Mar17

Brother Firetribe – Sunbound Review

By Steel Druhm on March 22, 2017 in 2017, Finnish Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Spinefarm, Heavy Metal, 61 comments

“Were you one of those kids raised on Rocky movies? If you were, you soaked up those bombastic training montage scenes that were so essential to the Stallone flicks. You cheered as he ran along the beach, screamed as he climbed snowy mountains, shouted when he lifted 2 ton heavy things and whistled as he chased poultry around sketchy back alleys. Part of the thrill of those scenes was the relentlessly upbeat, hilarious cheesy soundtrack populated by the likes of 80s radio icons, Survivor.” The 80s called; they want their 80s music fans back.

King of Asgard – :taudr: Review

By El Cuervo on March 21, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Trollmusic, Viking Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Viking Metal, 37 comments

“King of Asgard’s brand of Viking-themed, folksy, black metal was praised for its stellar riffing and sword-swinging energy. In light of their tenure, the green light was given to review their new EP, :taudr:. Comprising just five tracks over thirty minutes, I anticipated something sharper than the hour-long albums which are becoming the norm.” Sword swinging and review bringing.

Mothership – High Strangeness Review

By Steel Druhm on March 21, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Ripple Music, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, 25 comments

“Feast your eyes on that cover! There be breasts, beasts and planetary bodies. If there was ever a piece of truly van worthy art, this is that thing. As impressive as the art is, this here is a music review site, or so I’ve been told. That requires me to delve into the sounds Mothership deliver on their third album of 70s influenced stoner rock curiously titled High Strangeness.” Could the music ever match that glorious cover art?

Without Waves – Lunar Review

By Kronos on March 21, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 17 comments

“Chicago has a busy music scene, and I can hardly be bothered to go to shows even when bands I already like are playing, so there are plenty of cool second city bands that I’ve always heard of but never checked out. One such familiar name is Without Waves, an experimental/prog metal/rock outfit set to release their third album, Lunar, into a crowded field of new music this March 17th.” In a crowded field, is this brutal enough?

Lòdz – Time Doesn’t Heal Anything Review

By Dr. Wvrm on March 20, 2017 in 2017, French Metal, Klonosphere, Post-metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Post-Metal, 17 comments

“Upon being handed the Lòdz torch, Grymm advised me to approach the Frenchmen from an emotional standpoint. Post-metal’s enjoyment is often predicated on embracing the primal, rather than the technical. Someone like myself who struggles to connect with the genre’s hardscrabble nature might fail to embrace the passion hidden within. For Time Doesn’t Heal Anything to resonate in my heart, Lòdz would have unlock my emotional chastity.” Only AMG can unlock those goddamn belts!

Pallbearer – Heartless Review

By Grymm on March 20, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Doom Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Doom Metal, 144 comments

“Pallbearer’s last album, the stellar Foundations of Burden, not only provided the soundtrack for the memories of broken promises and lost friendships, but also became my favorite album of this past decade. So needless to say, a lot is riding on Heartless, the third full-length from the Arkansas doom kings.” When expectations and fanboyism meet reality.

Demonic Resurrection – Dashavatar Review

By Ferrous Beuller on March 20, 2017 in 2017, Folk Metal, Indian Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Folk Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Metal, 41 comments

“There’s a storm lamp on the table, throwing shadows to the gable, and you swallow, if you’re able, on a storytellers night…” Prepare for the many arms of Indian mythology as told through the medium of blackened death.

Venenum – Trance of Death Review

By Roquentin on March 19, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Death Metal, German Metal, Reviews, Sepulchral Voice Records, Black Metal, Death Metal, 70 comments

“A lone cello sings a mournful melody in a minor key. Fluttering piano touches accentuate the subtle tremolando strings. The folksy piece develops patiently, oscillating between an ambient sort of vagueness and a nervous incisiveness. While the surprising first two and a half minutes of Bavaria’s Venenum’s full-length début Trance of Death stand in contrast with the carnage that will follow, they are also perfect archetypes of the eclecticism and compositional strength of the release as a whole.” Carnage before cello, never mellow. Cello before carnage, happy carcass.

Lunar Shadow – Far From Light Review

By Steel Druhm on March 19, 2017 in 2017, Cruz Del Sur, Epic Metal, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 55 comments

“Nostalgia is a part of life, as inescapable as death, taxes and back hair. In moderation it’s a wistful and harmless reminder of happy times and precious moments. Taken to extremes however, it becomes ABBA-centric musicals and ironical Hipster Hell (i.e. Williamsburg, Brooklyn). The biggest problem with throwback/retro nostalgia-core is the fact it must forever look backward at what’s already been done, rarely managing to inject modern ideas or sensibilities into the mix. Flying in the face of this truism, Lunar Shadow boldly strides out of Germany with a new take on living in the past.” A retro twofer? Everyone loves a bargain.

Allochiria – Throes Review

By Mark Z. on March 18, 2017 in 2017, Art of Propaganda, Greek Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Sludge, Post-Metal, 22 comments

“While I’ve enjoyed some Pelican, Isis, and Light Bearer in my day, often the genre’s huge soundscapes and slow-burning buildups are simply too demanding for me to enjoy on a regular basis. On 2014’s debut Omonoia, Greek quintet Allochiria seemed to fit largely in this same mold. Drawing comparisons to the sludgy expanse of Year of No Light, a cursory listen revealed a layered, cerebral album whose dystopian atmosphere was delivered via a measured, methodical pace. Throes, however, is a much different beast — and one I think I’ll be spinning far more often.” Post beast is the new game in town.