Motörhead

Nocturnal Breed – We Only Came for Violence Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on June 28, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Folter Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 25 comments

“Nocturnal Breed are everything I’ve ever wanted to be in this life. They’re old-school, they don’t give a shit about anybody or anything, and they’re Norwegian. Making their start with ‘97’s Aggressor, these hateful sonsabitches haven’t changed a goddamn thing in over twenty years. Their albums are way too long, there’s no fluidity from one track to the next, and they’re still kicking the combination of Bathory, Venom, and Motörhead mixed with first-wave black metal and thrash.” Breed in the night.

Gorilla -Treecreeper Review

By Steel Druhm on June 20, 2019 in 2019, English Metal, Heavy Psych Sounds Records, Reviews, Stoner Metal, Stoner Metal, 29 comments

“The AMG promo sump is stuffed to the rafters with glowing PR spin about how this band redefines genre X and that band takes sub-genre Y into realms hitherto unheard. Most of it is utter crap and as accurate as your average public access channel psychic reading. Not so with the debut full-length by U.K.’s Gorilla however, who describe their sound as “F*ck the safety net heavy rock n’ roll.”” Ape cake for all.

Irata – Tower Review

By Master of Muppets on June 5, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Post-metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Sludge Metal, Small Stone Records, Post-Metal, Progressive Rock, Sludge Metal, 47 comments

“If I were to start babbling about an American amalgamation of ancient elephants, roundness without fault and the pitch of Yasin Bay’s voice, I’d know what I was talking about but I’d be the only one. Similarly, when the promo bin tells me something is “math metal,” no particularly useful information has been conveyed. I had no idea what to expect from Irata’s third album, Tower, because of this very tag. Turns out, a progressive post-rock sign would have steered me toward the right ballpark; had the bin/Muppet communicated in plain English rather than being a fucking weirdo about it, I/you would have known that much sooner that the North Carolinans in question sound something like Mastodon, A Perfect Circle and Deftones having a casual orgy.” Communication breakdowns, yo.

Darkthrone – Old Star Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on June 5, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Norwegian Metal, Peaceville, Reviews, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, 92 comments

“Well, you always get what’s coming to you. Though I’m a faithful and unfaltering fan of everything Darkthrone, the band’s 2016 full-length release kinda ticked me off. Having dealt with Napalm and Frontier Record’s insistence on sending out stream-only promos to music journalists across the world, I was a little peeved when Peaceville did the same with Arctic Thunder. Everyone remembers it. And I said some things I shouldn’t have. But, I got over it. And so did everyone else. But, when talk of the newest Darkthrone opus, Old Star, rolled around, I was content with receiving another stream-only promo. I mean, fair is fair, right?” Damn the stream!

Jesus Chrüsler Supercar – Lücifer Review

By GardensTale on May 28, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, Dr. Music Records, Hard Rock, Reviews, Swedish Metal, 49 comments

“Death ‘n roll bands are very few and far between, the good ones even more so, and its purveyors regularly receive the level of scorn usually reserved for groove metal. Entombed’s Wolverine Blues pretty much spawned the genre and is the only album that could be considered a classic in the style. Even high quality releases like Calmsite’s Elvisdeath don’t get picked up by wide audiences. Maybe Swedish peddlers of the sound Jesus Chrüsler Supercar will be able to turn things around for the woefully waning sub-genre.” Do they think they’re what they say they are?

Bewitcher – Under the Witching Cross Review

By Holdeneye on May 10, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Shadow Kingdom Records, Speed Metal, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 76 comments

“If you’re a stereotypical stereotyper like myself, Portland, Oregon is a city that brings to mind images of rain-soaked, tattoo-covered hipsters sipping pot-infused craft beer and cold brew coffee while they dodge cavalcades of Subarus, Priuses (Prii?), and bicycles on the march towards the many nearby hiking trails. Having visited the city several times, I can confirm that almost all of these are 100% true, but I’m beginning to think that the whole “Keep Portland Weird” idea is a coverup to distract from Portland’s true identity as a stronghold of — gasp! — SATAN! Hometown speed metallers Bewitcher are here with their second full length to set the record straight, and on Under the Witching Cross they boldly fly the Sign of the Goat above the City of Roses while uttering diabolical incantations in an attempt to transform the grounds below into the “Savage Lands of Satan!” The Devil is in the dark roast.

Smoulder – Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring Review

By Eldritch Elitist on April 30, 2019 in 2019, Canadian Metal, Cruz Del Sur, Doom Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 55 comments

“I’ve made it no secret that I don’t love doom metal so much as respect it from a sizable distance, but certain acts have been known to prompt genuine affection. My criteria for good doom is admittedly opaque, with my two favorite albums of this decade residing in opposite ends of the genre’s sonic spectrum, but I think it boils down to a general feeling of genuineness. If you’re going to fuck around with pretentious atmospherics against a backdrop of flaccid, groove-less riffs, you’ll get no respect from me. It’s really all about the heart, with ingenuity being secondary to pure fun and overflowing emotion. And that’s where Toronto, Ontario’s Smoulder, and the excellently titled Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring, come in.” Smoke signals.

Imha Tarikat – Kara Ihlas Review

By Treble Yell on January 21, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Reviews, Turkish Metal, Vendetta Records, Black Metal, 86 comments

“The dichotomy of black metal is that despite pockets of cell-division spawning mutations of various strains, the genre prefers to spurn innovation and maintain its core of anti-religious suppurations. For every Solefald, Patria, or Ihsahn out there pushing black metal out from its comfort zone, there are legions of corpse paint-bedecked bands stoking the fires of tradition with coals of unimaginative blast-beats and stale iconoclasm. I love black metal, but that love tends to seek out bands who demonstrate innovation rather than those who peddle another tired take on Under a Funeral Moon. I crave something different and that thirst has lead me to Kara Ihlas.” Different god, same blackness.

The EP, Demo, and Oddity Post [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By El Cuervo on January 2, 2019 in 2018, American Metal, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Dutch Metal, Hardcore, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Speed Metal, Swedish Metal, Technical Death Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Ukrainian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Electronic Metal, Hardcore, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Rock, Speed Metal, Technical Death Metal, 146 comments

“As a younger man I had no concept of the “EP,” nor the “demo,” nor the “split.” When was the last time Iron Maiden had to curb their excesses by squashing ideas into half an hour? When were Judas Priest not able to afford a professional recording studio and production job? And when’s that Metallica/Megadeth split due again? Such formats are reserved for the underdogs of the metal world, those bubbling beneath the surface of popularity who write music for the sheer creative expression and who will never see monetary reward for their time and effort.” Short is sweet.