Oct16

Anaal Nathrakh – The Whole of the Law Review

By Grymm on October 27, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, English Metal, Grind, Industrial Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Black Metal, Industrial Metal, 57 comments

“If there are any bands out there that I can safely claim to have a major allegiance to, it would certainly be England’s Anaal Nathrakh. Maybe it’s because their magic blend of black metal, industrialized noise, grindcore, and even some power metal elements strike a nerve like few other bands do. Or perhaps it’s because, whenever you hear people talk ill about really any type of metal (kill your mother, rape your dog, etc.), chances are the music that Anaal Nathrakh spawns are the exact sounds these people actively imagine in their heads.” Lock up your mothers, lock up your dogs.

Krypts – Remnants of Expansion Review

By Saunders on October 27, 2016 in 2016, Dark Descent Records, Death Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 8 comments

“For reasons I can’t quite pinpoint, the band’s solid debut didn’t wow me like it did others, leaving me a touch underwhelmed after diving headlong into the thick as a brick stew of churning riffs and unsettling atmosphere. Repeat listens after an extended break have been kind and my opinion of the album is a little more positive. So being a persistent trooper I jumped on Krypts follow-up platter, Remnants of Expansion, hopeful they could capitalize on their considerable potential.” Talk to the monster hand.

Zaum – Eidolon Review

By Eldritch Elitist on October 26, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Doom Metal, I Hate, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, 23 comments

“Anyone who’s made this blog a regular haunt knows there are several “don’ts” many of us consider when we review albums: don’t bloat your album length, don’t brickwall the damn thing in production, and so on. Far be it from me as a probational scribe to suggest a new entry for our Tome ov Rules, but after listening to sophomore effort, Eidolon, from Canadian doomers’ Zaum, I’ve settled on a new guideline for my personal rulebook: when writing a full-length album, don’t put all of your stock in only two massive songs.” A good rule is a good rule, regardless of its source.

40 Watt Sun – Wider than the Sky Review

By Grymm on October 26, 2016 in 2016, British Metal, Doom Metal, Not Metal, Radiance Records, Reviews, Rock, Doom Metal, Not Metal, 25 comments

The world became a much darker place in 2009 when UK doom upstarts Warning disbanded after only two albums. When word got out that guitarist and vocalist Patrick Walker would form a new project called 40 Watt Sun with fellow Warning bandmate Christian Leitch, doomsters the world over panted with anticipation. What many people hoped would be a continuation of the morose path constructed by Warning’s farewell album, 2006’s criminally underrated Watching from a Distance, instead were met with softer, but no less intense, waters with The Inside Room. Five years and several label woes later, the band returns with their self-released second album, Wider than the Sky.” Watch the skies (from a distance).

Testament – Brotherhood of the Snake Review

By Steel Druhm on October 26, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 135 comments

“2016 will go down as the year 80s thrash legends struck a blow for the AARP crowd. It’s the year Anthrax, Megadeth and Death Angel all shook off the dust and complacency, releasing shockingly good albums, and in what may be the final sign of the Apocalypse, even Metallica seems poised to drop something marginally listenable next month.” Next stop: Apocalyptic City!

Principality of Hell – Sulfur & Bane Review

By Mark Z. on October 25, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Greek Metal, Osmose Productions, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 8 comments

“Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong decade. Every time I think back to the pop culture of the 90s, all I remember is boring daytime television and lazy post-grunge blaring on the radio. In contrast, the 80s seemed much more exciting — the jeans were tight, the horror movies were actually good, and extreme metal was first clawing its way into existence via stacks of battered demo tapes and tattered home-printed zines. Greek trio Principality of Hell apparently felt the same way.” It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times??

Ulcerate – Shrines of Paralysis Review

By Kronos on October 24, 2016 in 2016, Avante Garde, Death Metal, New Zealand Metal, Progressive Death, Relapse, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 80 comments

“God is dead, but what can be done once the corpse is buried? Just to the left of nihilism, HP Lovecraft staked out a territory where divinity was absent and mankind insignificant, battered by forces beyond time and comprehension. Anti-christian, nihilistic, and cosmicist themes have all long been staples of metal, both lyrically and musically – but after decades the fear is gone; the well dry and the water stagnant. To reach ever greater extremes, these tropes must be transcended. Ulcerate did so.” Look busy, the abyss is watching.

Hail Spirit Noir – Mayhem in Blue Review

By El Cuervo on October 24, 2016 in 2016, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Greek Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Psychedelic Rock, 37 comments

“Tensions remain, not just between Greece and the overlords of the EU but within the country: between those who support the economic freedom conferred by greater government spending and those who advocate fiscal responsibility. It’s in this turmoil that Mayhem in Blue was written.” Frugality breeds insanity.

Darkrypt – Delirious Excursion Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on October 24, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Indian Metal, Reviews, Transcending Obscurity, Death Metal, 25 comments

“Darkrypt was helpfully labelled as an Indian “dark death metal” band when I got the promo, which is great to know because I really thought a band named after a portmanteau of darkness and a dark underground tomb was going to be bright, poppy stuff in the vein of Carly Rae Jepsen.” I heard they’re doing a split.

Istvan – Istvan Review

By Zephyrus on October 23, 2016 in 2016, Aural Music, Doom Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, 16 comments

“Not once have I ever blasted the roach or taken a toke. I have never smoked the bowl, nor have I mowed the grass. I puffed a magic dragon once, but I’m pretty sure that was in kindergarten and isn’t relevant to the discussion at hand. Yet, for some reason, I’ve always been drawn to stoner rock and metal. Is being stoned a prerequisite to proper enjoyment of the genre?” No grass, no pass.