Mercyful Fate

Havukruunu – Uinuos syömein sota Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 19, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 82 comments

“I’ve been the greatest cheerleader of Bathory/Immortal purveyors for years. Like Rimfrost and Havukruunu, to name but a couple. Similar in approach, different in delivery, these two bands have satisfied my thirst for aggressive, galloping, pummeling, crab-walking, Viking-esque black metal. Both have seen their share of black metallery, yet one has passed on and one remains. This leaves a lot of pressure on the survivor. But, since 2015’s Havulinnaan, Havukruunu has proven its Bathor-ian mettle. Though 2017’s follow-up Kelle surut soi is the only contender in the catalog, that album is a beast. Yet, the stakes still remain high. Will this year’s Uinuos syömein sota live up to its full potential? Will it fall victim forever to a style conceived and put to rest by Thomas Börje Forsberg?” Crab inwasion.

Blackballed – Elephant in the Room Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on July 31, 2020 in Reviews, Hard Rock, 16 comments

“Standing on my shelf next to other “non-metal” records, like Captain Beyond, Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, Waylon Jennings, Blue Öyster Cult, and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, you’ll find albums from B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Joe Bonamassa, Robert Johnson, and John Lee Hooker. Am I trying to say I’m an expert in the field? Heavens, no. But this would explain my odd selection of (typically) straight-forward, go-nowhere blues/hard rock promos for review. And here’s yet another.” Blues balls.

Vampire – Rex Review

By Grymm on June 17, 2020 in Reviews, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 17 comments

“When we last heard from Swedish vampires, err… Vampire, they impressed me in 2017 with their Castlevania II/80’s inspired With Primeval Force, and although it didn’t crack my Top Ten(ish) that year, it still worms its way into my listening sessions on a continual basis around these parts. I was beginning to worry that the merry (undead) quintet would lay dormant, so imagine my surprise when the higher-ups threw Rex at my lap and told me to get on that shit, pronto.” Rex the necks.

Hexenbrett – Zweite Beschwörung: Ein Kind zu töten Review

By Dear Hollow on June 3, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Punk, 24 comments

“Hexenbrett is a German black metal band and relatively new to the scene, having released their only release in an independent EP in 2018, Erste Beschwörung. These Germans offer a unique take on the blackened arts.” Broken toys and evil joys.

Freddy and the Phantoms – A Universe from Nothing Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on May 9, 2020 in Reviews, Rock, 4 comments

“I found myself wondering whether the members of Freddy and the Phantoms who aren’t the eponymous vocalist/keyboardist Frederick (Freddy) Schnoor write down “Phantom at Freddy and the Phantoms” on their resume. The promo material did not answer this pressing question, so I’ll happily assume they do. Also on the resume of any given Phantom is participation in one of 2015’s best rock records: Times of Division.” Rocking the stars.

Malokarpatan – Krupinské ohne Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 25, 2020 in 2020, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal, Invictus Productions, Reviews, Slovak Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal, 42 comments

“No matter who you are or where you live, everyone is being asked to stay home from a job that they may not get to come back to. Or… living it up with their family in a mansion whose walls sport the fashionable 2020 Vintage Toilet Tissue Wallpaper. Then there’re others of us that push on like nothing is happening. Regardless of your dilemma, this shit has come out of nowhere and I-just-went-in-for-eggs-and-left-after-four-hours-because-only-ten-people-were-allowed-into-the-store-at-one-time is a thing. Everyone’s upset and no one knows what’s gonna happen next. Funny enough, that’s the perfect attitude to have for Malokarpatan‘s newest masterpiece, Krupinské ohne.”

Bütcher – 666 Goats Carry My Chariot Review

By Steel Druhm on January 29, 2020 in 2020, Belgian Metal, Black Metal, Osmose Productions, Reviews, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Speed Metal, 62 comments

“Did you ever stop and wonder what a collaboration between Mercyful Fate, Celtic Frost, Agent Steel and Darkthrone circa Transilvanian Hunger would sound like? You probably didn’t, but Belgium blackened speed metal deviants Bütcher certainly did, and then they created 666 Goats Carry My Chariot to see if such a crazy musical time heist was even possible. It is, and I for one welcome our new time warping speed overlords, even as I flee from the super weapon of mass destruction they’ve wrought.” Goat show.

Midnight Priest – Aggressive Hauntings [Things You Might Have Missed 2019]

By Diabolus in Muzaka on December 12, 2019 in 2019, Heavy Metal, Metal On Metal Records, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed, Things You Might Have Missed 2019, Heavy Metal, 31 comments

“I like focus and consistency, so a whole record of quick and quality heavy metal songs is always something I keep an ear to the ground for. This year the ground decided to scream “Midnight Priest” at me—a bit rude, but I can’t argue with the results.” Worship and then burn the night.

Reveal – Scissorgod Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 2, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Sepulchral Voice Records, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, 27 comments

“No month of horror movies leading up to the big day. No romantic nights with Elvira. No King Diamond/Mercyful Fate marathons. But, I’ll be goddamned if Halloween escapes me before 2019 ends. So, instead of turkey preparations and being thankful for the useless shit in my life, November is my new October. And, as it turns out, there’s no one I’d rather spend it with than Reveal and their third concoction of mindfucking black and death, Scissorgod.” No safety scissors these.

Aggressive Perfector – Havoc at the Midnight Hour Review

By Steel Druhm on November 21, 2019 in 2019, Dying Victims Productions, English Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 19 comments

“It’s clearly throwback week in the House ov Steel. No sooner do I crash land after high speed sledding through the 80s with Warsenal than I find myself prematurely buried in the creepy graveyard of 80s metal curated by England’s Aggressive Perfector. With a sound stuck in the mire between Mercyful Fate and Venom, and at times digging in the same graves that Deceased made a career out of defiling, their debut drags the unsuspecting listener through a horror revival of all the charmingly slimy metal hits of the 80s.” Havoc panic.