German Metal

The Unity – The Unity Review

The Unity – The Unity Review

By Treble Yell on May 4, 2017 in 2017, German Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, SPV, Steamhammer, Melodic Metal, Power Metal, 16 comments

“The Unity know a thing or two about history, two of its members having kicked tires in Gamma Ray for a spell, but the trip down memory that is their self-titled debut goes further than their own stomping grounds and offers an experience akin to a boisterous evening catching up with those legendary veterans. But this isn’t Just Another German Power Metal Band (JÄGPMB), as beneath the glossy Teutonic shell twitches layers of classic acts such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and – perhaps unsurprisingly – Helloween.” Who wants Jäger bombs?

Farsot – Fail.lure Review

Farsot – Fail.lure Review

By Akerblogger on April 22, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, German Metal, Prophecy Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, 29 comments

“Farsot are a peculiar entity. Extravagantly cryptic conceptual themes are as just as important to them as their unusual experimental black-metal sound. This German quintet is drenched in mystery, consisting of bandmembers with names that roll off the tongue with sensual ease. Vocalist 10.XIXt, guitarists Pi: 1T 5r and 3818.w, bassist v.03/170, and drummer R 215k combine to paint an avant-garden of musical eden for fans of eccentricity and unpredictability.” The garden is getting a little wild.

Hexer – Cosmic Doom Ritual Review

Hexer – Cosmic Doom Ritual Review

By Akerblogger on April 17, 2017 in 2017, Doom Metal, German Metal, Reviews, Vendetta Records, Doom Metal, 11 comments

“The titillating album title Cosmic Doom Ritual jumped out at me for being both a bluntly simple title and one that I expected would lead me into the atmospheric realm of my dreams. Each word stood out and beckoned me. Cosmic: I love all things space — Darkspace, Mare Cognitum, and Midnight Odyssey; Doom: I love all things, well, doom; Ritual: I love anything reminiscent of the primal sound of early Neurosis and Isis. These three things combined made me froth at the mouth like a dog with rabies.” Into the void with rabid dogs.

Angry White Elephant – Vs. The Wooden Cobra Review

Angry White Elephant – Vs. The Wooden Cobra Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on April 14, 2017 in 2017, German Metal, Nu-metal, Reviews, Woodhouse Records, Nu Metal, 61 comments

“Being a grown adult capable of reading books written for adults instead of fawning over ones written for preteens, it pains me to reference Harry Potter but here goes: remember when Jelly Belly made those Harry Potter jelly beans with gross flavors? Vomit, snot, and things like that were inexplicably put into candy form, and of course I ate every bad flavor; sometimes subjecting yourself to gross and tasteless things is thrilling and enticing. Which brings us to Angry White Elephant’s debut vs. The Wooden Cobra…” Always bet on Cobra.

Stormage – Dead of Night Review

Stormage – Dead of Night Review

By Huck N Roll on April 4, 2017 in 2017, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Massacre Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 14 comments

“I recently read an article stating cheese is good for you. Immediately I called up our promo list for March and scoured the piles of black metal releases for some suitable power metal. With Cellador spoken for (and spoken of), I grabbed what I hoped would be the next best thing: Dead of Night, the third album (but first in ten years, thus their anonymity) from Germanic power metallers Stormage. Which I pronounce the same way I say fromage, which of course is French for cheese.” When cheddar attacks.

Venenum – Trance of Death Review

Venenum – Trance of Death Review

By Roquentin on March 19, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Death Metal, German Metal, Reviews, Sepulchral Voice Records, Black Metal, Death Metal, 70 comments

“A lone cello sings a mournful melody in a minor key. Fluttering piano touches accentuate the subtle tremolando strings. The folksy piece develops patiently, oscillating between an ambient sort of vagueness and a nervous incisiveness. While the surprising first two and a half minutes of Bavaria’s Venenum’s full-length début Trance of Death stand in contrast with the carnage that will follow, they are also perfect archetypes of the eclecticism and compositional strength of the release as a whole.” Carnage before cello, never mellow. Cello before carnage, happy carcass.

Lunar Shadow – Far From Light Review

Lunar Shadow – Far From Light Review

By Steel Druhm on March 19, 2017 in 2017, Cruz Del Sur, Epic Metal, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 55 comments

“Nostalgia is a part of life, as inescapable as death, taxes and back hair. In moderation it’s a wistful and harmless reminder of happy times and precious moments. Taken to extremes however, it becomes ABBA-centric musicals and ironical Hipster Hell (i.e. Williamsburg, Brooklyn). The biggest problem with throwback/retro nostalgia-core is the fact it must forever look backward at what’s already been done, rarely managing to inject modern ideas or sensibilities into the mix. Flying in the face of this truism, Lunar Shadow boldly strides out of Germany with a new take on living in the past.” A retro twofer? Everyone loves a bargain.

Vendetta – The 5th Review

Vendetta – The 5th Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on February 27, 2017 in 2017, German Metal, Massacre Records, Releases, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 65 comments

“Vendetta is a very old and very German band, with their full-length debut being released back in 1987. Like one particularly moronic German who took it upon himself to draw the dumbest conclusions out of philosophy’s oeuvre humanly possible, Vendetta really like the idea of Violent Revolution.” Who doesn’t like the idea of some vintage Kreator?