Oct19

Singularity – Place of Chains Review

By Kenstrosity on October 8, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Technical Death Metal, The Artisan Era, Death Metal, Symphonic Metal, Technical Death Metal, 25 comments

“Remember back in March, when I brought up the subject of musical complexity? Well, here we go again with the things and the words and the stuff. But this time, my choice of symphonic technical death metal perfectly exemplifies the opposite side of the coin. Originating from the hot, dry hell that is Arizona, tech-death quartet Singularity specialize in restraint. Rather than inundating their sophomore record, Place of Chains, with layer over layer over layer of rich instrumentation, this newly-signed band chose to strengthen their compositions by dispensing with excess entirely.” Wank-free zone.

Saint Karloff – Interstellar Voodoo Review

By Steel Druhm on October 7, 2019 in 2019, Majestic Mountain Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Occult Rock, Stoner Rock, 34 comments

“When I saw the name Saint Karloff bobbing in the promo cesspool, I was intrigued. Growing up with Saturday morning horror movies in the 70s and 80s, Boris Karloff was like my unauthorized babysitter and creepy uncle, so I felt compelled to hear the band that dared to hijack his name. Upon closer inspection I learned this Norwegian psychedelic occult/stoner act’s sophomore outing, coming hot on the heels of a 2018 debut, is one 40:23 minute song. I was dismayed by this, and immediately considered weaponizing it and dropping it on some unsuspecting staffer like a concrete piano from a fourth floor window. Then I pressed play.” Do that voodoo, that you doo doo, so well.

Toxic Holocaust – Primal Future: 2019 Review

By Steel Druhm on October 4, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, eOne Music, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 35 comments

“Thrash has evolved into many things over its nearly 40 year existence, from primitive, crude beginnings to insanely fast, shockingly technical and surprisingly melodic forms. There’s something to be said for all these various shades, but for old timers like me, thrash is always best served raw, and rowdy with a side of cheap beer and a spiked leather fist upside the head. That’s where Toxic Holocaust lives, down in the slime with early acts like Sodom and the long forgotten NME.” Blast to the future.

Gatecreeper – Deserted Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 4, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Death Metal, Relapse, Reviews, Death Metal, 60 comments

“Well, the dog days of summer are upon us. Except they’re not. It’s 5 am and 68 degrees outside and I’m freezing my ass off. Come on, sun. Get the fuck up and shower me in your relentless rays of sunshine. Cook the desert sand once more and soften the asphalt so it’ll nestle my broken body when I fall dead from heatstroke. Anything to keep me from shivering under my pelt blankie as I settle down to Gatecreeper’s new record, Deserted. My only hope is that this new release will warm my blood like the band’s 2016 debut did before.” Fire and Ricin.

Wömit Angel – Under Sadistic Pressure Review

By Mark Z. on October 4, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Reaper Metal Productions, Reviews, Black Metal, 15 comments

“When I first saw we’d received promo from a band named Wömit Angel, I assumed one of our staff had playfully misspelled Vomit Angel, which confused me because I already reviewed a pretty terrible album by that band earlier this year. But no, it turns out Wömit Angel is an entirely different group, a Finnish black metal trio who also happen to be inspired by the expulsion of partially digested food from one’s stomach. Given they formed in 2010 and apparently harbor both punk and thrash influences, I’m pretty surprised I haven’t heard of these guys given my proclivity for seeking out this sort of thing.” You know you Womit.

Esogenesi – Esogenesi Review

By Cherd on October 3, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Transcending Obscurity, Death Doom, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Funeral Doom, 36 comments

“Esogenesi is an elemental doom machine that grinds along like heavy earth mover equipment, alternating between standard death doom and a more funerary style. The band is a classic four piece of vocals, guitar, bass and drums with each member sticking to their role. When I say they are no-frills, I don’t mean they lack creativity, rather they let each instrument stand on its own as an irreducible component.” Weights of the world.

Iron Kingdom – On the Hunt Review

By Holdeneye on October 3, 2019 in 2019, Canadian Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Heavy Metal, 16 comments

“Much like the subject depicted in this album’s artwork, once I took a swing at the advance track for On the Hunt and saw the resultant blood, I had to follow the trail to see where it ended. So, donning my Arctic Wolf Fur Armor (+50% Cold Resistance), I tracked my prey through forest and field until finally coming upon an open gate. I steeled my resolve and ventured forth into the land beyond. I had entered the Iron Kingdom.” Come for the iron, stay for the metal.

Insomnium – Heart Like a Grave Review

By Steel Druhm on October 2, 2019 in 2019, Century Media, Finnish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 70 comments

“If you read our latest Record(s) o’ the Month post for…August[1. Is that right? Wow, that’s fookin’ late.], AMG Himself opined that we’re in the midst of a melodeath revival of sorts. With impressive releases by Eternal Storm and Disillusion already on the books, and In Mourning’s new one getting some early high marks, perhaps Angry Metal Dad is onto something. Insomnium’s eighth full-length Heart Like a Grave won’t be undercutting his hypothesis either.”

Entrail – Eater of Starlight Review

By Emya on October 1, 2019 in American Metal, Drone, Experimental Metal, Reviews, Scry Recordings, 18 comments

“When I furtively snatched Entrail’s new album Eater of Starlight from the promo pit, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into. Given that Entrail recently played a show alongside Vouna, whose latest material was recorded entirely at Wolves in the Throne Room’s studio (Owl Lodge), and, like me, resides in the gloom-shrouded Pacific Northwest, I was easily intrigued. Choosing to review her new album was a no-brainer. Looking back, I am convinced that going in blind was the best possible way to be introduced to the one-woman experimental drone project of Christine Anderson.” Morbid entrails.

In Mourning – Garden of Storms Review

By Kenstrosity on October 1, 2019 in 2019, Agonia Records, Doom Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Death, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Doom Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 66 comments

“I’ve heard it said many a time that In Mourning carry the torch that Opeth “abandoned” with the release of Heritage. I don’t happen to agree with that statement. Sure, superficially the Swedish prog-melo-death-doom quintet share something in common with Blackwater Park-era Opeth, but it was clear to me from the first minute of the indelible Monolith that In Mourning were an entirely different collective, a point that each subsequent release reinforced.” Mourning frost on the Great Pumpkin.