Mar20

Bloodspot – The Cannibal Instinct Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 17, 2021 in Reviews, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 19 comments

“Bloodspot would also like you to know that they aren’t afraid to cross genres. That said, they ain’t no atmospheric, avant-garde black metal group. Instead, this German quintet attempts to cross doom with groove and death with thrash. In the end, though, the band’s sound is closest to that of Swede-thrash outfits like At the Gates and The Haunted. But, there’s more to Bloodspot and their new outing, The Cannibal Instinct, than meets the eye. The question is, is it worth exploring?” Food chaining.

Demiser – Through the Gate Eternal Review

By Cherd on March 16, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 60 comments

“It’s spring in Minnesota. Given the harshness of our winters, these longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures always feel transformative, but after these past 12 months of hell, and with vaccination rates climbing and new Covid cases dropping, one can almost imagine normal life emerging from the pandemic like the landscape emerges as the snow disappears. In physical terms, this means the compulsion to go outside is strong. Absorb some sunlight, smell the mild air, watch things grow. In metal terms, it’s time to put down the doom and dsbm and reach for something fun, fast and filthy. South Carolina’s blackened thrash band Demiser have spent pandemic isolation crafting their debut full-length, Through the Gate Eternal.” Reports of Demiser are not greatly exaggerated.

Almanac – A Discographic Review [Tsar (2016), Kingslayer (2017) and Rush of Death (2020)]

By Angry Metal Guy on August 25, 2020 in Reviews, Power Metal, Symphonic Metal, Thrash Metal, 36 comments

“For the last four years, I have been neglecting—and you have been denied my Very Important Opinion™ about—one of the most idiosyncratic voices in metal: Victor Smolski. And so, in a Swallow the Sun-sized act of hubris, I’m writing a discographic review of Victor Smolski’s Almanac.” You can’t spell “Almanac” without MAN!

Then Comes Silence – Machine Review

By Master of Muppets on May 9, 2020 in Reviews, Electronica, 27 comments

“For starters, one of the weirder batches of name drops that I’ve ever whipped together: Then Comes Silence sound something like the frolicking gloomchild of The Cure, MGMT, Eurythmics, and Impure Wilhelmina. Machine is a strange thing of bouncing electronica and sullen prog, a 45-minute dance through the tears—or maybe it’s with?” Auto-saboi.

Dawn of Ouroboros – The Art of Morphology Review

By Master of Muppets on May 1, 2020 in Reviews, 33 comments

“I found Dawn of Ouroboros out walking after midnight through the Bandcamp grounds, and while I may have ultimately been hauled back to my angry metal prison in a most silverback-ed and unceremonious fashion, you can bet your sorry ass that I managed to smuggle the Californians’ debut back with me. You’re welcome.” Muppet Mythos.

Record(s) o’ the Month – March 2020

By Angry Metal Guy on April 22, 2020 in 2020, Blog Posts, Record o' the Month, 131 comments

“March of 2020 was a big month for me, personally. I turned in a full manuscript of my dissertation for a seminar that gives you the bits and pieces that need to be fixed in order to go to a public defense. As a result, AngryMetalGuy.com is one step closer to getting AMG Himself back. You can bet that heads will fucking roll. That’s what I do around here. Fortunately, I had a solid stable of records to listen to while I was editing and planning my inevitable return, including March’s Record o’ the Month.” Back to rule.

Nekrovault – Totenzug: Festering Peregrination Review

By Eldritch Elitist on April 11, 2020 in 2020, Death Metal, German Metal, Reviews, Van Records, Death Doom, Death Metal, 21 comments

“Ideally, Totenzug would be an evolution of Nekrovault’s sound that offered a better blending of genres, and it fulfills that expectation admirably. Yet the band’s reluctance to fully embrace the most interesting corners of their sound leaves them scraping the edge of greatness.” Nekropolis.

Wake – Devouring Ruin Review

By Cherd on April 4, 2020 in Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Grind, Reviews, Translation Loss, Death Metal, Grind, 56 comments

“Finding catharsis in the midst of chaos is the name of the game these days. It’s why every tenth article in your COVID co-opted news avalanche feed is about a bunny who adopted stray kittens. It’s why last Saturday I watched a live stream of a drag queen disinfecting every surface in her kitchen while performing Queen’s “I Want to Break Free.” As the world around us is brought to its knees by the weight of uncertainty, we instinctively seek out and appreciate these small pressure release valves. Bands who ply their trade in chaotic styles should pay attention. Chaos plus time equals background noise, but there are two options to keep an audience engaged. The first is brevity. This is why hardcore punk albums are traditionally 25-30 mins long. The second is the thoughtful placement of sonic perches to rest upon.” Choose wisely.

Grim Ravine – It’s a Long Way Down, to Where You Are Review

By Kenstrosity on April 1, 2020 in 2020, British Metal, Doom Metal, Hostile Media, Reviews, United Kingdom Metal, Doom Metal, 9 comments

“Information on Grim Ravine is minimal, but so is their discography. One EP, one full-length that’s as long as your average doom EP, and this sophomore outing. All firmly entrench themselves in doom defined by waves of blackened froth across a sea of subaqueous riffs.” Trench waterfare.

Graceless – Where Vultures Know Your Name Review

By Holdeneye on March 31, 2020 in 2020, Death Metal, Dutch Metal, Raw Skull Records, Reviews, Death Metal, 58 comments

“One of my very first reviews as a n00b saw me tackling 1914’s The Blind Leading the Blind, an album that effectively combined the rumbling death/doom of Asphyx and the grooving attack of Bolt Thrower, so when I saw that the latest release from Dutch band Graceless was touted as embodying that same combo, I thought I’d give it a whirl and hope that it would be the shot in the arm I desperately need.” Death inoculations.