Jul16

Heavenwood – The Tarot of the Bohemians – Part I Review

By Steel Druhm on July 21, 2016 in 2016, Gothic Metal, Massacre Records, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Gothic Metal, 25 comments

“Heavenwood charted a strange course over their 20 year career. Coming out of the Portuguese metal scene at the same time as Moonspell, the two bands shared a love of dark gothic rock mixed with elements of black and death metal. Their Diva debut played like Wolfheart filtered through Crematory and The Cure and though less heavy than Moonspell, they were almost as interesting. Then came a ten year hiatus and a radical shift of direction toward the kind of hybrid symphonic goth/black/death style as Septicflesh, Nightfall and to a lesser extent, Rotting Christ.” Pick a card (and a genre).

Aktaion – The Parade of Nature Review

By Mark Z. on July 21, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Unsigned Bands, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Progressive Metal, 11 comments

“Here at AMG, one of my biggest challenges (besides suppressing my gag reflex when cleaning out the office refrigerator) is trying to keep my reviews to a tidy length. Between describing a band’s sound and influences, elaborating on the various songs, bitching about the production, and writing shitty and superfluous opening paragraphs, it can be hard to squeeze all my thoughts into only 700 or so words. Fortunately Aktaion’s sophomore outing The Parade of Nature is the rare record which can be accurately described in a single term: Gojira-core.” That’s better than gorilla-core at least.

Harakiri For The Sky – III: Trauma Review

By Mark Z. on July 19, 2016 in 2016, Art of Propaganda, Austrian Metal, Black Metal, Post-Rock, Reviews, Black Metal, 44 comments

“As this site’s self-appointed Angry Metal Bottom Feeder, I take it upon myself to devour all the metalcore, post-black metal, and trendy bullshit that I suspect my more evolved brethren often don’t want to touch. I guess part of me still has fond memories of older albums in these genres and continues to hold out hope that new releases will be just as good. While this means filtering through a lot of mediocrity, occasionally I’ll stumble upon a gem that makes it all worth it.” The AMG catfish may have found gold down there in the muck.

Baptism – V: The Devil’s Fire Review

By Grymm on July 19, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Black Metal, 6 comments

“We, as humans, tend to gravitate towards comfort. More often than not, we settle into a nice daily routine, indulge in the same foods, listen to the same bands over and over again, etc. Sure, we can sometimes venture out of our comfortable norms and find some new, exciting things to fawn over, but we have our own little bubbles and dang-nammit, we ain’t leavin’ them! One of those things that has grown comfortable as of late is the variety (or lack thereof) of black metal as a whole.” Bubbles? Bubbles?? I’m the Prince of fookin’ Darkness!

Unmerciful – Ravenous Impulse Review

By Saunders on July 18, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Unique Leader, Death Metal, 22 comments

“Unmerciful. I’ve never heard Unmerciful previously but there’s a lengthy history behind the band that initially formed way back in 2001.” Buyer beware, beware, beware, beware….

Caïna – Christ Clad in White Phosphorus Review

By Madam X on July 18, 2016 in 2016, Ambient Metal, Apocalyptic Witchcraft, Black Metal, English Metal, Reviews, Ambient Metal, Black Metal, 25 comments

“Dante Alighieri once said “The path to paradise begins in Hell.” Andy Curtis-Brignell and Laurence Taylor, the backbone of Caïna, hold these powerful words true and no album makes this more apparent than their new outing – Christ Clad in White Phosphorus.” If you’re going through Hell, keep going.

Nuke – Nuke Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on July 16, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Speed Metal, Speed Metal, 18 comments

“If you are looking for groundbreaking speed metal, Nuke doesn’t have it. But it is exactly what you want from a speed-metal record and it has become the rebellious soundtrack to my sultry weekends. Once spun, you begin to hear the rolling thunder of domesticated, metal-head dads everywhere. They all roll out of bed on a Saturday morning, raise middle fingers to their front yards, and tell that unkempt grass to go fuck itself.” The Lawn Doctor is out!

Revocation – Great Is Our Sin Review

By Kronos on July 15, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Death Metal, Metal Blade, Progressive Death, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 39 comments

“From a band that’s as much of an institution as any group this century could be, any new release is going to be big news, but it’s extra special for old Kronos, since Revocation albums are de facto milestones in my tenure at AMG. Three albums down, and I’m happy to say that my opinion of the band has yet to take a hit. 2014’s Deathless has stood the test of time despit.” Fanboys be fanning.

Denouncement Pyre – Black Sun Unbound Review

By Mark Z. on July 13, 2016 in 2016, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 21 comments

“For an American who’s never visited, Australia seems like the coolest place on Earth. I get emissions testing done on my Toyota and listen to an old Army veteran reminisce about the beachy weather and beautiful women he met during his R&R travel there. I talk to a co-worker and hear stories about young women writing their phone numbers on tennis balls and tossing them onto the deck of his ship as it pulled into Sydney. I shotgun a Fosters while riding a kangaroo, wearing Globes, and blasting Deströyer 666 loud enough to crush my balls. I may have made one of those up. Point is, I love Australian metal, and Denouncement Pyre is no exception.” Disparaging the Boot is a bootable offense, Mark!

Numenorean – Home Review

By Mark Z. on July 12, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Shoegaze, Black Metal, Shoegaze, 77 comments

“Instead of a dull description of the five tracks and 44 minutes of Fen-like black metal on this Canadian quintet’s debut, let’s do something else. Take out a blank sheet of paper, draw a five-by-five square grid, and write one post-black cliche in each square. Ready? Good, because it’s time for POST-BLACK BINGO!” When you play Post-Black Bingo, you win or you…shoegaze.