Jul20

Convocation – Ashes Coalesce Review

Convocation – Ashes Coalesce Review

By Ferrous Beuller on July 15, 2020 in Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 25 comments

“Yes, I still write here. In fact, nothing can draw me out of seclusion quite like the promise of some quality Finnish extremity. In 2018, I had the good fortune to cover Convocation, a newly established entity of funereal death-doom. Desolate Shrine mastermind L.L joined forces with Dark Buddha Rising vocalist M. Neuman to pour all of their grief into one bereft body of work, and the results were profound. Now, the universal wailing wall stands ready to receive yet another cascade of condemnation.” Ash kicking.

Jet Jaguar – Endless Nights Review

Jet Jaguar – Endless Nights Review

By GardensTale on July 15, 2020 in Reviews, Glam Metal, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 16 comments

“Despite being a sizable and populous country, Mexico has precious few big names in the metal scene. These days their biggest claim to fame is a certain pirate metal drinking song, followed by Brujeria’s brutal cartel-themed death metal. But there is still significant love for the more classic subgenres, and Jet Jaguar are testimony to that fact. Winners of the Wacken Open Air Metal Battle 2017, these 5 gents have been pounding the pavement and reawakening the Mesoamerican hunger for 80’s metal for a while now, and they are finally ready to drop their debut, the garishly neon-colored Endless Nights.” Own the purple night.

Väki – Kuolleen Maan Omaksi Review

Väki – Kuolleen Maan Omaksi Review

By Twelve on July 14, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, 30 comments

“I enjoy a rather hesitant dance with black metal. It doesn’t take a whole lot to turn me off to a sampling of the style – I’d say I’m pretty picky here. But I just can’t help myself trying. Väki, who hail from Finland and purport a strong fascination with death, are the latest to pique my interest, and I couldn’t initially put my finger on why.” Embrace the grave.

U.D.O. / Musikkorps der Bundeswehr – We Are One Review

U.D.O. / Musikkorps der Bundeswehr – We Are One Review

By Steel Druhm on July 14, 2020 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 58 comments

“If you made a short list of metal luminaries who you’d want to record a massive concept album with a 60 piece orchestra, I have a sneaking suspicion Udo Dirkschneider wouldn’t make the cut. To be blunt, I doubt the raspy-voiced Teutonic terror would make the long list either, yet here we are. You see, the man who once fronted Accept has somehow impressed the Concert Band for the German Armed Forces (Musikkorps der Bundeswehr) into service for a collaboration titled We Are One.” Hot Tuba.

The Funeral Orchestra – Negative Evocation Rights Review

The Funeral Orchestra – Negative Evocation Rights Review

By Carcharodon on July 14, 2020 in Reviews, Funeral Doom, 13 comments

“As just the second full-length from The Funeral Orchestra in 18 years of existence, to say that Negative Evocation Rights has been long in the making feels like a massive understatement. The follow up to 2003’s Feeding the Abyss, and given the band’s nom de plume and the fact that this Swedish trio do actually specialize in an ultra-slow, stripped back form of doom – it should be my opportunity to hold forth, at length, on the funeral doom genre.” Charnel knowledge.

Serene Dark – Enantiodromia Review

Serene Dark – Enantiodromia Review

By Holdeneye on July 13, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 14 comments

“After thirteen years of existence as End Demise, the band felt that it had experienced enough change over the years to warrant a fresh start and a fresh name. So in a way, even though it continues with the eclectic genre bastardization seen on End Demise’s previous releases, Enantiodromia is essentially the debut record from a new band.” Serenity now!

The Lightbringer – From The Void To Existence EP Review

The Lightbringer – From The Void To Existence EP Review

By Dear Hollow on July 13, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, Power Metal, 23 comments

“From The Void To Existence, like Devil With No Name’s self-titled, is a conniving little EP that snuck through our Jericho-esque walls to fraternize with the big boys. It also manages to offend two camps in its blend of black metal and power metal: a commute, if you will, between the Realm of Obscurely Kvlt Black Metal and the Vault of Powery Cheese,” Power black attack.

Aseitas – False Peace Review

Aseitas – False Peace Review

By Kronos on July 11, 2020 in Reviews, Death Metal, 28 comments

“Aseitas are the Northwest’s death metal answer to the Northeast’s black metal alchemists in Genevieve, twisting the most experimental threads of metal into sleeker, stronger songs. The Portland quintet’s eclectic experiments began with 2018’s Aseitas, a record that seemed woven from every strand of extreme metal’s experiments in the decade before it.” No brutality, no peace.