Instrumental Metal

Lesotho – Through the Dying Light Review

Lesotho – Through the Dying Light Review

By Carcharodon on April 7, 2023 in Reviews, Ambient Metal, Instrumental Metal, Post-Metal, 10 comments

“Look, I get it. You’re a new post-metal band trying to make it, but is it, maybe, a bit of a stretch to tout that your debut EP was recorded at the same studio that, 21 years ago, hosted the sessions for ISIS’ iconic Oceanic and has, at some point in the intervening two decades, changed its name? Yes, but I’d do it too. So, Boston-based Lesotho recorded its 2021 EP, Summer Wars, at The Bridge Sound & Stage, formerly known as Fort Apache Studios, where post-metal legends ISIS … Never mind.” Studio stalkers.

NATT – Natt Review

NATT – Natt Review

By Carcharodon on January 21, 2023 in Reviews, Instrumental Metal, Post-Metal, 19 comments

“Five-piece NATT comprises a core duo of songwriters, René Misje (Kraków) and Roy Ole Førland (Malignant Eternal), who are then joined in the studio by others, including Enslaved’s Iver Sandøy behind the kit. Would the launch gig for their self-titled debut justify a visit to Norway?” Tour core.

Lybica – Lybica Review

Lybica – Lybica Review

By Grymm on September 13, 2022 in Reviews, Instrumental Metal, 34 comments

“First and foremost, and this should come as no surprise to any of you… but this wins Cover o’ the Year for me. Hands down, no competition. Sure, you’ve got your Eliran Kantors, your Travis Smiths, and your Necrolords. And that’s all fine and dandy. But here, we have a proud, majestic cat with its tongue out, as if to say, “I’m here, world… and I shall blep.” It’s only fitting, then, that Lybica, the South Floridian instrumental band featuring Killswitch Engage’s Justin Foley and members of Gravel Kings, would name themselves after the African wildcat species often referenced as the godfather to the modern-day domesticated cat.” Cats in the belfry.

Bong-Ra – Meditations Review

Bong-Ra – Meditations Review

By Thus Spoke on August 3, 2022 in Reviews, Instrumental Metal, 42 comments

“As some of you might have guessed from my unsubtly Nietzschean moniker, I like philosophy. That’s why upon spotting Bong-Ra’s Meditations in the swirling chaos of the promo sump, I had to have it. The album is a tribute to the posthumously-titled Stoic writings of Marcus Aurelius, each of the four tracks named after the Stoic virtues “Courage,” “Wisdom,” “Justice,” and “Temperance.” Naturally, I took this as an opportunity to immerse myself not only in new music, but in Stoic philosophy.” Here today, Bong tomorrow.

Syberia – Statement on Death Review

Syberia – Statement on Death Review

By Carcharodon on May 5, 2022 in Reviews, Instrumental Metal, Post-Metal, 12 comments

“Is it possible to make a political statement—or indeed any nuanced statement—through the medium of instrumental metal? Today’s subject, Spanish post-metallers Syberia, believe so. On its fourth full-length, Statement on Death, I am informed that the band tackles “a very worrying issue in the United States of America: police violence against people of color, and each song narrates a specific case.” This is a contentious and highly politicized subject, on which many people have wildly divergent views of varying validity. In all honesty, I am not sure how one sets out to tackle such a subject with no lyrics at all.” Silent protest.

Novarupta – Carrion Movements Review

Novarupta – Carrion Movements Review

By Carcharodon on April 27, 2022 in Reviews, Instrumental Metal, Post-Metal, 27 comments

“I was not familiar with this post-metal project prior to snagging it for review. Carrion Movements is both the third album from Novarupta and the third installment in a conceptual four-part series based around the elements of fire, water, air and earth. This is the ‘air’ entry in the tetralogy, following 2019’s Disillusioned Fire and 2020’s Marine Snow, which seem to have caused something of a stir in post-metal circles. Can Carrion Movements trigger the reputational eruption many seem to think Novarupta deserves? Carrion, my wayward son.

Epoch of Chirality – Nucleosynthesis

Epoch of Chirality – Nucleosynthesis

By Kenstrosity on July 22, 2021 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Instrumental Metal, Progressive Metal, 9 comments

“2021 has seen it’s share of terrible band names. Epoch of Chirality does very little to up the ante in this regard. The name is bulky and awkward, and even trying to imagine it with an English accent—seeing as how the one-man instrumental project is based in England—doesn’t improve its sonic aesthetics. But as we’ve also seen quite a few times this year, a bad name a bad album does not make. With an open mind, I dove into this synth heavy dose of instrumental metal.” Is chirlaity dead?

Liquid Tension Experiment – LTE3 Review

Liquid Tension Experiment – LTE3 Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on April 16, 2021 in Reviews, Instrumental Metal, Progressive Metal, 59 comments

“Believe it or not, it’s been roughly twenty-two years since the band’s last full-length. I know that LTE isn’t for everyone but it’s hard to deny the impressive instrumentation. Bringing acclaimed bassist Tony Levin on board took a potential this-is-just-Dream–Theater-without-James-LaBrie outfit, and made it mostly original. Sure, you can’t take the DT out of John Petrucci but, even then, it’s nice to hear the instruments without LaBrie’s voice.” Do androids dream of Liquid Tension Experiment theater?

AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö: Grabesfurcht – Wachkoma

AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö: Grabesfurcht – Wachkoma

By Carcharodon on April 5, 2021 in Angry Metal Guy's Unsigned Band Rodeo, Instrumental Metal, 15 comments

“Back in the primordial days of this here blog, we attempted something called “AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö.” The basic idea was to select a bunch of unsigned bands and give them the collective review treatment to find the most worthy buried gems. It was our humble effort to remind folks that the metal underground is still an important part of the world of metal.” Grabesfurcht in the morning.