Hypnotic Dirge Records

Nordicwinter – Sorrow Review

By Carcharodon on March 29, 2021 in Reviews, 17 comments

“I don’t know how much the brand Ronseal means to people outside the UK but here, it immediately conjures an advertising slogan: “Does exactly what it says on the tin.” Sometimes, you come across bands that embody this. Nordicwinter is Ronseal. Despite being from Canada, it would appear that its very raison d’être is to deliver in audible form the desolate, lonely wastes of a single Scandinavian season – I’m not going to say it, you know, the one … traditionally between Autumn and Spring. Sorrow takes this to extremes, however.” 12 inches of Sorrow.

Omination – NGR (New Golgotha Repvbliq) Review

By Cherd of Doom on February 5, 2021 in Reviews, 49 comments

“It may not be quite accurate to say funeral doom is about minimalism, but it’s not far from the truth either. Much of that is a result of the pace. Even if a funeral doom song has as much going on as a regular metal song when condensed to a regular runtime, stretched over 15 or 20 minutes, it sounds like less. Notes are sustained longer, beats per minute are reduced, and at any given moment, less really is going on. Until now, I would have told you the idea of maximalist funeral doom was an oxymoron, antithetical. It seems no one told that to Tunisia’s Omination.” Maximum doom.

Frigoris – … in Stille [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Carcharodon on January 15, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 56 comments

“Do you remember 2020 having a January? I know logically it must have but, given the monotonous ruination that has been this year, I really struggle to remember anything that happened pre-Covid. One thing of note that research tells me did take place in January was the release of … in Stille, the fourth full-length from German black metallers Frigoris.” Sticks like tar.

Liminal Shroud – “Tainted Soil” Premiere and Through the False Narrows Review

By Carcharodon on November 12, 2020 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 37 comments

“AMG is pleased to host the premiere of “Tainted Soil” from Liminal Shroud“s forthcoming Through the False Narrows album which releases on November 20th.” You heard it here first!

Ov Shadows – I Djävulens Avbild Review

By Dear Hollow on August 14, 2020 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 22 comments

“Ov Shadows, like blackened death purveyors Serene Dark, professes a theme of this psychological subconsciousness, in that the project is “about exploring and embracing the dark aspects that dwell within us all… an atmospheric Black Metal guided by chaos and darkness.” Embracing equally brutal and scorching textures guided by eerie and desolate atmosphere, sophomore effort I Djävulens Avbild.” Back to the front(al lobe).

The Art of Labelling – Pt II

By Carcharodon on June 15, 2020 in Interviews, 16 comments

Join us for the second part of our look behind the bands themselves, into what the independent metal labels do to get music to your turntables.

The Art of Labelling – Pt I

By Carcharodon on June 1, 2020 in Interviews, 35 comments

“The more time I’ve spent reviewing stuff on this here blog, the more I’ve begun to take note of record labels, to the point now that certain labels generate certain expectations for an album. With that realization, I became more interested in labels, how they work and the people behind them.” Behind the music lies the work.

Forlesen – Hierophant Violent Review

By Carcharodon on April 17, 2020 in 2020, Ambient Metal, American Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Drone, Hypnotic Dirge Records, Post-metal, Reviews, Ambient Metal, Drone, Post-Metal, 85 comments

“A hierophant – a word I was dimly aware of but confess that I had to look up – is a person who leads the religious into the presence of that which is deemed holy by the relevant congregation. It also a card in the tarot deck and at least one of its meanings is that of a teacher or counselor who aids the seeker in the acquisition of knowledge. Both of these meanings are wholly appropriate for Bay Area trio Forlesen’s debut, Hierophant Violent. I would estimate that, since beginning my tenure serfdom here at AMG, my musical consumption has increased by upwards of 80% and I was listening to a lot before I started. And yet it’s rare indeed that an album hits me like Hierophan Violent did.” Elephantine Hierophant.

Nachtterror – Judgement [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By Carcharodon on January 8, 2020 in 2019, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Hypnotic Dirge Records, Melodic Black Metal, Symphonic Metal, Things You Might Have Missed, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 67 comments

“Earlier this year, I channeled all the might that my status as an exalted AMG writer imbues me with and demanded the promo Maeskyyrn’s Interlude from Hypnotic Dirge (read: I sent a politely-worded email). They obliged and sent not only Maeskyyrn but also Nachtterror. Reviewing schedules being what they are, we couldn’t get to symphonic black metal six-piece Nachtterror‘s record in time for its release. And that is a damn shame because Judgement is a seriously good and incredibly varied slab of metal.” Metal cup runeth over.

NONE – Damp Chill of Life [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By Master of Muppets on December 8, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Black Metal, Hypnotic Dirge Records, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 31 comments

“Let’s get one thing straight from the get-go: I trvly don’t give a fuck about you, never have and never will. When I share something wonderful here, it’s because awesome Muppet is awesome, not because I want to improve your miserable lives; you deserve nothing and I hope you get less, yo. Accordingly, I write these TYMHM pieces not because *you* might have missed any gems I cover, but because *I* missed *my* chance to properly babble about them during the year.” Muppets unbound.