Irish Metal

The Vicious Head Society – Abject Tomorrow Review

The Vicious Head Society – Abject Tomorrow Review

By GardensTale on March 26, 2017 in 2017, Irish Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Progressive Metal, 24 comments

“Gun to my head, I’d have to say that no metal sub-genre tickles my fancy as much as progressive metal. It’s hardly a fully independent genre, though, because how often do you call a band straight-up progressive metal? Well, sometimes, but usually it’s progressive death metal, or progressive power metal, or any of the other combinations. This is because while other sub-genres are more about a certain sound or atmosphere, progressive is almost exclusively about the structure of the songs, freeing the band from their verse-chorus shackles. This allows for longer songs with more room to explore, and the pull of a narrative structure leads to concept albums more than any other genre.” Is this a dream in a theater?

Apostate Viaticum – Before the Gates of Gomorrah Review

Apostate Viaticum – Before the Gates of Gomorrah Review

By Treble Yell on March 16, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, Invictus Productions, Irish Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 15 comments

“At first glance of Apostate Viaticum’s debut, Before the Gates of Gomorrah there’s not much that indicates if a diamond has been pried free from the earth or it’s just another lump of coal. Time to dust off the jeweler’s loupe to see if we have something that glitters.” Death metal does not favor the shiny.

Dread Sovereign – For Doom the Bell Tolls Review

Dread Sovereign – For Doom the Bell Tolls Review

By Akerblogger on February 28, 2017 in 2017, Doom Metal, Irish Metal, Reviews, Van Records, Doom Metal, 14 comments

“As the curfew tolled the knell of the parting day, I decided to wander through the dark remains of a graveyard near my home. A thick and heavy fog rolled in, illuminated by moonlight, as I stared into the well of souls. By this point, I was thirsty and miserable and I felt myself slipping further into the void. I was bewitched by the scent of death as the children of the grave emerged from the gloom and approached me. The children carried individual USB sticks that held copies of an album by the Irish band Dread Sovereign.” Mix Tapes of the Dead!

Arcade Messiah – III [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

Arcade Messiah – III [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 15, 2016 in 2016, Irish Metal, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Rock, Stereohead Records, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Rock, 37 comments

“As I sit here on a snow-covered porch, watching the snow dissipate below the rising sun, it dawns on me just how much I dislike the term “post.” I hate Post-It notes, post holes, fence posts, and (the worst offender of them all) post-hole diggers. I hate the terms “post” (position), “flagposts” (they’re fucking “flagpoles”), and “man-posts” (penises). But, for how much I hate all these terms, I hate post-black, post-rock, post-hardcore, and post-metal the most.” Post no bills (or man-posts).

Slomatics – Future Echo Returns Review

Slomatics – Future Echo Returns Review

By Akerblogger on September 15, 2016 in 2016, Black Bow Records, Doom Metal, Irish Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 16 comments

“A blanket of smoke and incense billows from an attic-bedroom conversion as Electric Wizard makes a rare appearance from his occult abode to make a sandwich or to record an episode of Most Haunted. Conan sits in the garage and uses his sharp fingernails to shape mythical creatures out of wood, sporadically bellowing songs of war into the night, begrudgingly quieting down when his mother threatens to take away his copy of The Silmarillion. Slomatics is the younger brother of the two aforementioned doomsters. He spends his time gazing into the stars, reading Frank Herbert, Philip. K. Dick and H.G. Wells, and exploring the Moog that his father found for cheap at the car boot sale.” At home with the Slows.

Mourning Beloveth – Rust and Bone Review

Mourning Beloveth – Rust and Bone Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on January 16, 2016 in 2016, Doom Metal, Irish Metal, Reviews, Van Records, Doom Metal, 24 comments

“Given the early buzz around the band (maybe I just had clued-in metal buddies) and their obvious talent this seems pretty strange, especially as several of their less consistent peers enjoyed much greater industry support. But while their output has been of high quality, it has also lacked personality: their early records were a little too indebted to My Dying Bride, and it was only on 2005’s A Murderous Circus that they developed their sound into something less derivative by incorporating hints of the driving Celtic metal style pioneered by Primordial. So is 2016 going to be the year that Mourning Beloveth finally live up to their early potential and take their place among doom metal royalty?” Can Jean-Luc Ricard make it so?

Darkest Era – Gods and Origins EP Review

Darkest Era – Gods and Origins EP Review

By Steel Druhm on November 4, 2015 in 2015, Cruz Del Sur, Heavy Metal, Irish Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 18 comments

“Darkest Era came out of left field in 2014 with a righteous album that stormed my playlists and ultimately became my Album o’ the Year. Their blend of Celtic folk, black and epic metal left me highly impressed and wanting much more. While another full-length is a ways off, they’re dropping a two-song limited edition vinyl EP titled Gods and Origins.” What’s this, an early stocking stuffer?