Nov19

Tygers of Pan Tang – Ritual Review

By Huck N Roll on November 20, 2019 in 2019, British Metal, Heavy Metal, Mighty Music, NWOBHM, Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 12 comments

“Three years ago, Tygers of Pan Tang’s self-titled twelfth album made me feel good about old NWoBHM bands, and their ability to craft enjoyable-enough songs. I hadn’t revisited it until it was time to review their new album, Ritual. In fact, I even went and revisited the referred-to review above. I mean, there’s always a chance that, because I was still in my rookie year as a member of the AMG Conglomerate, I was taking it easy on some bands. But I’ve been around for a long time now, and having a warm place in my atrophying heart for a band is not only unacceptable, it is now unheard of.” Tales from an overrating bastard.

Black Beast – Nocturnal Bloodlust Review

By Doom_et_Al on November 20, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Primitive Reaction, Reviews, Black Metal, 21 comments

“One of the best things about Halloween in Canada is the excuse to ~~wear corpse paint in the hospital~~ check out the costumes everyone is wearing. Some folks keep it simple with unusual hats or ties. Some kids wear Iron-Man suits or My Little Pony onesies. But there are always a few who go full horror: blood, gore, the works. Many pull it off, but some people just look ridiculous. It’s often not a lack of commitment or a creativity deficit. Rather, to nail something truly intense and memorable requires more than just “being scary.” It requires foresight, craft and intelligence. These thoughts came to mind while listening to Black Beast’s debut album, Nocturnal Bloodlust.” Beasts of burden.

Ragnarok – Non Debellicata Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 19, 2019 in 2019, Agonia Records, Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 24 comments

“Like Marduk, a fair comparison in sound and style, Ragnarok continues their reign of destruction upon the shoulders of a founding member. From the debut record, Nattferd, to 2012’s Malediction, Jontho has been the mastermind behind the band, as well as their sole drummer. A role he greatly succeeded at, as he is one of my favorites in the genre. Then in 2016, with the release of Psychopathology, he slithered out from behind the drums to lend his voice to the band. The jury’s still out debating if this was the best move for the band, considering that one of the best drummers in the field is no longer drumming. So, let’s bring them back in and see what the verdict is.” Personnel follies.

Unfathomable Ruination – Enraged and Unbound Review

By Kronos on November 19, 2019 in 2019, British Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, Willowtip, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 66 comments

“Death metal is not a subtle art. Brutal death metal doubly so. Brutal, technical… well you get the point. Unfathomable Ruination exemplify this dearth of subtlety in name but belie it in their music. Their sophomore effort, Finitude, stands as one of the decade’s most punishing yet memorable death metal albums, punctuating each of its songs with a constricting riff or winding lead that seared it instantly into the mind. A great deal of the album’s success came from the band’s shrewd dispensation of show-stoppers, always releasing just enough brilliance to keep the listener wanting more. Apparently unwilling to rest on their laurels, Enraged and Unbound lives up to its predecessor’s unpredictable brutality.” Ruination as hobby.

Morgan Rider and the Deep Dark River – Leviathan and the Deep Dark Blue Review

By Kenstrosity on November 19, 2019 in 2019, Canadian Metal, Folk, Folk Metal, North Soul Records, Reviews, Rock, Folk, Folk Metal, Rock, 23 comments

“My taste in music is a bit scattered. If I had to guess, I’d say that’s partly due to the fact that I’ll listen happily to just about anything, but I like to live with a genre for a long time before absorbing a new one into my regular rotation. My main musical gaps feature the various branches of folk. I’ve been meaning to change that for years now, but I constantly put it off for one reason or another. When I saw a folk metal album drop in our bin, I figured, “why not start now?” Hence, Morgan Rider and the Deep Dark River’s debut record Leviathan and the Deep Dark Blue. No expectations. No assumptions. Just me, embarking on a voyage into uncharted waters.” Swimming with the blues.

Mortuary – The Autophagous Reign Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on November 18, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Xenokorp Records, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 6 comments

“A rye and ginger made in subtly wrong ways is, after many listens, how I’ve come to view Mortuary’s latest record, The Autophagous Reign. I rated highly its predecessor, Nothingless than Nothingness — a rating I stand by. Both are the same in the sense that this or that rye and ginger are the same. But as we all know, not all rye and gingers are created equal, even if we use the same rye and ginger-ale.” Drinking with the dead.

Blood Incantation – Hidden History of the Human Race Review

By Saunders on November 18, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Dark Descent Records, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Death Metal, Progressive Death, 74 comments

“Blood Incantation’s 2016 debut, Starspawn, catapulted the sci-fi loving Denver crew into underground stardom. The album’s ambitious fusion of progressive and psychedelic elements into a beefy old school death core was incredibly well executed, smartly written, and addictive to boot, marking Blood Incantation as kindred spirits with legends Morbid Angel and Demilich, along with modern trailblazers like Horrendous. Some three years later Blood Incantation’s sophomore LP comes with a magnitude of hype and anticipation. Bottom line, Blood Incantation are considered a big fucking deal.” Mars needs metal.

Bewailer – Where My Demise Dwells Review

By Dear Hollow on November 17, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Russian Metal, Solitude Productions, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 14 comments

“Do you remember the first time you heard Swallow the Sun’s The Morning Never Came? How those crushing tones and shattering gutturals hit you like the saddest ton of cement ever and you thought that, indeed, the light would never grace your world again? How the subtle, folky elements added a sense of longing, while the sound of waves crashing made you feel lost in a sea of hopelessness and never being found? And above all, how fucking evocative that feeling was? And how you had to go bask in the sunlight to recover from it? That’s the feeling I had when I popped in Bewailer’s debut album Where My Demise Dwells.” Swallowing more sadness.

Warsenal – Feast Your Eyes Review

By Steel Druhm on November 16, 2019 in 2019, Canadian Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Svart Records, Thrash Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 28 comments

“Warsenal is a throwback speed trio hailing from Canada, and much like their countrymen Razor, they want to bring the iron hammer down on you with merciless aggression and bestial wengeance. Their sophomore outing is speed for speed sake, with everything carefully curated to sound like it was belched out between the years 1983 – 1986.” Speed thrills.

Ade – Rise of the Empire Review

By Saunders on November 16, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, Extreme Metal Music, Italian Metal, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Technical Death Metal, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 17 comments

“Further line-up changes have occurred in the intervening years, yet even with new members in tow, Ade’s signature formula remains intact on their fourth LP, entitled Rise of the Empire. Comparisons to the legendary Nile are unavoidable and apt, yet also form a simplified analysis of a sound Ade can call their own. However, amidst more line-up fractures hampering the band, can Ade muster up the inspiration to deliver a knockout blow in the vein of past offerings?” Et tu, Ade?