Nov18

Sinbreed – IV Review

By Steel Druhm on November 25, 2018 in 2018, German Metal, Massacre Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 64 comments

“In the early days of my love affair with Euro-power metal, I cared not how cheesy, melodic or un-macho the music was as long as it was catchy and fun. From Helloween’s funny creatures and pink bubbles to whatever colon clogging Velveeta casserole Stratovarius was serving up, it was all good. Somewhere along the road to olde age however, I started expecting more power in my Euro-power, and my tastes turned towards bands that remembered to put the precious metal in their molasses confections. That’s why Sinbreed always struck a chord with me.” A farewell to balls.

New Light Choir – Torchlight Review

By Huck N Roll on November 25, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Occult Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Svart Records, Occult Rock, Psychedelic Rock, 22 comments

“The occult/psychedelic movement has been quiet this year, and when it has made noise, that noise has been like bathwater: tepid and lukewarm. Aside from a small handful of notable exceptions, when you search the site for occult rock or psychedelic rock, you find a ton of 2.5s and 3.0s. Not the most fun in the world. But North Carolina duo New Light Choir aim to change that here with their third album, Torchlight. While their first two albums showed promise, there was obvious room for growth, both in production and songwriting. But as is the case with pretty much every genre, it is easy to take things into parody range. Worshiping too hard at the retro altar usually doesn’t work out.” Worship the olden riffs.

Bast – Nanoångström Review

By Akerblogger on November 24, 2018 in 2018, Burning World Records, Doom Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 15 comments

“Bast bask in the light of the vast. Lengthy compositions are their forte, stringing together gut-wobbling strings of sludge, doom and black metal. Nanoångström is this British three-piece’s second full-length, a record that continues the stylistic approach of 2014 debutSpectres by precariously balancing on the border between black metal and doom metal. In an attempt to do something different with two well explored genres, Bast espouse the black metal moods of Winterfylleth and Altar of Plagues and the sludgy experimentation of Neurosis in a unique post-whatever pie.” Clean your plate.

Spearhead – Pacifism Is Cowardice Review

By Mark Z. on November 23, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, British Metal, Death Metal, Invictus Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 35 comments

“Sometimes blackened death metal feels like the only music that matters. No, more than that—it feels like the only thing that matters. The pummeling drums, the frenzied riffs, the scathing vocals—it just makes me want to put my fist through a wall, rip off my shirt, and go skullfuck the nearest quadruped. When the need arises to rally my inner Z-beast, Angelcorpse often does the trick, but they’re not the only game in town.” Tip of the spear.

Second to Sun – The Walk Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 22, 2018 in 2019, Black Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Russian Metal, Self-released, Thrash Metal, 115 comments

“Second to Sun hails from St. Petersburg, Russia and plays slick atmospheric black/death with a touch of thrash tickling the edges. But, before that, they played djent… Though you aren’t allowed to talk about that because the band doesn’t acknowledge Based on a True Story (or their ‘debut’ record, Gal agnostiske drømmer) as being a part of the band’s official discography. Instead, it all began with 2015’s The First Chapter. And though a transition from djent to wicked, unsettlingly melodic black metal (with clear headbangable moments) is odd, the strangest part about The Final Chapter is that it’s an instrumental album… I know what you’re thinking: shit’s getting weird.” Walk on home, boy.

Blackrat – Dread Reverence Review

By Dr. Wvrm on November 21, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Crust Punk, Reviews, Shadow Kingdom Records, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Crust Punk, Thrash Metal, 25 comments

“For years, throwback bands have charted the many tendrils of 80s influence ad infinitum, probably so well that you already know what Dread Reverence sounds like, don’t you? Maybe you do, but Blackrat don’t give a mouse’s patoot. For your listening pleasure, their third record provides only the finest selection of blackened thrashened crustened crust/thrash/black cuts, curated to slip even the sturdiest of discs. Dread Reverence is lean, mean, sounds like it was recorded by Fenriz as a teen, and desperately wants to be your friend. Won’t you take a spin on the throwback machine?” Wayback machines of wrath.

In the Woods… – Cease the Day Review

By Mark Z. on November 21, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Debemur Morti, Norwegian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Progressive Metal, 32 comments

“There have been so many strong comebacks in recent years that it actually seems more notable when one doesn’t go well. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to In the Woods…. In the 1990s, this Norwegian quintet captivated listeners with three albums that ranged in style from black metal to prog rock to avant-garde, all while maintaining an esoteric aura that was somehow only strengthened by their dissolution in 2000. Sadly, after their 2014 reformation, Woods released the disappointing Pure in 2016, a vapid piece of experimental doom metal that probably didn’t even deserve the 2.5/5.0 I gave it at the time.” Comeback redux.

Nature Morte – NM1 Review

By GardensTale on November 21, 2018 in 2018, Argonauta Records, Black Metal, French Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, 44 comments

“Ladies and gentleman, today is a milestone. Since joining AMG, I have reviewed everything from stoner to Gothic, thrash to black and back. I’ve dabbled in death metal, slithered through sludge and appraised the avant-garde. But the one genre I never picked up was post-black. My experience with the style starts at A and ends at lcest, and even with them I haven’t paid much attention since Eçailles des Lunes. The genre simply had little allure to me, even though I do enjoy some post-other type of bands, and I figured other writers would be better suited to place those records in the proper context. But as I still enjoy spinning the promo roulette, the little silver ball had to bounce to post-black one day.” Always bet on post-black.

Baring Teeth – Transitive Savagery

By Kronos on November 20, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Avante Garde, Death Metal, Reviews, Translation Loss, 58 comments

“I’m continuously anticipating new material from Baring Teeth. The Texan trio’s avant-garde and combative exercises in dissonance and unsettling atmosphere make up some of the most thought provoking material in the world of death metal, steadfastly refusing the accessible and the predictable. Few other bands can match the density and sheer shock of their experiments, and three albums in they’re still surprising me.” What bare teeth you have!

Pale Divine – Pale Divine Review

By Steel Druhm on November 20, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Shadow Kingdom Records, Doom Metal, 51 comments

“I’m a fan of most things slow and heavy, but gritty, bluesy biker doom is especially my jam. Perhaps that’s the byproduct of a misspent youth hanging out with an older brother who was an outlaw biker and frequently on the wrong side of law. Maybe it comes from too much time in sketchy bars where you were as likely to get punched as catch a good buzz. Wherever the affection comes from, it’s part of my DNA. Pennsylvania’s three-piece doom crew Pale Divine share my appreciation for this roughneck sub-genre, crafting burly doom rock in the image of peak Corrosion of Conformity, The Obsessed and Wino-era Saint Vitus.” Bad hombres.