Irish Metal

Slomatics – Canyons Review

By Akerblogger on June 16, 2019 in 2019, Black Bow Records, Doom Metal, Irish Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, 21 comments

“Since 2005, Belfast based space-sludge juggernauts Slomatics have scoured the cosmic plains for doomy inspiration. The universe is a vast place, and with their seventh album set to be released in 2019, Slomatics haven’t run out of inspiration. Every Slomatics’ record tells a story. Their 2016 release Future Echo Returns was an earthy beast, dense and direct. Bone-rattling heaviness in the form of fuzz-laden doom was the main tool used on that record; in my review of that release I desired more tenderness, more humanity. Canyons is more expansive, an exploration of the far reaches of the universe.” Star sludge.

Ketos – First Strike Review

By Kronos on April 26, 2019 in 2019, Hostile Media, Irish Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Metalcore, 30 comments

“With that technicolor cover and macho album title, First Strike makes its presence and intentions clear from the get go. Or so you’d think, but you’d be wrong—this is a melodic thrash metal band we’re talking about here. If you never liked and never will like, uh, “melodic thrash metal,” Ketos won’t change your mind on the subject and you can feel free to scroll right down to the comments and tell everybody to listen to some vomit-inducing folk-power-black album on bandcamp. It’s your loss, since First Strike is a great example of “melodic thrash metal” passing both the taste test and sniff test—it’s a good album from a band with some serious chops.” Keto friendly.

Sacrilegia – The Triclavian Advent Review

By El Cuervo on April 17, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Invictus Productions, Irish Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 28 comments

“The album owes its name to one of the more boring and inconsequential areas of theology, triclavianism, a school of thought professing the notion that Jebus was crucified with not four, but three, nails. On the contrary, it owes its music to both black metal and thrash; is it able to nail the fusion of the two?” Nail pounding metal.

Zealot Cult – Spiritual Sickness Review

By GardensTale on November 7, 2018 in 2018, Blood Harvest Records, Death Metal, Irish Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 47 comments

“One major player in the field were my countrymen Pestilence, particularly with their sophomore album Consuming Impulse. Until they stopped doing what they did best anyway. Then-vocalist Martin Van Drunen, with his anguished, slavering cries put the band on the map, his style often imitated but never transcended. Now, another imitator has arisen from the fields of Ireland by the name of Zealot Cult. Can they do justice to their idols, or will idolatry lead to naught but broken effigies?” Join up.

Gama Bomb – Speed Between the Lines Review

By Huck N Roll on October 11, 2018 in 2018, AFM Records, Irish Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 36 comments

“If you read lists of what women find attractive in men, Number Three is always a sense of humor. Since most men (including myself) will never have Numbers One or Two, this becomes a very important trait. Enter Gama Bomb, an Irish thrash band that loves to sing about Kurt Russell and Robocop. Their nerdy sense of humor has been a beacon on the thrash scene since their 2005 debut, Survival of the Fastest, and in some ways, they could be considered the AC/DC of thrash.” Run for our love!

Raum Kingdom – Everything & Nothing Review

By Akerblogger on June 12, 2018 in 2018, Irish Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Self-released, Post-Metal, 26 comments

“When post-metal is done right it’s so mothersludgin’ right. It gets a bad rap from some for its lack of definable riffs, pretentiousness, and bloated structures, but it’s one of those styles that can grip and shake your core like no other. It’s a patient, reflective, solitary sub-genre that does require a certain state of mind for the juice of an album to be extracted. Sometimes you’ll be met with a thick wall of repetitiveness that cannot be penetrated, other times with a sloppy mush of watery crescendos and vocals. Sometimes, though, you’ll encounter a beast of an album that throbs with the force of a membranous world-eater, an oozing, atmosphere-drenched annihilator that secretes a vitriolic self-loathing power into your mind as you listen.” Celtic rage.

Celtachor – Fiannaíocht Review

By Grymm on April 25, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Irish Metal, Reviews, Trollzorn Records, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 28 comments

“As a young lad, I took great pleasure in diving deep into the mythologies of the world. Little Me buried himself in books detailing Greek mythology like most people would with comic books. As years progressed and I discovered the joys of metal music, I found plenty of inspiring stories from around the world. From the books of J.R.R. Tolkien to Elias Lönnrot’s timeless Kalevala (thank you, Amorphis), my appreciation for stories of different cultures and lands would not be so rich had it not been for the music you and I love so very much. Now, Ireland’s Celtachor crafted Fiannaíocht, a 57-minute epic based on the stories of hunter-warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill, long-regarded as the bravest, strongest warrior to ever walk the Emerald Isles.” Fightin’ Irish.

Primordial – Exile Amongst the Ruins Review

By Grymm on March 26, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Irish Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 108 comments

“When one thinks of passionate metal that bleeds their country’s heritage and history, Primordial usually ends up being the first, if not only, band that springs to mind. With a rich catalog rife with epic song structures, full-chord riffs, and the soaring vocals of A.A. Nemtheanga, the Irish quintet possess a discography to be envious of. Oftentimes battle-worn, other times sad-yet-defiant, Primordial never cease to craft works of metallic art that thrusts them head-and-shoulders above their contemporaries.” Heritage, history, heresy.

Rabid Bitch of the North – Nothing but a Bitter Taste Review

By Huck N Roll on August 21, 2017 in 2017, Heavy Metal, Hostile Media, Irish Metal, NWOBHM, Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 46 comments

“Come on, with a name like that can you blame me for grabbing this band’s album? It’s the equivalent of promotional clickbait. Crazy band name, goofy album title, and even goofier band picture, all topped off with the fact that the band consider themselves purveyors of the NWOBHM (despite the fact that this is really their debut album). It all adds up to something that, if Steel wasn’t already double-dipping this week in the review pool, he would have grabbed for sure. Which means I get his sloppy seconds.” The bitter taste of rabies.

Selene – The Ravages of Time Review

By Huck N Roll on June 29, 2017 in 2017, Irish Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Symphonic Metal, Symphonic Metal, 39 comments

“Selene are a relatively new symphonic metal band based in Belfast, Ireland. I’m not going to get on a high (or low) horse about the genre: if you like symphonic metal, you’ll read this review, and if you don’t you’ll scroll down and look for something nastier. It’s all good to me.” Nightmiss.