Jan19

Noctambulist – Atmospheres of Desolation Review

By Kronos on January 18, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Blood Harvest Records, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 49 comments

“No, Noctambulist do not sound like Blood Incantation, Sulphur Aeon, Immolation, or Gorguts. Or at least, they don’t sound more like Immolation or Gorguts than Ulcerate do. How the press kit missed Noctambulist’s most prominent and obvious influence—not to mention one of a much higher profile than either of the more modern bands mentioned—might never be known. Did Ulcerate become uncool? I doubt it on the grounds that (1) Noctambulist like them enough to try to sound almost exactly like them, and more importantly, (2) that I, as the sole arbiter of brutality both here and in the universe at large, am the only force with the power to decide if and when Ulcerate could ever become uncool.” Kronos knows.

Aver – Orbis Majora Review

By GardensTale on January 17, 2019 in 2019, Australian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Ripple Music, Stoner Metal, Progressive Rock, Stoner Rock, 128 comments

“There’s something special in the water, air, or spider-venom in Australia. More and more, the Land Down Under is becoming a hotbed for top class progressive metal, and I’m getting to a point where I’ll blindly leap onto anything labeled Aussie prog, even if it has a cover as baffling as Aver’s Orbis Majora. Who thought ‘now all these naked space ladies need is having their arms melted together, getting them stuck to a giant bile-green orb, and replacing their heads with purple planets?'” Orbs of reckoning.

Wristmeetrazor – Misery Never Forgets Review

By Dr. Wvrm on January 17, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Metalcore, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Metalcore, 160 comments

The last transmissions of a Wvrmy mind contains a review of a dangerous album. Wrist, meet razor.

Leach – Hymns for the Hollow Review

By Holdeneye on January 16, 2019 in 2019, Metalcore, Reviews, Self-released, Swedish Metal, Thrash Metal, Metalcore, Thrash Metal, 89 comments

“Ever since I was a wee n00bian babe, Steel Druhm has been threatening to smother me with a metalcore pillow. Personally, I’ve always lived by the adage “If thou must be smothered, thou shouldst at least choose the pillow.” So rather than let Steel continue to hang The Core of Damocles above my head, I decided I would take matters into my own hands and pick up the next available metalcore promo. Hymns for the Hollow is the second album from Swedish band Leach and upon first glance it seemed as if it would do the trick. Surely I will gain copious brownie points by volunteering for this selfless martyrdom, no?” Attach the Core of Triumph.

Lahmia – Resilience Review

By Dr. Wvrm on January 16, 2019 in 2019, Italian Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Melodic Death Metal, 69 comments

“Melodeath that does literally anything different will always catch my eye, so Lahmia’s progressive, occasionally gothic, always interesting take on the genre was very welcome. But seven long years later, the Italians only now submit a second entry for consideration. The layoff brings changes, including a revamped sound that plays with fire given the exceptional strengths of their previous output. But if there’s justice in the world, Resilience will pull enough the tricks out of their sleeve to wow you.” Rise or fall?

Woorms – Slake Review

By Grymm on January 16, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Hospital Records, Reviews, Sludge, Sludgelord Records, Sludge, 67 comments

“I normally don’t take the whole “new year, new me” maxim seriously at all. I mean sure, improvements are a good thing, right? But an entire overhaul of oneself is completely unnecessary. That said, my first review of the year isn’t a one-person black metal project. How novel! In fact, said review involves the words “sludge” and “Louisiana,” two words that’ll make me shove other writers here aside like Patsy Stone gunning for her favorite bottle of vodka. Yep, Slake, the debut album from Louisiana power trio Woorms, broke my combo of icy-cold bedroom blackness once and for all, and you would think that I would be a happy camper here.” From black to blues.

Barshasketh – Barshasketh Review

By Mark Z. on January 15, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, New Zealand Metal, Reviews, World Terror Committee, Black Metal, 225 comments

“One of the saddest things in music is the “almost there” album. It’s the album that has all the traits of something that should work, and yet it doesn’t. It’s the kid on the soccer team who is bad, but not bad enough to know he’s bad. It’s the guy in the friend group who everyone tolerates, but no one would be sad if he moved away. It’s the hundreds of albums that are released every year, met with a shrug at best, and are swiftly forgotten.” That’s not ominous or anything.

The Three Tremors – The Three Tremors Review

By Steel Druhm on January 15, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Steel Cartel Records, Heavy Metal, 217 comments

“Some ideas sound great in theory. Fewer look good when put to paper. That crucial step of transforming an idea from paper into reality? Well, let’s just say only the best of the bunch should see the harsh light of day. Taking three of metal’s premier wailers and screamers and having them lustily compete with one another for an album’s worth of over-the-top manic hysteria is not such a worthy concept. Aptly named The Three Tremors, this project features Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-Judas Priest, ex-Iced Earth), Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin (Jag Panzer, Satan’s Host), and Sean (no cool nickname) Peck (Cage, Denner/Sherman).” Banshee business.

Defecal of Gerbe – Mothershit Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on January 15, 2019 in 2019, French Metal, Grind, Reviews, Xenokorp Records, Grind, 69 comments

“I’ve come around to better goregrind since, first by early Carcass and then Haemorrhage and General Surgery. Novelty grind, such as the shockingly good Trappist, has also wormed its way into my rotation. I haven’t listened enough to form an opinion, but Bitchfork and their “farm grind” is making a splash too. Defecal of Gerbe is novelty goregrind, except instead of gore the focus is on the scatological. Mothershit is also sung in French, meaning I miss about ninety percent of the jokes outside of some titles. C’est la vie.” POO-urns.

Lemuria – The Hysterical Hunt Review

By Kenstrosity on January 14, 2019 in 2019, Belgian Metal, Black Metal, Massacre Records, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Black Metal, Epic Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 149 comments

“It would probably surprise nobody to learn that my background as a metalhead began with symphonic metal. Somehow (read: through a series of ill-advised sessions of reckless YouTube binges) I discovered it during the early days of high school. Symphonic metal enlivened me and became my gateway into this marvelous metalverse. Today I return to that hallowed ground upon which my transformation manifested. Waiting there for me is Lemuria—a symphonic black metal band from Belgium, est. 1999—with their third epic The Hysterical Hunt.” Night hunt at the opera.