrics, and some tasteful symphonic accompaniment? Then ask your Angry Metal Preferred Network Dr. if Wachenfeldt is right for you. Its proprietary blend of the aforementioned genres is specifically formulated to blacken your soul and to ensure that you’ve never feldt better!” A doctorate in death.

Onirophagus – Endarkenment (Illumination Though Putrefaction) Review

Onirophagus – Endarkenment (Illumination Though Putrefaction) Review

“Think of an album as a multi-course meal; many of them give bite-sized but satisfying nutrient-packed portions that not only leave you satisfied, but definitely give you a craving for more. However, a scant few offer just meager tastes of what’s to come, oftentimes leaving the listener malnourished and starving, begging for just another bite. Finally, some bands give you monstrous servings, packed with calories, nutrients, and sometimes things you don’t want to ingest under any circumstances whatsoever, stuffing you full as you’re screaming, “No, please stop… I can’t eat anymore… I’m gonna explode…” and then they keep feeding you well past the point of explosion.” It’s waffer thin!

Vanir – Allfather Review

Vanir – Allfather Review

“What got you here won’t be what gets you there. Vanir know a bit about that. After three doots on the folk metal flute, the Danes bulked up with 2016’s Aldar Rök, adding another axe to the ever-growing Viking metal hordes. I always applaud a pivot; if you’re not improving, you’re dying. But with Vanir’s first attempt not exactly summoning my Bifrost, my expectations for Allfather are tempered.” Northern haze.