Ghost

Ghost Avenue – Impact Review

Ghost Avenue – Impact Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 26, 2017 in 2017, Heavy Metal, Norwegian Metal, Pitch Black Records, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 16 comments

“It goes without saying that to enjoy music reviewing, you have to also enjoy the discovery and research of an album just as much as writing about it. And that doesn’t mean just the good records from your favorite bands. It means every album you get your hands on. But, even if I could review just the good records and albums from my favorite groups, I’m not sure I would want to. I have to say, while I love reviewing records from my go-to groups, there’s something fun and stress-free about grabbing a record from an unknown band. It’s like watching the World Series between two teams you don’t care about.” Zero drama metal.

Aenaon – Hypnosophy Review

Aenaon – Hypnosophy Review

By Grymm on December 1, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Code666 Records, Greek Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 38 comments

“It’s not often that AMG Himself and I get into an online kerfluffle about a review. See, I do my best to grab promos from bands I’ve never heard of, hoping that my curiosity turns me on to some great music. For the most part, it succeeds. But there comes a time when Señor AMG gets a taste of a band you’re reviewing and goes completely ga-ga over it.” When AMG attacks.

Spellcaster – Night Hides the World Review

Spellcaster – Night Hides the World Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on June 30, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 59 comments

“I have many friends that share my exquisite taste in music. If this were not the case, I would not have stumbled across Spellcaster and their newest release, Night Hides the World. Suggested to me by a member of War Curse, Spellcaster is a purveyor of the simple and the accessible. Fusing six-string details with strong vocals, these Portlanders combine Iron Maiden-esque hooks with Ghost-ish melody.” Metal friends beat Super Friends any day.

Cadaveric Fumes – Dimensions Obscure Review

Cadaveric Fumes – Dimensions Obscure Review

By Grymm on April 29, 2016 in 2016, Blood Harvest Records, Death Metal, Doom Metal, French Metal, Occult Rock, Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Occult Rock, 15 comments

“I have to get something off my chest here, folks. I’m getting sick and tired of bands hopping on the Retro Wagon of Regurgitated Ideas. There is more to doom metal than following the dragged robes of Ghost everywhere. Likewise, death metal has a beautifully disgusting range outside of the classic Sunlight Studios sound. And there’s more to France than fucked-up angular weirdness. So what’s a new band like France’s Cadaveric Fumes to do when trying to capture a unique sound? Take all three overplayed, over-saturated ideas, and combine them on their first three-song EP, Dimensions Obscure, that’s what! Surely, this is a recipe for disaster?” Let my people retro!

King Goat – Conduit Review

King Goat – Conduit Review

By Angry Metal Guy on March 23, 2016 in 2016, Doom Metal, English Metal, Epic Metal, Reviews, Unsigned Bands, Doom Metal, 44 comments

“King Goat hails from the mid-sized English city Brighton, the embodied karmic inverse of the Great Storm of 1703. Conduit, the band’s debut album, is a self-released album that they call “progressive doom metal.” The record consists of 5 long songs, is 42 minutes long and marks the band’s first release since two EPs from 2013. Most readers here are aware that I am not an epic consumer of doom metal, but Conduit spoke to me immediately. This band of Britons have crafted an album which successfully blends dark atmosphere, soaring vocals, ponderous builds, and an epic feel that compels a listener forward.” Candlemass-core no more!

Arcana 13 – Danza Macabra Review

Arcana 13 – Danza Macabra Review

By Steel Druhm on March 2, 2016 in 2016, Aural Music, Italian Metal, Occult Rock, Occult Rock, 28 comments

“AMG Himself likes to use helpful descriptors to mark band promos on the master spreadsheet so the staff knows what’s what. Having never heard of Arcana 13, my eyes were drawn to his cursory note describing them simply as “Ghost-core.” With my interest thusly piqued I gave Danza Macabra a spin and as advertised, it’s somewhat Ghost-y occult rock, but they make things more interesting by dialing up the heaviness and incorporating a good amount of Khemmis-esque stoner doom along with weird Danzig and Tiamat-isms.” From the crypt comes…monster riffs!

Brimstone Coven – Black Magic Review

Brimstone Coven – Black Magic Review

By Grymm on January 28, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Doom Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, 25 comments

“Oh, Ghost… what have you brought upon us? Since the masked Swedes hit paydirt with their patented brand of Scooby-Doobie Doom™ via Opus Eponymous back in 2010, there’s been an influx of retro-rockin’ stoner doom bands looking to drive their own Mystery Machines™ over well-navigated roads. Granted, for each one that wows us, there are several more that we wish would just go away. Those meddling little brats! I would have gotten away with it if not for them.

Ketzer – Starless Review

Ketzer – Starless Review

By Mark Z. on January 20, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, 16 comments

“There are several unassailable truths in heavy metal. A brutal death metal concert will always smell like garbage and unwashed socks. The wait for a new Necrophagist album will always be the metal blogosphere’s running joke. And when a band experiences some commercial and critical success after employing a fresh sound, you can bet your Ghost buttplug there will be a slew of imitators there to jump on the bandwagon and catch whatever stray dollars they can.” And that brings us to the flavor of the day.