Insomnium

Insomnium/Omnium Gatherum Livestream Concert Review

Insomnium/Omnium Gatherum Livestream Concert Review

By Steel Druhm on April 13, 2020 in 2020, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 32 comments

“Insomnium and Omnium Gatherum were two of many unfortunate bands caught up in the fallout from the global pandemic, having to cancel their North American tour before they were able to play for the likes of Madam X, Dr. Wvrm, Muppet, and myself on their swing through Massachusetts. When they announced they would be livestreaming a concert on Good Friday as a way of reaching out to fans, myself and several other AMG writers were eager to support the endeavor and pay witness. The idea of them performing to a largely empty hall adorned solely with cameras was certainly novel, and I wanted to see how it all played out.” Man plans, God laughs.

Soliloquium – Things We Leave Behind Review

Soliloquium – Things We Leave Behind Review

By Steel Druhm on March 18, 2020 in 2020, Doom Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Rain Without End records, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Doom Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 38 comments

“Soliloquium’s sophomore album Contemplations was one of those releases I stumbled over in the promo sump and was really surprised by. This Swedish doomy melodeath act hit all the right melancholic sadboi buttons, reminding strongly of early Katatonia and Rapture without ever sounding derivative. It ended up making my Top Ten(ish) for the year and I return to it regularly. I wasn’t aware we were getting a new album this month and we didn’t get the promo until a few days before it released, thus the tardy review.” Gourmet leftovers.

Angry Metal-Fi: The Best and Worst Sounding Albums of 2019

Angry Metal-Fi: The Best and Worst Sounding Albums of 2019

By Steel Druhm on January 28, 2020 in 2020, Angry Metal-Fi, Blog Posts, 87 comments

“Metal-Fi? One has got to wonder if the serious lack of updates on the site is because of these issues or are they in fact the root cause? I honestly don’t know. Certainly, neither Dave nor I could have possibly foreseen that our unannounced hiatus last year would kick off Ragnarök. But unfortunately, that’s what all of the facts seem to indicate. Our bad.” Deaf and taxes.

Dawn of Solace – Waves Review

Dawn of Solace – Waves Review

By Steel Druhm on January 22, 2020 in 2020, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Gothic Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Noble Demon, Reviews, Doom Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 62 comments

“As a big fan of Tuomas Saukkonen’s Before the Dawn and Black Sun Aeon projects (R.I.P. to both), I was the natural demographic for his melancholy melodeath vehicle, Dawn of Solace as well. 2006s The Darkness was a beautiful and haunting dose of Finnish gloom that made an impression, and I always wondered why he never released another album under that name. Now in 2020 he finally delivers the followup outing titled Waves.” Surfing blues.

Horrizon – World of Pain Review

Horrizon – World of Pain Review

By Twelve on December 2, 2019 in 2019, German Metal, Massacre Records, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 45 comments

“One of the earliest things I’ve learned in my short tenure working with these angriest of metal men is how difficult describing music actually is. Scholars throughout time have worked hard to remedy this situation by giving us the hallowed name drop, and venerated genre tags, that we might use few words to convey great meaning. And yet, these still often fall sadly short of describing the actual phenomena we experience. I could tell you, for instance, that the music of World of Pain, the third full-length output from the German band Horrizon.” When words fail.

Record(s) o’ the Month – October 2019

Record(s) o’ the Month – October 2019

By Angry Metal Guy on October 26, 2019 in 2019, Blog Posts, 135 comments

I’ve been known to throw the occasional curve ball, but I think three Record(s) o’ the Month(s) in one month is the first time I’ve ever pulled this particular caper. But Angry Metal Guy is never late. Nor is he early. He does what he’s doing precisely at the moment he intends to do it. For reasons that are his own (but are mostly fuck you). This month’s Record(s) o’ the Month is dedicated to all the people who like music for “atmosphere.” Of course, you might as well say that you “like whatever, so long as it has a good beat.” But the way you’re doing it is way more trve and garners you less friends and so much metal cred. I thought I’d help you all out by giving you a handful of bands that can write and (gasp) edit songs!

Crepuscle – Heavenly Skies Review

Crepuscle – Heavenly Skies Review

By Eldritch Elitist on October 18, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Creator-Destructor Records, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 20 comments

“With scant few acts from the golden era of Finnish melodic death metal living up to their former glitter and gusto, the torch has been unwittingly passed across state lines. From Æther Realm to Aephanemer, the kids who grew up worshiping at the altars of Ensiferum, Children of Bodom, and scores of others are now handily matching the quality of their influences. California’s Crepuscle is no exception.” The American way.