Feb20

Frayle – 1692 Review

By Kenstrosity on February 13, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Aqualamb Records, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, Lay Bare Recordings, Reviews, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, 19 comments

“Ages passed since Cleveland’s Frayle released their debut goth/doom tome-let The White Witch. Evocative of the deep yet as tempting as the light, that little EP was enough to get me all in a tizzy for this new doomed demon. In the year of our Jørn 2020, I finally get the chance to sample the first full batch of this witch’s brew. The formula is the perfect representation of the K.I.S.S. method. Keep It Simple, Stupid.” Room full o’ goth doom.

Angellore – Rien Ne Devait Mourir Review

By Twelve on February 12, 2020 in 2020, Doom Metal, Finisterian Dead End, French Metal, Gothic Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, 20 comments

“Five years is a long time to go between albums. A lot of time to refine a particular sound is often exactly what bands need to put out their most spectacular releases. On the other hand, expectation is a tricky demon, and it bites both ways. For Angellore, a gothic/doom metal band from France, it’s been five years since the release of La Litanie des Cendres, and, I have to admit, my expectations are a bit high for Rien Ne Devait Mourir, Angellore’s third full-length.” More is more.

Suum – Cryptomass Review

By Steel Druhm on February 12, 2020 in 2020, Doom Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Seeing Red Records, Doom Metal, 20 comments

“It’s a new year and I’m already anxious to uncover 2020s version of Fvneral Fvkk. By that I mean a doom album that comes out of nowhere and hits me like a runaway logging truck, leaving me bloodied, battered but impressed. In search of the next unheralded monolith of massiveness, I took a flyer on unsung Italian doom act Suum. Cryptomass is their second album, and you just have to love that witty title.” Suum of all fears.

Godthrymm – Reflections Review

By Grymm on February 12, 2020 in 2020, British Metal, Doom Metal, Profound Lore Records, Reviews, Doom Metal, 54 comments

“Valentine’s Day is normally reserved for lovers. Cards are exchanged, chocolates and red velvety things are consumed, uglies are bumped… Valentine’s Day is a time that romance, passion, and love fill the air. But you know what pairs well with VD? DOOM. Not just any doom metal, mind you, but rather oppressive, downtrodden, and lightless British DOOM, complete with bold typeface and italics. And who better to serve you that kind of doom than not one, but two former members of My Dying Bride?” Heavy love.

Anvil – Legal at Last Review

By GardensTale on February 12, 2020 in 2020, AFM Records, Canadian Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 38 comments

“Not to say Anvil has no semi-classic records to their names, but those were over a dozen albums ago. By now they’ve recorded more than AC/DC, in a shorter time span, yet their sound also shows as much growth as their Australian counterparts. Is the new pro-weed romp another carbon copy or have the fumes brought some inspiration to the geezers?” Anvil is Anvil.

Mitochondrial Sun – Mitochondrial Sun Review

By sentynel on February 11, 2020 in 2020, Argonauta Records, Electronica Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Electronic Metal, Electronica, 14 comments

“Solo projects are an interesting beast. While rarely as successful as their originating bands, done well they can tread new and interesting ground. Done poorly, though, they can end up a pale imitation of the bands they came from. Mitochondrial Sun is the side project of Niklas Sundin, Dark Tranquillity’s long-time guitarist. Fortunately, it falls into the former category. ,b>Mitochondrial Sun is primarily dark instrumental electronic music, largely in the vein of 65daysofstatic, but also forays into modern classical.” Dark new age.

God Dethroned – Illuminati Review

By Ferrous Beuller on February 11, 2020 in 2020, Death Metal, Dutch Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 32 comments

“The unimpeachable philosophy of famed slam poet Robert Conrad Flynn once posited that “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” If we apply the paradigm to extreme metal, the veracity of the statement becomes rather apparent. All of our favorite genres of metal and, indeed, music are fundamentally stale. This isn’t a bitter take, it’s a fact. While we hungrily await the next morsel of genuine innovation, we sate ourselves with interpretations of reliable constants. Dutchmen God Dethroned have been plying our souls with searing melodic death metal for the best part of thirty years. Their oeuvre consists of scorching blackened passages and an adroit use of melody that never sacrifices suffering for seduction.” When consistency attacks.

Dzö-nga – Thunder in the Mountains Review

By Mark Z. on February 11, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Avantgarde Music, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 28 comments

“We all have those times where we look back and say to ourselves ‘what was I thinking?’ That’s kind of how I feel about reviewing Dzö-nga’s second album, The Sachem’s Tales, back in 2017. Today, a folky atmospheric black metal album with classical influences seems so far out of my wheelhouse that it’s not even in the same hemisphere. Yet, I did enjoy my share of Agalloch and Cascadian black metal back in the day, and as such, I was able to appreciate Tales as an inspired and engrossing piece of woodsy black metal with intriguing Native American themes. Led by vocalist and guitarist Cryvas, this Boston project has now returned with another opus, this time based on H.W. Longfellow’s epic poem ‘The Song of Hiawatha.'” Spirits of nature.

Blaze of Perdition – The Harrowing of Hearts Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on February 10, 2020 in 2020, Black Metal, Metal Blade, Polish Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 73 comments

“Hack comedians, when they have nothing of value to say, pepper their routine with profanity and musings about their genitalia to shock the audience into laughter. Metal bands have, fortunately and unfortunately, far more options. Behemoth’s #ILYAYD disaster, and to a lesser degree the middling and overrated The Satanist, showed a band with nothing to say except “please listen to us, we’re still here and iconoclastic – also, buy our dog food!” I bring up Behemoth because, as someone who disliked their last two bloated bores of records for the poor implementation (instead of the existence) of rock influences, Blaze of Perdition does a similar thing but, fortunately, does it well.” The Rock of Judgment.

Suicide Silence – Become the Hunter Review

By Dear Hollow on February 10, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Death Metal, Deathcore, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Death Metal, Deathcore, 25 comments

“If you’re familiar with the deathcore scene of the mid-2000s, then Suicide Silence really needs no introduction. For a band considered -core elite among Hot Topic frequenters everywhere, they have had a roller coaster of a career.” Rise and fall.