Feb20

Deliverance – Holocaust 26:1-46 Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 18, 2020 in 2020, Black Metal, Deadlight Entertainment, French Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Black Metal, Sludge Metal, 27 comments

“Like Amenra, they have the ability to suck you deep into tension-building ascensions before coming down on the front of your skull like a sledgehammer. But, the biggest difference between Amenra and Deliverance is that the latter prefers the accompaniment of rasping vocals and black-metal song structures. Combining this foundation with Amenra-like builds and Gojira-esque, concrete-cracking riffs, 2020 finds Deliverance releasing their most-impressive work to date. But, good luck looking beyond the haunting artwork, the heart-sickening album title, and a band name that reminds one of hillbilly butt sex. Now, everyone, open your books to the chapter of ‘Holocaust’ and let’s begin.” End times.

Isle of the Cross – Excelsis Review

By El Cuervo on February 18, 2020 in 2020, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Rockshots Records, Symphonic Metal, Technical Death Metal, Symphonic Metal, Technical Death Metal, 33 comments

“I admire bands who chance their arm at cracking into peoples’ music rotation, especially where their intent is to chart a new path or weave existing genres in dynamic ways. Enter Jo Schneider and the band he leads called Isle of the Cross. Excelsis is their debut release and promised to be an “enigmatic journey of sonic power.” Enigmatic is the key word as I have been unsuccessful in my efforts to learn more about the band, including the country of origin. Further promoting itself as for fans of Opeth and Symphony X is a bold strategy indeed, so I turned to my first listen with great interest.” Excelsisore!

Xenobiotic – Mordrake Review

By GardensTale on February 17, 2020 in 2020, Australian Metal, Deathcore, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, Unique Leader, Deathcore, Progressive Metal, Technical Death Metal, 130 comments

“Recently a new rule was established in the AMG offices: no more claiming promos more than a month out. Giving everyone equal opportunity makes for more entertaining gladiatorial combat in the Skull Pit, you see. But now it’s become a game for the clever, so I decided to scout the waters ahead in case I needed to be ready to pounce. When I came across a promo by Australian prog-tech-deathcore outfit Xenobiotic, stared at the gorgeous Lewandowski cover and listened to its advance track, I actually set an alarm for the day I could lay claim to it, before Kronos or Ferrous could get their claws into my precious. Because if the rest of Mordrake was as good as the single I sampled, I knew we were dealing with potential Album of the Year material.” Throw it into the fire!

TerrifianT – Terrifiant Review

By Huck N Roll on February 17, 2020 in 2020, Belgian Metal, Gates of Hell Records, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 27 comments

“Nothing lasts forever. Despite having a very sweet opening run to 2020, I knew that I’d come back down to earth. Three ‘very good’ albums in a row, featuring strong songwriting, production, and vocals, was honestly more than I could have hoped for. Eventually, the system will reset itself, and something mundane will drip down the basement pipes to my desk. Enter TerrifianT, who, yes, capitalize that last ‘T.'” Terror with a capital T.

Lucifuge – The One Great Curse Review

By Carcharodon on February 16, 2020 in 2020, Black Metal, German Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 19 comments

“If you are thinking that Lucifuge’s choices of band logo and cover art — not just on this record but on previous outings too — point towards them being fans of the old black metal guard of Venom, Celtic Frost, and Bathory, you’re spot on. And these tastes are reflected, to a significant degree, in the music, too.” Olden evils.

Izthmi – The Arrows of Our Ways Review

By Grymm on February 14, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Black Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Within the Mind Records, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 27 comments

“For today’s examination, we have The Arrow of Our Ways, the debut full-length from Seattle upstarts Izthmi. With a promo blurb that touts a sound that blends black metal with post-rock, noise, and ambient dabblings, you’re probably thinking to yourself one of two things: “Gee, this could actually be pretty cool,” or “Gee, another Deafheaven clone.”” Stop thinking things.

Vision of Choice – Mistress of the Gods Review

By Holdeneye on February 14, 2020 in 2020, German Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, ZOUNDR/Fencesound Music, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 47 comments

“And then a record comes along that takes me right back to that storied past and refills my magic bar to 100%. Mistress of the Gods, the debut album from Germany’s Vision of Choice is one of those records. After close to thirty spins of this 57-minute monster, I’m still trying to come up with the best way to describe what it sounds like. Here’s the best I got: take the masculine riffs and baritone bellows of a band like Omen, mix it with some German speed a la Helloween or Blind Guardian, add some eccentric Savatage flair, and round it out with Mötley Crüe and Van Halen, and you might get close.” Hot pocket o’ metal.

Turia – Degen van Licht Review

By Cherd on February 14, 2020 in 2020, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Dutch Metal, Eisenwald Records, Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 33 comments

“Hailing from the Netherlands, Turia describes Degen van Licht as “an ode to the ageless lure of the unyielding mountains, and an exploration of the sweltering warmth which encompasses these heights every summer.” That doesn’t sound much like the icy forest obsessed second wave, and neither does Degen van Licht” Hot mounds.

Necrowretch – The Ones from Hell Review

By Carcharodon on February 13, 2020 in 2020, Black Metal, Death Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Death Metal, 45 comments

“I tend to steer clear of death metal as a genre. There are two principal reasons for this. First, I don’t really like death metal – the unrelenting nature of the music, coupled with the dying frog vocals, just doesn’t do it for me. Second – and as a function of the first – I don’t know much about it. But, if you stick a ‘blackened’ tag in front of ‘death metal,’ shit, I guess I’ll give it a go. So, French stalwarts Necrowretch, I hope you feel suitably honored by the amateur treatment your fourth full-length, The Ones from Hell, is about to receive.” Death for dummies.

Psychotic Waltz – The God-Shaped Void Review

By Huck N Roll on February 13, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, InsideOut, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 40 comments

“The nostalgia circuit has been around forever, and while it’s fun (sometimes) to see old bands play their decades-old hits in casinos, it’s even more fun when formerly awesome bands reunite and put out new GOOD music. Case in point: Satan, with a 26-year gap between releases – and with a trio of excellent new albums to boot. Psychotic Waltz tried their best to match that, going 24 years between releases here, but with an asterisk: The God-Shaped Void is their first album in 26 years with the original lineup. Take that, Satan!” Not the last Waltz after all.