Feb19

Deserted Fear – Drowned by Humanity Review

By Kronos on February 11, 2019 in 2019, Century Media, German Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 74 comments

“When I think “German death metal,” I usually think of names like Muhammed Suiçmez, Lille Gruber, and Christian Münzner. Innovators in technicality and brutality, all three of them have left their mark on metal despite the drowsy German death metal scene. Every so often though, the sleeping snore, and the cause of the rumble today is a different trio with a different take on death metal. Deserted Fear pay homage to their boreal neighbors via a chunky synthesis of Björriffs and Viking simplicity, and even if their fourth album, Drowned by Humanity¸ won’t awaken Teutonic death metal, it stirs the body enough to delay a death pronouncement.” Oh, the Humanity.

Critical Defiance – Misconception Review

By Angry Metal Guy on February 8, 2019 in 2019, Chilean Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Unspeakable Axe Records, Thrash Metal, 41 comments

“Critical Defiance have learned well from their predecessors, but they are a modern thrash band with a few new thoughts, two Felipes, and a zillion riffs.” A Nameless N00b is here to regale you with a story about Chilean “retro” thrash that isn’t retro, but is definitely thrash.

Blue Hummingbird on the Left – Atl Tlachinolli Review

By Lokasenna on February 8, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Black Metal, Crepúsculo Negro, Iron Bonehead Productions, Nuclear War Now! Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, 185 comments

“Blue Hummingbird is a quartet of musicians billing themselves as the War Chapter (natch) of LA music collective Black Twilight Circle, a darling bunch of indigenous-blooded Hispanic musicians dedicated to speaking evil truth to power, in this case the colonialism that so decimated their ancestors’ cultures. Fucking shit up along the way is obviously a plus. However, where other members of BTC have released albums, Blue Hummingbird have released only an EP and contributions to splits across a near-decade career, all to substantial buzz.” Fire birds.

The Ghost Next Door – A Feast for the Sixth Sense Review

By Huck N Roll on February 8, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Ripple Music, Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, Stoner Metal, 68 comments

“Please take a moment with me to enjoy the hell out of that album cover. It’s a thing of beauty, to be sure, and one can read many things into it about the music it might conceal: vibrant, complex, and eerie, to start with. And while the cover may not be A Feast for the Sixth Sense, it’s certainly a feast for the eyes.” Dead next door.

Herman Frank – Fight the Fear Review

By Steel Druhm on February 7, 2019 in 2019, AFM Records, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 35 comments

“Herman Frank made his metal bones by playing guitar alongside Wolf Hoffman on Accept’s early and influential albums like Restless and Wild and Balls to the Wall. He then took a decades-long hiatus, returning for the band’s first few post-Udo albums before decamping once again to helm his eponymous project. His solo output hasn’t fallen far from the Accept tree, but always steered closer to classic hard rock ideas and formulas. This rock influence became more prominent on 2016s The Devil Rides Out, and the trend continues on fourth outing, Fight the Fear.” Fear is the mindkiller.

Saor – Forgotten Paths Review

By El Cuervo on February 7, 2019 in 2019, Avantgarde Music, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Reviews, Scottish Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 254 comments

“Cometh the new year, cometh the folksy, atmospheric black metal proclaiming itself as the trvest example of native culture in heavy metal. Unlike most of the talentless hacks wielding an electric guitar, penny whistle, and swastika flag who operate out of their mothers’ houses, Saor can legitimately boast some of the greatest music in this genre and represent one of the best new metal bands from the 2010s.” Saor feelings.

Electrocution – Psychonolatry Review

By Saunders on February 7, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, Goregorecords, Italian Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 24 comments

“Electrocution emerged from a lengthy hibernation to drop their 2014 comeback album Metaphysincarnation, recharging the batteries for contemporary times. The album was a solid update from their early roots, taking a darker, more technical turn while boasting a cleaner modern sound. Despite being impressed by Metaphysincarnation at the time, I admit to rarely revisiting the album during the past five or so years. Yet my curiosity about another Electrocution album spiked when I spotted Psychonolatry in the promo dump. Coming off a monumental year of deathly delights, can the old dogs muster a mean enough bark for their gestating third LP?” Don’t pull the plug.

Maestus – Deliquesce Review

By Cherd on February 6, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Code666 Records, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Death Doom, Doom Metal, Funeral Doom, 96 comments

“Funeral doom is the cilantro of the metal world. Those who like it tend to love it. Others wonder why anyone would want to ~~eat a little leaf that tastes like soap~~ listen to a twenty-minute song with four beats per minute. On the occasions it’s reviewed here, there are usually a few predictable cries from the peanut gallery of “Only listened to 30 seconds! Why this boring? Me want fast!” That’s right. I made you sound like Cookie Monster.” C is for Cookie and it’s better than you deserve.

Downfall of Gaia – Ethic of Radical Finitude Review

By Mark Z. on February 6, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, German Metal, Metal Blade, Post-metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 115 comments

“Downfall of Gaia hit me hard in recent years, blowing me away with 2014’s Aeon Unveils the Thrones of Decay and 2016’s Atrophy. Both albums explored the idea of a world in decline with a combination of post-metal and black metal that proudly upheld the torch of the almighty (and sadly defunct) Altar of Plagues. Yet fifth full-length Ethic of Radical Finitude initially made me nervous due to its somewhat pretentious title and the fear that the German quartet had no tricks left in the bag.” Is the downfall upon us?

Ad Patres – A Brief Introduction to Human Experiments Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on February 6, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Xenokorp Records, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 54 comments

“A hacky joke that everyone can relate to is the excruciating process of picking a restaurant with a woman who’s okay with ‘anywhere.’ ‘No, I don’t feel like tacos.’ ‘No, I had red meat two days ago and that’s a steakhouse.’ ‘We went there two months ago, I want something new.’ ‘It’s not called The B.K. Lounge, it’s Burger King, and we’re not going there.’ Repeat ad infinitum, or at least ad fame. Before we get too comfy on our high horse (or eat it on a pizza, which is shockingly delicious), metalheads generally are the same way.” Delicious like horse pizza?