Jun17

Dzö-nga – The Sachem’s Tales Review

By Mark Z. on July 19, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Avantgarde Music, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 40 comments

“Sophomore full-length The Sachem’s Tales sees Cryvas crafting a concept album about Native American folklore, aiming to combine Cascadian black metal with classical music. Joined by female vocalist Grushenka Ødegård and session drummer Aaron Maloney (formerly of Pennsylvania metalcore act This or the Apocalypse, oddly enough), has Dzö-nga given us the next Bergtatt or delivered another Bandcamp black metal record whose hype will fizzle faster than you can say “Ghost Bath”? The Great Tree and the Dzö-nga House.

Stallion – From the Dead Review

By Huck N Roll on July 10, 2017 in 2017, German Metal, Heavy Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, 19 comments

“This is a late review, but that’s what happens when you live in Canada and get eight days of summer per year: you spend all your time frolicking amongst the dandelions instead of in a darkened room blaring metal. Anyhow, this new release from Stallion grabbed my attention for only one reason: in 2013 they had a song called “Canadian Steele.”” Of Northern pride and metallurgy.

Stahlmann – Bastard Review

By El Cuervo on July 9, 2017 in 2017, AFM Records, Electronica Metal, German Metal, Groove Metal, Industrial Metal, Reviews, Electronic, Industrial Metal, 31 comments

“Stahlmann are the new decade’s flag-bearers for Neu Deutsche Härte (NDH); a genre hailing from Germany in the 90s, featuring groove, industrial, and electronic influences, and popularized by the likes of Rammstein and Oomph!. While they’re both still active, Stahlmann deemed these big names needed support and so their first record was released in 2010. Bastard is now their fourth and I’m forced to consider its title. Is it a puerile scream against a shitty world or the unwanted child which they’ll ditch upon its release?” Illegitimate.

Mutation – Mutation III: Dark Black Review

By El Cuervo on July 8, 2017 in 2017, English Metal, Grind, Noise, Punk, Reviews, Undergroove Records, Noise Metal, Punk, 20 comments

“Ginger Wildheart has had an interesting career. Achieving mild commercial success with the pop/rock band The Wildhearts, he’s expanded his repertoire to include “power pop” (Hey! Hello!), folk music (,b>Ghost in the Tanglewood) and latterly a noise rock and metal project (Mutation).” Jack of all trades, Wildheart of some.

Contra – Deny Everything Review

By Grymm on July 6, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Reviews, Robustfellow Records, Shifty Records, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Sludge, Stoner Metal, 46 comments

“Before we begin, let’s take a moment and admire the cover art to your left, shall we? Here we have Steel Druhm and a fellow soldier buddy, waging intergalactic war against alien things while the logo for Cleveland’s Contra may or may not cause Konami’s lawyers to give them a phone call quicker than one can shout, “Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start.”” Ape escape and stoner grapes.

Sator Malus – Dark Matters Review

By Treble Yell on July 5, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Dutch Metal, Forever Plagued Records, Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 18 comments

“What do you notice when you take in a Paul Gauguin? Do you admire the stark brush strokes and bold secondary colours? Maybe the uninhibited naturalism of the Tahitian subjects draws your eye? Or can you not get past the stunted proportions, flattened perspectives and homely faces? A similar divide exists in music. Some are pulled in by lyrical themes and instrument tone whereas others require a reproachless performance and complex song writing. Emotional stimulus versus technical ecstasy. Sator Malus, with their debut album, Dark Matters, are less concerned with peerless virtuosity than delivering a sombre mood suitable for an afternoon spent indoors carving runes.” Everything’s runed.

Weregoat – Pestilential Rites of Infernal Fornication Review

By Mark Z. on July 5, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Parasitic Records, Reviews, Vault of Dried Bones, Black Metal, Death Metal, 47 comments

“What do you get when you cross a werewolf with a goat? If you guessed “39 minutes of barbaric blackened death metal,” congratulations and welcome to a world where the only thing more bestial than the music is the sexual activity it describes.” Animal husbandry.

The Soundbyte – Solitary IV Review

By GardensTale on July 4, 2017 in 2017, Ambient Metal, Post-Rock, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Temple of Torturous Records, Ambient Metal, Progressive Rock, 21 comments

“Norway’s The Soundbyte, a project of The 3rd and the Mortal guitarist Trond Engum, seeks to improve the reputation of scene-setting noisescapes with its 4th experimental platter, Solitary IV. Full disclaimer, it’s only tangentially in the camp of metal, but few experimental albums are and the material on display here is not something we want to keep from you. Let’s get to it.” We’re givers.

Black Messiah – Walls of Vanaheim Review

By Eldritch Elitist on July 3, 2017 in 2017, Folk Metal, German Metal, Reviews, Trollzorn Records, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Power Metal, 10 comments

“Holy shit, Black Messiah. This is one of those little bands that I found in the mid-00’s while first delving into the metal underground that, though kinda cool in their unorthodox approach, I inevitably forgot about in the wash of better bands. Yet I instantly remembered these Germans once I saw their seventh album Walls of Vanaheim in the promo bay, their blend of epic folk metal, pagan black metal and power metal rushing back in a wave of nostalgia and phantom headaches triggered by memories of awful production. I snagged it without hesitation for old times’ sake, and sure enough, this was the same Black Messiah I had listened to casually in my teenage years, warts and all.” Viking roars and pagan warts.

Weapönizer – Lawless Age Review

By Mark Z. on July 3, 2017 in 20 Buck Spin, 2017, American Metal, Black Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 23 comments

“Titties, rippling muscles, a motorcycle, and a horde of miscreants — what’s not to love about that artwork? Add in a promo blurb billing Weapönizer as a band for fans of everything from Deströyer 666 to The Road Warrior and I’m more curious than a 12-year-old boy outside a sleazy gentlemen’s club.” Law is for posers.