Green Carnation

The Vision Bleak – Weird Tales Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on April 15, 2024 in Reviews, Gothic Metal, 36 comments

“Utilizing Type O Negative-esque booming vocals, surprisingly heavy riffs, and bombastic key-driven atmospheres, every The Vision Bleak album is Gothic metal goodness that’ll leave your skin crawling, hands bloody, and eyes leaking. Funny enough, 2016’s The Unknown was the first time any album I reviewed was chosen as the RotM. These eight long years have been quiet, undoubtedly due to the band brewing their next horrific release. Now it’s here and it’s like nothing they’ve ever done before.” Weird is the new bleak.

Borknagar – Fall Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 22, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Progressive Metal, Viking Metal, 118 comments

“No matter who fills in on vocals, guitars, and drums, the Borknagar continues releasing one fantastic album after another. After 2019’s fun and accessible True North, this year’s Fall reaches farther into the past to reset the needle, delivering some blackish attacks and headbangable energy. Worry not, they forever will retain that classic epicness, melody, and beauty.” Trust Fall.

Dr. A.N. Grier’s Top Ten(ish) of 2023

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 1, 2024 in Blog Posts, Lists, 117 comments

Listurnalia is almost over. But we can’t conclude it without a list from your favorite AMG writer, can we?

Strange New Dawn – New Nights of Euphoria Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 27, 2023 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, 21 comments

“Once upon a time, there were two brothers, one played bass and the other a guitar. In 2000, these brothers helped create Journey to the End of the Night, Green Carnation’s debut album. From here, they went off to form the mighty In the Woods…, hoping to expand on the sound of yesteryear Green Carnation. After leaving both bands, Green Carnation and In the Woods… remained, drastically morphing their sound and pushing beyond the boundaries of long-winded progressiveness, orchestration, and flowing choirs. Come 2013, the Botteri brothers attempted it again with Strange New Dawn.” Woods, flowers, dawns, oh my!

Enslaved – Heimdal Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 11, 2023 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, Viking Metal, 67 comments

“Welp, Dr. AMG and Doc Grier are off to a hectic year. With a very understandable back-and-forth of “I can take it,” “You can take it,” and finally, “It won’t be on time,” here I am feeding the plebs a review of one of the most-anticipated releases of 2023.” Enslaved by deadlines.

Bizarrekult – Den Tapte Krigen Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 28, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, 75 comments

“On initial listen, I can tell you that Den Tapte Krigen is no Vi Overlevde. Let that sink in as you consider the consequences of that statement. Is that good or bad? For one, Den Tapte Krigen is a tighter album (only eight tracks) with a formalized theme. There’s fluidity from the beginning to the end of this journey. What about those surprise transitions and standout songs, you ask?” Rejoin the Kult.

Epoch of Unlight – At War with the Multiverse Review

By Saunders on September 16, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 36 comments

“At War with the Multiverse is a familiar, yet fresh take on their established formula, featuring a re-jinked line-up that has tirelessly honed the material comprising this long-awaited return. Whereas Epoch of Unlight’s sound has previously featured a technical, thrashy black metal core embellished with melodeath and progressive elements, At War with the Multiverse flips the tact a little.” Run to the Unlight.

Franklin Zoo – The Dandelion Child Review

By GardensTale on October 11, 2021 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, 36 comments

“I know we’ve been harping about shitty band names a lot this year, but come on. Franklin Zoo? Why? Is your music about 6-year-olds getting their first biology lesson because two bonobos decided to get exhibitionistic? Do you have a tearful ballad saluting Harambe? Apparently not, since The Dandelion Child addresses the philosophic studies of Soren Kierkegaard.” Animal farming.

Subterranean Masquerade – Mountain Fever Review

By GardensTale on May 10, 2021 in Reviews, Folk Metal, Progressive Metal, 33 comments

“Let me preface this review with a bite-size Contrite Metal Guy: I overrated Subterranean Masquerade’s last album, Vagabond, by half a point. While it’s still a damn cool album, with a great sense of adventure and exploration, it was also a bit unfocused and unbalanced, a shortcoming of which I failed to make note at the time. Alas, I am only human, and as the first underground band I discovered all on my own back in 2005, this band has a special place in my heart.” Cave raves.