Mathcore

Owdwyr – Receptor Review

Owdwyr – Receptor Review

By Dear Hollow on October 20, 2023 in Reviews, Classical, Death Metal, Deathcore, Groove Metal, Mathcore, Technical Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 16 comments

“The “for fans of” line in any given promo is a true test of character. While most bands crank out their faves, there are intriguing blends that grab attention. Most of these are disappointments, often running the gamut of extreme metal buzzwords only to be the latest act to sound exactly like In Flames, but there are others whose combinations are pretty accurate, like the tantalizing combination that the California-based Owdwyr boasts in its debut Receptor: from Car Bomb, Human Remains, and Fleshgod Apocalypse to composers like Bach, Allan Holdsworth, and Heitor Villa-Lobos. In essence, Owdwyr may be genius or not, but this trio is always batshit crazy.” Owdwyr812.

Oxx – The Primordial Blues Review

Oxx – The Primordial Blues Review

By Dear Hollow on August 23, 2023 in Reviews, Mathcore, Metalcore, Noise Rock, Sludge Metal, 18 comments

“Oxx is a trio from Aarhus, Denmark, having released three full-lengths and an EP since 2012. In spite of easy recollections to mathy insanity, pigeonholing The Primordial Blues is unfair even to the act’s own discography, as the ominous sprawling of 2015 debut Bury the Ones We Love and Burn the Rest differs fundamentally to the frantic Dillinger-core of 2019’s The Skeleton Is Just A Coat Hanger.” Big, not so dumb OXX.

Pupil Slicer – Blossom Review

Pupil Slicer – Blossom Review

By Dear Hollow on June 19, 2023 in Reviews, Mathcore, Metalcore, Nu Metal, Punk, 43 comments

“Pupil Slicer really shook things up in 2021. While undeniably a slab of Converge-meets-Dillinger core with a nice dose of Botch, the trio’s debut Mirrors was a tour-de-force of grindy intensity, a neat balance between heart and callousness, and a marvel of songwriting. Songs like “Husk,” “Collective Unconscious,” and “Wounds Upon My Skin” still get regular plays in the Hollow household, with mad mastermind Kate Davies’ frantic vocals, insane axework, and boundary-pushing ideas taking center stage.” Eye on the prize.

The Willowtip Files: Ion Dissonance – Breathing is Irrelevant

The Willowtip Files: Ion Dissonance – Breathing is Irrelevant

By Saunders on May 15, 2023 in Blog Posts, The Willowtip Files, Grind, Mathcore, Progressive Metal, 16 comments

“Pennsylvanian-based independent label Willowtip Records was established by Jason Tipton in the late ’90s. From humble beginnings, the label has stood the test of time, becoming one of the most respected and highly regarded record labels in the extreme metal scene. It takes something special to create a label with a consistently unfuckwithable roster of quality, innovative artists while retaining long-term integrity and durability. Willowtip is the self-proclaimed forward-thinking label, releasing a slew of modern classics and top-shelf albums that may have a lower profile but are more than worth your while.” Math grinding.

The Callous Daoboys – Celebrity Therapist [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

The Callous Daoboys – Celebrity Therapist [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

By Dear Hollow on January 1, 2023 in Things You Might Have Missed 2022, Experimental Metal, Mathcore, 9 comments

“Everybody listen: The Callous Daoboys don’t give a shit. More than ever, they do what they do and you just have to deal with it. Matthew Ryan is their drummer and they’re from Atlanta – coincidence? I know, some of are saying, “wait, doesn’t Matt Ryan play for Indianapolis?” There, you understand The Callous Daoboys. Their bonkers take on mathcore has placed them at the scene’s forefront.” New year, new Dao.

Dr. Acula – Dr. Acula Review

Dr. Acula – Dr. Acula Review

By Dear Hollow on November 1, 2022 in Reviews, Deathcore, Hardcore, Mathcore, 23 comments

“I hail from the Pacific Northwest and have never set foot in the Big Apple, so I know nothing about Long Island. So when the promo reads “Deathcore from Long Island!!” I don’t know what the hell that means. Is that good or bad? Is Long Island the prodigal son of New York? Is Long Island something you’d rather fugeddabaat? I don’t know, but Dr. Acula calls it home. If you had told me that ten years ago, I would have cringed and made a mental note to never visit Long Island. But now? I’m not so sure.” No man is an island.

Ahasver – Causa Sui Review

Ahasver – Causa Sui Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on October 2, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Groove Metal, Mathcore, Progressive Metal, Sludge Metal, 16 comments

“Have you ever heard the story of Ahasver, a forsaken quasi-biblical figure who ignored Jesus somewhere along the line? Now, he gets to wander around undying until the big guy comes back. That’s just a bit petty if you ask me, but if you ask Ahasver, the story functions as a much more brutal parable—a man must walk the earth in the face of all the terrors he has witnessed and ever that will unfold. But worry not, this isn’t a 90 minute rock opera nor a 60 bpm post metal languishing. This pedigree of furious Frenchman (including Julien Deyres of Gorod and Zubrowska fame) prefers to pontificate with chunky grooves, textured vocal aggression, and… a Carl Sagan reading?” Grooves and Stars.

Thoughtcrimes – Altered Pasts Review

Thoughtcrimes – Altered Pasts Review

By Dear Hollow on August 27, 2022 in Reviews, Alternative Metal, Mathcore, Metalcore, 7 comments

“Thoughtcrimes is just cool. The product of an act assembled by former The Dillinger Escape Plan drummer Billy Rymer, Altered Pasts isn’t your typical Converge-core “three minutes of incomprehensible shrieking and feedback” aesthetic. While it has its fair share of blasting rhythms and jagged tempo shifts reminiscent of mathcore’s toddler approach to keeping time, the band has infused it with dynamics. In recognizing that extreme music is just an endless din if it’s not given the room to breathe in crescendos and diminuendos of solid songwriting, Thoughtcrimes have constructed their sophomore effort carefully.” Altered math.