Hard Rock

Of Virtue – Omen Review

By Dear Hollow on October 31, 2023 in Reviews, Djent, Hard Rock, Metalcore, Nu Metal, Post-Hardcore, 18 comments

“If I’m being brutally honest, I follow Michigan collective Of Virtue in the vain hopes they reclaim their former glory, and to express my disappointment whenever they fail to reach that. I get that it’s not fair to have low expectations, but as the saying goes, how the mighty have fallen. While they used to be aligned with a progressive edge and heart-wrenching melodic hardcore foundation not unlike Misery Signals or Counterparts, 2019’s What Defines You featured a sound that can only be defined by its devolution. What can we expect from Omen? Realistic expectations are a virtue.

Kadaverficker – Superkiller (A Musical Journey Between Life and Death) Review

By Saunders on October 2, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, Hard Rock, Punk, 15 comments

“After reviewing a slew of bigger releases and personal favorites in recent months, it’s nice to reconnect with the underground and plunge into the dank, mysterious corners of the promo sump. In doing so I stumbled across Germany’s Kadaverficker and their fifth full-length album, Superkiller (A Musical Journey Between Life and Death). Kicking around the traps since forming in 1993, Kadaverficker released a hefty collection of demos, splits, compilations, and various other shorter-form releases, eventually dipping into full-length territory on 2012’s Exploitation Nekronation. What can you expect on an LP that leaves nothing left in the tank across a whopping 71-minute runtime.” Ficking around,

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.

Timechild – Blossom & Plague Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on September 9, 2023 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 9 comments

“Timechild takes the feel-good sounds of hard rock past and fuses a modern-looking, 00’s radio melancholy to form their own brooding yet bolstered identity. Cuts from Blossom & Plague don’t feel far away from the T-injected dad jams of a band like Tremonti or the soulful and virtuosic AOR thump of Winery Dogs, but this unheralded Danish act plays without a notion that bands like that even exist.” Time, tide, and plague.

Skindred – Smile Review

By Dear Hollow on August 5, 2023 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Nu Metal, Reggae Metal, 177 comments

“I felt awful foolish choosing Skindred’s promo when no one else did. My brain was adequately pummeled by single “Gimme That Boom,” complete with its curb-stomping riffs, plodding drums, and Benji Webbe’s formidable vocals and memorable one-liners, providing a perfect soundtrack for the NFL intro to Thursday Night Football. While grooving, I kinda forgot about the fact that the Welsh quartet was a force to be reckoned with in the late 2000s and early 2010s.” Skin in the game.

Mutoid Man – Mutants Review

By Saunders on July 27, 2023 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Hardcore, Heavy Metal, Noise Rock, Progressive Metal, Punk, 38 comments

A new Mutoid Man release means a larger-than-life double review is necessary. Why? Because we said so!

Inherus – Beholden Review

By Carcharodon on May 24, 2023 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Hard Rock, Progressive Metal, 43 comments

You know that scene in The Last of Us where we first meet the clickers, which can’t see but are attracted to the slightest sound? This is how I regard my fellow AMG scribes, as sightless fungi that I must not alert to the tastiest morsels in the sump until that point in time when AMG Promo Pit Rules allow me to make a breakneck sprint for the album I’ve been eyeing up. Until then, I have to stay absolutely silent. So it was that for almost a month after (the apparently, and happily, rejuvenated) Hypnotic Dirge Records alerted me to the existence and impending release of Beholden, the debut by Inherus.” Shroom squad.

Oceanlord – Kingdom Cold Review

By Cherd on May 23, 2023 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Hard Rock, Stoner Rock, 26 comments

“For someone who holds all forms of doom metal in high esteem, I must admit I’ve struggled to connect with anything of the stoner/psych variety ever since Italy’s Ufomammut put their amp fuzz out to pasture a few years back. As the oldest of all metal forms, predictability is baked into its very DNA. No matter how full of piss and vinegar a young band may be, if they play stoner doom, they fight the perceptions of a tired genre.” Tides aturning.

Cam Girl – Untucked Review

By Kenstrosity on April 19, 2023 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Non-metal Metal Things, Punk, 74 comments

“Punk has never been my favorite genre. I am not sure if it’s the rough and ready vocals that often help define the punk sound, or if it’s just something about punk songwriting that doesn’t enthuse me. Either way, it’s something I struggle to love. That is, until I went to my first Cam Girl show only about a year ago.” Punk in a tight place.

Torrential Thrill – State of Disaster Review

By El Cuervo on April 11, 2023 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 7 comments

“Australia boasts a booming trade in classic and classic-influenced rock bands. The likes of AC/DC, INXS and Midnight Oil introduced the world to Down Under’s rock music, and have proven to be influences on hundreds of other bands. One such group is Melbourne’s Torrential Thrill and their third full-length entitled State of Disaster. I can’t confess to prior familiarity but look favorably on the rocking attitude and strong guitar leads promised by band descriptions online.” Rock in an Aussie place.