Oct16

Tid – Fix Idé Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on October 17, 2016 in 2016, Avante Garde, Industrial Metal, Post-metal, Swedish Metal, The Sign Records, Post-Metal, Synthwave, 32 comments

“Take a moment to drink in the epic beauty of the image to the left of this text. It’s amazing that a picture with so much monochrome can conjure such a powerful atmosphere. My expectations for the music are already sky high without hearing a single note, and are only increased on discovering that Tid (aka Time Is Divine) contains former members of Swedish experimentalists Magna Carta Cartel and Subvision. Can they possibly have come up with music that matches such an incredible visual impact?” Open the pod bay doors, Hal.

Age of Woe – An Ill Wind Blowing Review

By Grymm on October 15, 2016 in 2016, Doom Metal, Hardcore, Reviews, Sludge, Swedish Metal, War Anthem Records, Doom Metal, Hardcore, Sludge, 20 comments

“It was bound to happen. As I’m sitting here, writing a review of the appropriately titled An Ill Wind Blowing, the second album by Swedish sludgemeisters Age of Woe, I gaze out the rear door and see picturesque blue skies, mild temperate winds, and a garden teeming with life and vibrancy, complete with a Godzilla statue wolfing down some unfortunate garden gnomes. This is all important to note because, just a full day ago, Hurricane Matthew beat the ever-loving shit out everyone in its path through the Bahamas and parts of Florida, including my sleepy neighborhood.” From the storm comes…doom.

Sacred Steel – Heavy Metal Sacrifice Review

By Steel Druhm on October 15, 2016 in 2016, Cruz Del Sur, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Heavy Metal, 20 comments

“In the rich annals of metal bands crossing over into unintentional parody, Sacred Steel looms large. The perpetually over-the-top cheese fueled trve metal warriors led by “unorthodox” vocalist Gerrit P. Mutz have been pounding on the doors of the Great Hall ov Great Metal demanding entrance since 1997 only to be met with a shrug and a “No Solicitation” sign. But ignore them at your peril, for they’re as relentless as they are comical.” In trvth there is pain.

Oozing Wound – Whatever Forever Review

By Roquentin on October 14, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Hardcore, Punk, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrill Jockey, Hardcore, Noise, Punk, Thrash Metal, 41 comments

“Tipper Gore’s worst fears incarnate. A horrifying concoction of apathy and malaise wrapped in a delectable sheet of hatred, drowned in a bath of contempt represented here by club sauce. Great for parties, ask your caterer for details.” Time to rustle the jimmies.

Noise Pollution – Unreal Review

By Huck N Roll on October 14, 2016 in 2016, Groove Metal, Heavy Metal, Italian Metal, Scarlet Records, Heavy Metal, 27 comments

“Noise Pollution are an Italian band with a tenuous grip on the English language and an equally shaky understanding of good music. And honestly, if this is what you’re going to call your band, it better be tongue in cheek and your band better not suck, or you’re just asking for it in a review.” Ask and answered.

Cara Neir – Perpetual Despair Is the Human Condition Review

By Mark Z. on October 13, 2016 in American Metal, Black Metal, Broken Limbs Recordings, Punk, Reviews, Black Metal, Punk, 13 comments

“For those who love the bizarre black/grind/punk that vocalist Chris Francis and multi-instrumentalist Garry Brents have been producing since Cara Neir’s 2008 inception, Despair, has been a hotly anticipated record indeed. So turn off the lights, grab some white wine, and get ready to sulk in the corner as we explore the hopelessness of Perpetual Despair Is the Human Condition.” Does white wine even go with existential angst?

Cardinal Wyrm – Cast Away Souls Review

By Ferrous Beuller on October 13, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Svart Records, Doom Metal, 23 comments

“It should be fairly apparent by now that I loves me some doom. As of late, I’ve been on an almost exclusively doom-rich diet: death-doom, blackened doom, even “esoteric doom.” I’m beginning to think it might be high time to cut down; after all, a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips. But, as always, I’m suckered in by that one last bite… This particular tender morsel comes to me in the form of Americans Cardinal Wyrm and their third release Cast Away Souls, and as it happens, it’s deceptively filling.” Commence the doom shaming.

Heimdalls Wacht – Geisterseher Review

By Lord Lucan on October 13, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, German Metal, Trollzorn/SMP Records, Black Metal, 15 comments

“For black metal songwriters in search of strong conceptual themes, few subjects capture the imagination like the intricate folklore of European paganism. Not only are the old myths and traditions fascinating in their own right, the celebration of pre-Christian heritage is unequivocally akin to waving a big fat middle finger in the direction of modern religion – a practice firmly in line with the general ethos of the genre. Hailing from the town of Ahlen in western Germany, Heimdalls Wacht are one such band. Describing themselves rather extravagantly as ‘anti-Christian pagan musical art.'” Music art for the pagan soul.

Darkthrone – Arctic Thunder Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 12, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Norwegian Metal, Peaceville, Reviews, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, 57 comments

“For the last fifteen, this Norwegian duo have been turning out album after album of crusty, blackened heavy metal. Using these recent records as the balancing weight to their black metal counterparts. Though fans may be split on which seat they prefer on this dilapidated teeter totter from Hell, Darkthrone ain’t returning to their old, black metal ways. And Arctic Thunder is proof of that, adding even more weight to the leather-draped seat on this hellish seesaw.” Sounds of a playground…nearing?

Eden’s Curse – Cardinal Review

By Steel Druhm on October 12, 2016 in 2016, AFM Records, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Scottish Metal, Heavy Metal, 51 comments

“Wait, come back! I know a quarter of you took one look at that lurid, mega-tacky cover and started to turn away in disgust, while another quarter started doing something worse (which results in hair growth in unsightly places). But before you judge this book based on its highly regrettable cover, hear me out. Eden’s Curse is a kind of low-rent “super group” of sorts that’s been puttering around the edges of metaldom since 2007, and despite the absence of household names they’ve managed to release some enjoyably melodic metal albums.” No one expects the Red Riding Hood Inquisition!