Jun17

Madrost – The Essence of Time Matches No Flesh Review

By Saunders on July 2, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Progressive Death, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Unsigned Bands, Progressive Death, Progressive Metal, Thrash Metal, 43 comments

“One of my earliest review assignments here at Angry Metal Guy was for the sophomore album from unsigned Orange County thrashers Madrost. With the benefit of hindsight I was a tad generous with the scoring, however,Into the Aquatic Sector proved a highly competent and ripping affair of sci-fi themed retro thrash, bolstered by death and prog elements. Fast forward to 2017 and Madrost is back for another round of thrashing fun, but this time the musical quotient has been flipped.” Sector Vektor eat them all.

Cortez – The Depths Below Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on July 1, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Rock, Salt of the Earth Records, Sludge, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Rock, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, 17 comments

“It’s occurred to me that when I go stoner, more times than not, I tend to lean against bands just west of me. Bands like Kyuss, Sleep, High on Fire—all residing in sunny California. Funny enough, my favorite stoner outfit is all the way out in England. Hell, if you were to look at my stoner collection, you’d think Orange Goblin was an outlier and that stoner metal was an American thing. And my review of Temptation’s Wings newest record wouldn’t challenge that assumption. And now, the stoner bug has bit old Grier once again. I desire something to make my eyes puffy, my ears happy, and chill me the fuck out.” Lead or gold?

Manilla Road – To Kill a King Review

By Steel Druhm on June 30, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Epic Metal, GoldenCore Records, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 21 comments

“18 albums into their crusade to bring Kansas proto-metal to the masses and Manilla Road keeps right on truckin’. To Kill a King is yet another cobblestone on their pathway to Vahalla and predictably delivers a flying buttress of epic, olde-timey metal mixed with doom and 70s hard rock, sounding like Atlantean Kodex would if the current members were replaced by dirty bikers.” The crime you’ve selected is… regicide.

Origin – Unparalleled Universe Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on June 30, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Death Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 90 comments

“In terms of sound, little has changed in the Origin camp since Antithesis. The excessive hyper-blasting, the tandem bass and lead guitar sweeps and taps, the switch to chunkier riffs before going back into hyper-technicality; it’s all here in fine enough form. Of course it’s more restrained than Brain Drill (really, what isn’t?), but Origin still traffics in very clinical chaos.” Legacy of br00tality.

Les Chants du Hasard – Les Chants du Hasard Review

By Eldritch Elitist on June 30, 2017 in 2017, Avante Garde, French Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Reviews, 68 comments

“I’ve been lurking the metal blogosphere for around a decade now, and while I hesitate to call myself a scene vet, I’ve read enough write-ups from various webzines to know how coverage of a record like the self-titled debut of France’s Les Chants du Hasard generally plays out. Most scribes hunger for the discovery of some nebulous ‘next big thing’ that carries the potential of turning a genre on its head. As such, many writers are overly eager to gush over potential innovators; when met face to face with what their promo sheet describes as an all-orchestral black metal album, they’re often too willing to jump on the hype train, regardless of quality.” Classical darkness.

Broken Hope – Mutilated and Assimilated Review

By Madam X on June 29, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Century Media, Death Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 47 comments

“Hailing from the windy city, Broken Hope are known for dealing in what could be referred to as second-tier Suffocation or Deicide-inspired death metal, with some healthy Napalm Death grindcore influence.” Hope is never lost, just a bit broken.

Selene – The Ravages of Time Review

By Huck N Roll on June 29, 2017 in 2017, Irish Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Symphonic Metal, Symphonic Metal, 39 comments

“Selene are a relatively new symphonic metal band based in Belfast, Ireland. I’m not going to get on a high (or low) horse about the genre: if you like symphonic metal, you’ll read this review, and if you don’t you’ll scroll down and look for something nastier. It’s all good to me.” Nightmiss.

BardSpec – Hydrogen Review

By Grymm on June 28, 2017 in 2017, By Norse Music, International Metal, Not Metal, Reviews, Ambient, Not Metal, 32 comments

“We here at Angry Metal Guy Unlimited Turbo Duo Deluxe Enterprises take pride in bringing you timely reviews of all things metal. That said, sometimes our heroes will go off the beaten path and create something that’s neither metal nor angry. For instance, Enslaved guitarist Ivar Bjørnson, looking to branch out into different streams of musical consciousness, has put down his guitar in favor of a MacBook. Yes, something ambient has been brewing in his awesome beard, and with the help of Today is the Day’s Steve Austin on guitar and effects, we have the debut BardSpec album, Hydrogen.” Mac attack.

Passage – As Darkness Comes Review

By Steel Druhm on June 28, 2017 in 2017, Canadian Metal, Doom Metal, Exorcize Music, Reviews, Doom Metal, 13 comments

“Passage is likely not a name familiar to many outside of their native Montreal, Canada. Their self-titled debut was released in 2005 and they failed to follow it up in any way until now. Talk about a momentum killer, eh? Dubious marketing choices aside, the band traffics in melancholy doom death and they take many pages from the dog-eared tomes of Paradise Lost, Saturnus and My Dying Bride as they seek to crush your spirit under weighty riffs and heart-wrenching melodies.” Hello, darkness my olde friend.

Vintersorg – Till Fjälls del II Review

By El Cuervo on June 27, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Folk Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 35 comments

Till Fjälls (“To the Mountains”) marked the début of Sweden’s Vintersorg and thus began one of the better melodic black and folk metal bands around. Though their music phased out the folk influences and replaced them with even more melody, Till Fjälls del II is a definitive statement that they still care about folksy stimuli. Cast your eyes over the rather excellent artwork. Do you see the mountains, the trees, the snow, the Northern fucking Lights? I think you’ll agree that they definitely still care about nature and shit.” Just call him “the Natural.”