Mistur

Essenz – Manes Impetus Review

By GardensTale on August 16, 2018 in 2018, Amor Fati Productions, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Drone, German Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 50 comments

“Stepping out of your comfort zone is often a healthy thing. Slither away from the soft bed you know into the cold bath of the unknown and you might find yourself with a new affection you never knew existed. When it comes to metal, by and large, this means black metal for me. Though I’ve run into the occasional band that surprises me with articulate frostiness, such as Mistur and Gaerea, the genre as a whole tends to linger outside my grasp. So here I am once more, venturing into the obtuse murk, with the harsh glare of Essenz, a German outfit of cryptically abbreviated band members.” From comfort to cvlt.

Mistur – In Memoriam [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 9, 2017 in 2016, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Melodic Death Metal, Norwegian Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Viking Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Viking Metal, 97 comments

“If you look back through the top ten archives of the site, you’ll find it’s not uncommon to see a band on a list that was never reviewed by us. If a promo doesn’t come through our hand-hewn bone doors, it doesn’t get reviewed. But, even with that rule in place, there’re just too many promos arriving on a weekly basis to catch them all. What is uncommon is an album that not only landed on a couple lists but also took the top spot.” The embargo must be broken!

Angry Metal Guy’s Top 10(ish) Records o’ 2016

By Angry Metal Guy on January 3, 2017 in 2016, Blog Posts, 273 comments

Twenty-sixteen was a year that started so well. I’d recently performed a counter coup, reorganized things, appointed Steel Druhm to my Internet Banana Republic Enforcer for Life and I was reviewing a lot of stuff. The Record(s) o’ the Month were landing on time, and the trains were on schedule. Then tragedy struck… Alas, the good that was the beginning of the year turned into a fucking bullshit slog where I became progressively overcome by life. Longtime readers will know that I have been much less involved on the back half of this year than at any point in our long history. And I’ll just be honest, I’ve been considering even setting aside the mantle of Angry Metal Guy altogether. This year has been a year of endings, in a way. The end of my faith in humanity. The end of Agalloch’s post-Ulver reign of terror. The end of a lot of famous lives.

Dr. A.N. Grier and El Cuervo’s Top Ten(ish) of 2016

By Steel Druhm on December 27, 2016 in 2016, Blog Posts, Lists, 71 comments

When Doctor Grier and El Cuervo get together, the hobo wine and illogical selections run like an ever-flowing stream. Ride the tide of opinion!

Bornholm – Primaeval Pantheons Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on December 9, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Hungarian Metal, Massacre Records, Melodic Black Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 9 comments

“Metalheads saying “I’m a pagan” is, generally speaking, our chosen genre’s equivalent of wine-guzzling middle-aged single women who say they’re “not religious, but spiritual” during those book clubs where Eat, Pray, Love is read in perpetuity. It’s empty posturing made to make someone sound more profound and “enlightened” than they actually are. So-called pagan metal is generally melodic stuff with a lyrical eye to old folklore but, other than that, the definition doesn’t give us a whole lot to go on.” Only join Book of the Dead clubs.

Waldgeflüster – Ruinen Review

By El Cuervo on October 12, 2016 in 2016, Bindrune Recordings, Black Metal, Folk Metal, German Metal, Nordvis Produktion, Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 17 comments

“Having first encountered Munich’s Waldgeflüster on their split with Panopticon earlier this year, I was intrigued and further encouraged to investigate their brand of atmospheric black metal. A couple from our valued community rate their work as among the best in the genre. Try though I did, I found myself somewhat underwhelmed.” El Cuervo vs. buzz.

Record(s) o’ the Month – June 2016

By Angry Metal Guy on July 14, 2016 in 2016, Blog Posts, Record o' the Month, Gothic Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 78 comments

“It’s a blast from the past! That’s right, the Record(s) o’ the Month for June are finally here. And boy howdy, I gotta say that it was tough to get to these. There was plenty of infighting, accusations of me being a distant and cold tyrant. A psychoanalyst was called in. Then the police. Turns out that Steel Druhm may have lots of daddy issues, but he also hates talking about them and has a massive gun collection. We managed to get through this whole thing only slightly injured and now that I’m out of the hospital I’m posting this. So here you have it, Ye Olde Recordes o’ the Monthe for June.”

Record(s) o’ the Month – April 2016

By Angry Metal Guy on April 30, 2016 in 2016, Blog Posts, Record o' the Month, 106 comments

It’s not often that the Record(s) o’ the Month are decided before a month has already begun, but April got pretty close to being just that. In fact, I feel a little guilty about it, because the month that has been is surprisingly packed with music that I—and the other writers here—love. There wasn’t much of a fight about it, what with all the ruling with an Iron Fist of Steel™ and all, but I would like to apologize to all the contributors who reviewed awesome stuff this month which is getting ignored on this list. I’m sure your complaints will be aired aggressively in the comment section. I’m glad I’ve given you something to get your blood pumping. I’ve heard that sitting around reading metal blogs all day is bad for your health.