Groove Metal

Owdwyr – Receptor Review

By Dear Hollow on October 20, 2023 in Reviews, Classical, Death Metal, Deathcore, Groove Metal, Mathcore, Technical Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 16 comments

“The “for fans of” line in any given promo is a true test of character. While most bands crank out their faves, there are intriguing blends that grab attention. Most of these are disappointments, often running the gamut of extreme metal buzzwords only to be the latest act to sound exactly like In Flames, but there are others whose combinations are pretty accurate, like the tantalizing combination that the California-based Owdwyr boasts in its debut Receptor: from Car Bomb, Human Remains, and Fleshgod Apocalypse to composers like Bach, Allan Holdsworth, and Heitor Villa-Lobos. In essence, Owdwyr may be genius or not, but this trio is always batshit crazy.” Owdwyr812.

Damnation’s Hammer – Into the Silent Nebula Review

By Kenstrosity on September 15, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Groove Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 18 comments

“Hard to categorize, the UK troupe’s unique concoction of Temple of Void / Bolt Thrower death metal, Triptykon doom, and Clutch-y hard rock groove presents an inimitable character that no other band on Earth boasts. It is this unique flavor that earned predecessor Unseen Planets, Deadly Spheres a high rating from yours truly.” Spare the Hammer, spoil the spheres.

Milking the Goatmachine – Neue Platte Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on August 22, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, Groove Metal, 15 comments

“Pastoral pleasures include quaint life activities like chewing on wheat straw, planning the tractor route, taking count of your animal inhabitants, and… well, shoot I don’t know, ask Cherd. Or ask Milking the Goatmachine, whose agrarian ideals include fat riffs, skanky drum beats, and squealing breakdowns.” Vote Goat 2023.

Orbit Culture – Descent Review

By Dear Hollow on August 16, 2023 in Reviews, Groove Metal, Industrial Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 53 comments

“Sweden’s Orbit Culture became a poster child for extreme metal with their 2020 full-length, the formidable Nija. While undeniably heavy in neck-snapping thrash grooves, ferocious roars, and an unforgiving edge of industrial atmospherics, the band showed its roots in the lush forests of melodic death metal. Soaring clean choruses and earworm melodies assemble in the darkness with an often unmatched colossal quality, creating a sound both catchy and devastating. Orbit Culture became the “it” band, not forsaking any of their uniqueness. After 2021’s solid EP Shaman, we are met with 2023’s Descent.” Culture rot.

Scar Symmetry – The Singularity (Phase II: Xenotaph) Review

By Dear Hollow on July 22, 2023 in Reviews, Groove Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 38 comments

“It’s been a hot minute since this blog has beheld Scar Symmetry. Once the golden standard by which all melodic death should be measured alongside acts like Soilwork and Mors Principium Est that dominated the 2000s, Scar Symmetry has largely settled in the rearview in favor of young blood – always there, just rarely making it known.” Scars are forever.

Snuffed on Sight – Smoke Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on July 7, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Hardcore, Slam, 40 comments

“I know you probably already went and looked at the score, and you’ve asked yourself “but wait, isn’t slam just one big joke?” An exaggerated and uncouth sense of humor, which often borders plain dumb, slathers an overwhelming majority of slam releases, so it’s a fair assumption.” Grand slam.

Memorrhage – Memorrhage Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on June 22, 2023 in Reviews, Groove Metal, Metalcore, Nu Metal, 37 comments

“Nostalgia is one hell of a drug, but as a creative tool, it can offer us the ability to look at the past to dig through elements that shine rose-tint or otherwise—or at least cover them with a modern spit polish. Not far removed from the idea of Brents’ chiptune grind explorations with Gonemage, Memorrhage explores the br-deng grumblings of Mudvayne, the hazy aggro-interventions of Deftones, and the stop-start core-isms of Zao.” Nu hage music.

Artificial Sun – The Giants Collapse Review

By Dear Hollow on May 21, 2023 in Reviews, Djent, Groove Metal, Metalcore, Nu Metal, Progressive Metal, 16 comments

“Artificial Sun is a quartet from Athens, Greece, picking up where its previous short-lived incarnation Trigger left off, sporting a fusion of groove and metalcore with their debut The Giants Collapse. Expect bouncy riffs, technical leads, energetic drumming, vitriolic and soothing vocals, and nice moments of experimentation to go down slow.” Fake sun and old djent.

Mystic Prophecy – Hellriot Review

By Holdeneye on May 17, 2023 in Reviews, Groove Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 75 comments

“I love Mystic Prophecy. What do I love about them? Everything. I love the excessive machismo of their aesthetic, the over-the-top badassery of their album artwork, their delightful ESL lyrics, and the way the band shoehorns the words “hell,” “devil,” “demons,” “Lucifer,” and any number of similarly sinister subjects (not to mention album titles from their own past and classic album titles from other greats) into said lyrics. But most of all, I love that Mystic Prophecy is hell-bent on keeping heavy metal fucking heavy.” Wicked Mystic.

DevilDriver – Dealing with Demons vol. II Review

By GardensTale on May 12, 2023 in Reviews, Groove Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 47 comments

“DevilDriver is not the most popular band with dyed-in-the-wool metalheads. Founded by Dez Fafara after the merciful death of Coal Chamber, this outfit embodies “you’ll grow out of it.” Core screams that aren’t quite growls, lyrics full of nonspecific angst and anger that appeal to teenagers, chug-laden straightforward riffs and simple solos. The Hot Topic crowd goes wild. But as such, it has been an important gateway band to many, and in my opinion, one of the few with redeeming qualities.” On the road again.