Gojira

Hypno5e – A Distant (Dark) Source Review

Hypno5e – A Distant (Dark) Source Review

By GardensTale on November 30, 2019 in 2019, French Metal, Pelagic Records, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, 21 comments

“Genres are one of the most contentious features of music in general, and metal in particular, considering the wide sprawl of sub-subtypes we have dug around ourselves. I won’t dive into the deeper discussion about the merits of this labyrinthine web here, but I will make the case for ‘cinematic metal’ to be the most useless genre tag in the metalverse. Bands ranging from power metal to black metal and everything in between have laid claim to it, and the argumentation for it rarely stretches beyond ‘there’s a story in the lyrics.’” Sourcing a feeling.

Messora – The Door Review

Messora – The Door Review

By Dear Hollow on October 17, 2019 in 2019, Canadian Metal, Groove Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Technical Death Metal, Groove Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Progressive Rock, 24 comments

“I don’t know what makes something “avant-garde.” I remember going to an avant-garde art museum in Santa Fe, NM, where there was a movie exhibit of a haircut. Literally, two men and one woman get an identical buzzed haircut in the shade of a gazebo in the mountains of China. There’s new age music plucking around back there, walls are lined with identical shots of their new haircuts, and shadow boxes of locks of hair covered the floor. It was weird and challenging and difficult to understand, but I think about it a lot. So, if that’s what’s avant-garde, Messora ain’t it.” Hammer, don’t hurt ’em.

Horror God – Cursed Seeds Review

Horror God – Cursed Seeds Review

By Dear Hollow on September 26, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, Lavadome Records, Technical Death Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 13 comments

“This brings us to today’s topic of discussion: Ulcerate, who also really likes to generalize. Like, if Everything is Fire, are they really The Destroyers of All? The real questions, man. Russian death metal quintet Horror God really likes Ulcerate. I mean, when you first listened to Everything is Fire, were you like “let’s make a cover band of Ulcerate” to your comrades? Cuz Horror God was.” Grow your idols.

Eradikator – Obscura Review

Eradikator – Obscura Review

By Huck N Roll on August 2, 2019 in 2019, British Metal, Divebomb Records, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 25 comments

“I grabbed this album for one reason, and one reason only: the band name. Here in Canada, at least, one can’t help see the word Eradikator and think of this timeless skit from national treasures Kids in the Hall. I’d never heard of these swaggering Brits prior to seeing their name pop up in my promo feed, so I didn’t know that Obscura is their third album this decade and that they fancy themselves a pure heavy metal band whose music will ‘make even the most hardened ears hemorrhage liquid steel.'” Feel the steel.

Vous Autres – Champ du Sang Review

Vous Autres – Champ du Sang Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on April 8, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Sleeping Church Records, Sludgelord Records, Black Metal, 126 comments

“‘Dark’ is my thing. Dark dreams, dark thoughts, and dark music make me who I am. For most that know me, this comes as no surprise. For those that think you know me: surprise! But, as of late, my dark place has become a living hell. I could always escape there when things got tough and it was a place I could go to avoid judgment from this pathetic, untrusting world. But, four months ago, things turned real dark. Too dark. And the little room in my head wasn’t dark enough to handle it.” Dark music for dark minds.

Lahmia – Resilience Review

Lahmia – Resilience Review

By Dr. Wvrm on January 16, 2019 in 2019, Italian Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Melodic Death Metal, 69 comments

“Melodeath that does literally anything different will always catch my eye, so Lahmia’s progressive, occasionally gothic, always interesting take on the genre was very welcome. But seven long years later, the Italians only now submit a second entry for consideration. The layoff brings changes, including a revamped sound that plays with fire given the exceptional strengths of their previous output. But if there’s justice in the world, Resilience will pull enough the tricks out of their sleeve to wow you.” Rise or fall?

The EP, Demo, and Oddity Post [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

The EP, Demo, and Oddity Post [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By El Cuervo on January 2, 2019 in 2018, American Metal, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Dutch Metal, Hardcore, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Speed Metal, Swedish Metal, Technical Death Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Ukrainian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Electronic Metal, Hardcore, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Rock, Speed Metal, Technical Death Metal, 146 comments

“As a younger man I had no concept of the “EP,” nor the “demo,” nor the “split.” When was the last time Iron Maiden had to curb their excesses by squashing ideas into half an hour? When were Judas Priest not able to afford a professional recording studio and production job? And when’s that Metallica/Megadeth split due again? Such formats are reserved for the underdogs of the metal world, those bubbling beneath the surface of popularity who write music for the sheer creative expression and who will never see monetary reward for their time and effort.” Short is sweet.

Aseitas – Aseitas [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

Aseitas – Aseitas [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Kronos on December 8, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Death, Reviews, Simian Song Records, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Death Metal, 55 comments

“The feeling that we’ve heard it all before has never been so persistent. A decade ago it was stagnant melodeath, then re-thrash, then retro doom, and now we’re in the middle of a burly old-school death metal revival. Where are the progressive bands willing to try something new and write the next chapter? The snarky answer: “ripping off Pink Floyd and Yes.” But there are others. One such contender, Portland’s Aseitas dropped one of the most puzzling death metal releases of the year with their self-titled debut.” New horizons, strange vistas.

Unearth – Exctinction(s) Review

Unearth – Exctinction(s) Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on November 19, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Century Media, Metalcore, Reviews, Metalcore, 43 comments

“I’ve always liked Unearth’s style of metalcore, which I first encountered on the genre classic The Oncoming Storm. That’s their high-water mark for me, and the sound of Americanized Swedish melo-death with the breakdowns of metalcore hit both the melodic and kinetic sweet spots. Yes, structurally it was predictable; you could bet successfully that if there was a chugging bit then a melodic one was right around the corner or vice versa, but it worked like gangbusters. The more Unearth adheres to their established sound, in my view, the better.” Stay in your lane!