May17

Divine Element – Thaurachs of Borsu Review

By Eldritch Elitist on May 19, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, I Voidhanger Records, International Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 26 comments

“Based on my review stats thus far into my AMG career, I’ve got a 66 percent chance of snagging a record featuring Spectral Lore guitarist Ayloss whenever I pull an I, Voidhanger release from the promo bin. It’s easy to see why the label is so eager to back his work; he’s one of the few black metal guitarists I can recall who possesses a unique playing style, slapping an unmistakable stamp onto pretty much every product he touches. But before he staked his claim to black metal fame with Spectral Lore, he cut his teeth on Divine Element.” Sharp teeth, sharp riffs.

Sektarism – La Mort de L’Infidele Review

By Grymm on May 19, 2017 in 2017, Doom Metal, Drone, French Metal, Reviews, Zanjeer Zani Productions, Doom Metal, 31 comments

“As anyone who knows me well enough can attest, I function in strange ways. I enjoy my iced coffee in the wintertime. In the summertime, though, when everyone is either at the beach or cruising down the highway of their choice, I prefer to shutter myself in my house, grab a beer, and listen to either Kyuss or funeral doom. Strange, I know, but there’s something to be said about taking it easy on days where it’s overly sunny and hot as balls outside. So imagine my delight when I discovered La Mort de L’Infidele by France’s Sektarism in the promo bin, just waiting for me to engage in enough summertime sadness to make Lana Del Ray blush.” There ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.

The Monolith Deathcult – Versvs 1 Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 18, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, Dutch Metal, Hammerheart Records, Industrial Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Industrial Metal, 39 comments

“Two years ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing The Monolith Deathcult’s 2015 EP Bloodcvlts. And by ‘pleasure,’ I mean something else entirely. The band is everything Leave It to Beaver’s Eddie Haskell would be in reality. At first, the band seems like a serious, straight-laced Dutch death metal group. They seem polite and always outgoing, straight-to-the-point and never misleading. Then you discover the truth: that’s all bullshit.” Bloodcvlts, BS, Beaver.

Night Flight Orchestra – Amber Galactic Review

By Dr. Fisting on May 17, 2017 in 2017, Hard Rock, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Swedish Metal, 81 comments

“Night Flight Orchestra have rapidly escalated from ‘modern metal dudes pretending to be classic rockers’ into something far more authentic and interesting. Their 2012 debut Internal Affairs was a shockingly good burst of late-1970s glory, especially considering the Soilwork and Arch Enemy members involved. 2015’s Skyline Whispers took the band’s sound into the synth-heavy ’80s, resulting in heavy rotation in the AMG office and a spot on my own Top 10(ish) list that year. Further solidifying their legitimacy, NFO recently signed a deal with Nuclear Blast, leading to the release of their 3rd record Amber Galactic.” Sleazy nights, galactic lights.

Sentient Ignition – Enthroned in Gray Review

By Dr. Wvrm on May 17, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Technical Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 30 comments

“Sentient Ignition burst onto the death metal circuit one year ago, dropping a two-track demo that caught the ears of everyone from MetalSucks to Toilet Ov Hell. Mixing melody, technical skill, and progressive intent, the demo delivered a product equal parts surprise and success. Enthroned in Gray is now tasked with living up to expectations set dangerously high for a band whose career spans 15 minutes and 52 seconds.” The confidence of youth and the wankiness of tech-death.

Lo-Ruhamah – Anointing Review

By Grymm on May 16, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Estonian Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 15 comments

“Having been wrongly labeled as a Christian band, Lo-Ruhamah nevertheless garnered quite a few interested ears with their interesting take on progressive doom metal mixed with esoteric spiritualism. But then, they went inactive for almost a decade. Now, with the members spending time between the States and Estonia, they return with their long-awaited follow-up, Anointing.” Back from the dead, but not like Jesus!

Below – Upon a Pale Horse Review

By Steel Druhm on May 16, 2017 in 2017, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, 61 comments

“Being the traditional kind of guy I am, if you were to tell me there was a band taking the very best parts of vintage Candlemass and Tad Morose and expertly welding them together, you would have my undivided attention. Below is that act, and Upon a Pale Horse is their second opus of epic doom mixed with classic/traditional metal. Mystery abounds as to how we whiffed on their 2014 debut, Across the Dark River, but we did and it was a mistake we won’t be making again.” Good things come on pale horses.

Mastercastle – Wine of Heaven Review

By Dr. Wvrm on May 16, 2017 in 2017, Italian Metal, Neo-Classical Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Neo-Classical Metal, Power Metal, 62 comments

“Since their 2009 debut, Mastercastle have blasted from the blocks by channeling Iron Maiden’s otherworldly focus on output. The Italians released five albums in six years, intent on spreading their cheesy neo-classicisms far and wide. This shotgun approach has done the band no favors, though; their potency stretched thinner with each new release. With lead axeman Pier Gonella nearing his 30th album, concerns of diminishing creative stores seem all too prescient. Mastercastle’s sixth release Wine of Heaven reaches the breaking point, shaking the emperor down, stripping him naked, and flogging him through the streets.” All cheese, no wine.

Godhunter – Codex Narco Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 15, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Baby Tooth Records, Battleground Records, Doom Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, 9 comments

“What kind of ‘god hunter’ is Godhunter? One out in search of truth, peace, and reasoning? Or are they on a hunt for revenge; fed up with the silence that returns their prayers or the global devastations no mortal man seems capable of preventing? Godhunter are many things and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were both.” God is game.

Sabbath Assembly – Rites of Passage Review

By Huck N Roll on May 15, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Occult Rock, Reviews, Svart Records, 38 comments

“Sabbath Assembly have been gifting us with music firmly entrenched in eerie discomfort since 2009. In the early years, their releases centered upon the teachings of the Process Church of the Final Judgement, which made them disturbing to the point of near-inaccessibility. In what was a positive career move, the band decided not to regale us with further hippy cult weirdness on 2015’s self-titled release, instead focusing on pure occult songs, resulting in an excellent album that catapulted the band (in our eyes at least) to the top of the occult rock food chain.” Self-cleaning coven.