I Voidhanger Records

Selcouth – Heart is the Star of Chaos Review

By Treble Yell on June 25, 2017 in 2017, Experimental Metal, I Voidhanger Records, International Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Experimental Metal, Progressive Metal, 23 comments

“I’m always skeptical when the term “avant-garde” is flung in the direction of a work of art. Declaring with any degree of certainty that an artistic creation surpasses the confines of the status quo is a fool’s errand. Time is the great leveler, and only on its scales can we weigh an artwork’s impact against the feather of the chattering masses. So, when I received the promo for Selcouth’s debut album Heart is the Star of Chaos and saw it described by the label as “avant-garde,” my hackles raised immediately in response to such hubris.” Dare to be different.

In Human Form – Opening of the Eye by the Death of the I Review

By Dr. Wvrm on June 24, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Black Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Progressive Metal, Reviews, 35 comments

“In Human Form has me trapped in a corner. In addition to being a mouthful, Opening of the Eye by the Death of the I has seen my prosaic muse torn to pieces. I doubt this current dry spell stems from a lack of comprehension, but I pray nonetheless for a moment of clarity to absolve this torment. An undertaking this ambitious and idiosyncratic surely has a story to tell, but my thoughts are born dead, the empty words of an overactive imagination.” Open the mind or die.

Divine Element – Thaurachs of Borsu Review

By Eldritch Elitist on May 19, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, I Voidhanger Records, International Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 26 comments

“Based on my review stats thus far into my AMG career, I’ve got a 66 percent chance of snagging a record featuring Spectral Lore guitarist Ayloss whenever I pull an I, Voidhanger release from the promo bin. It’s easy to see why the label is so eager to back his work; he’s one of the few black metal guitarists I can recall who possesses a unique playing style, slapping an unmistakable stamp onto pretty much every product he touches. But before he staked his claim to black metal fame with Spectral Lore, he cut his teeth on Divine Element.” Sharp teeth, sharp riffs.

Lo-Ruhamah – Anointing Review

By Grymm on May 16, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Estonian Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 15 comments

“Having been wrongly labeled as a Christian band, Lo-Ruhamah nevertheless garnered quite a few interested ears with their interesting take on progressive doom metal mixed with esoteric spiritualism. But then, they went inactive for almost a decade. Now, with the members spending time between the States and Estonia, they return with their long-awaited follow-up, Anointing.” Back from the dead, but not like Jesus!

Locust Leaves – A Subtler Kind of Light Review

By Eldritch Elitist on March 24, 2017 in 2017, Greek Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 44 comments

“Even the most stigmatized genres within the metal canon were born out of an earnest desire to innovate, and as such I’m willing to give any style — or in this case, a combination of styles — a fair shake. Enter Greece’s Locust Leaves, a band I was rather eager to cover due to their proclaimed fusion of prog, black, thrash, and doom metal. Locust Leaves does indeed cover all of these styles (and more!) in the span of just thirty-six minutes on their long-gestating debut A Subtler Kind of Light.” Many Greek chefs, small kitchen…FIGHT!

Lorn – Arrayed Claws Review

By Eldritch Elitist on January 26, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Italian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 112 comments

“Recall, if you can, your first exposure to black metal. If you’re a grizzled follower of the genre, its sinister novelties have become an aspect of your daily listenings that ceased to faze you long ago. I imagine, however, that you reacted to your first encounter with the style much in the same way your parents would; a knee-jerk response of “what the fuck am I listening to?” that shocked you in a way music never had before. My initial listen of Italian duo Lorn’s Arrayed Claws instantly recalled my reaction to the loss of my black metal virginity.” You never forget your first.

Mare Cognitum – Luminiferous Aether Review

By Grymm on September 20, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 63 comments

“Okay, so you burned every church out there. Every last forest has been utilized for frost-bitten photographs of corpse-painted minions wielding medieval weaponry, invisible oranges, or both. You sang every hymn there is for either Satan, Tolkien orcness, darkness, the wilderness, or anything even remotely related to the above. What’s left to cover? Why SPACE, of course!” Into the blackness (of space).

Goatcraft – Yersinia Pestis Review

By Grymm on July 11, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Neo-Classical Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Reviews, Ambient, Not Metal, 15 comments

“One of the best aspects of writing for Angry Metal Guy Inc. Ltd. Turbo Hyper-Fighting Edition, besides the scenic view of the cemetery right outside the window of my broom closet/office, is the chance to review something challenging and different. Texas one-man black metal act Goatcraft definitely fits the bill as both. Yes, we review a crap-ton of one-man (or woman) black metal here, but I don’t recall us ever reviewing an album that’s strictly piano.” One man, one keyboard…all blackness.

Summit – The Winds That Forestall Thy Return Review

By Mark Z. on July 6, 2016 in 2016, Ambient Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Italian Metal, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Ambient Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Sludge, 32 comments

“Solo projects are a mixed bag for me. On one hand, you’ll occasionally get a musician’s pure, unencumbered vision, free of competing egos, stylistic conflict, or bullshit social media drama that inevitably leads to a nasty breakup and months of blog posts detailing the extended legal battle over rights to the band name. More often, however, you get good ideas and musicianship hampered by a lack of self-awareness or weakened by the absence of an additional creative force. To paraphrase Stephen King, writers are often the worst judge of their own work.” And that’s where we come in.

Howls of Ebb – Cursus Impasse: The Pendlomic Vows Review

By Roquentin on April 11, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Reviews, Death Metal, Experimental Metal, 41 comments

“There’s a lot of pent up anger and frustration going around these days. Whether that certain something bothering you is serious like the weather or banal as your governing politicians spewing hatred, it’s always nice to be able to turn to metal in search of some escapism. To find a way out. A portal to a safe space. A wonderful soundtrack for hollow and bitter soliloquies. You might think, at first, that San Francisco’s ex-trio, now duo, Howls of Ebb provide exactly that with their experimentally tinged blackened death adorned with dark and threatening atmospheres and hints of aggression.” And you would be extremely wrong.