Oct22

Devenial Verdict – Ash Blind Review

By Thus Spoke on October 28, 2022 in Reviews, 29 comments

“Atmospheric and dissonant death metal was my gateway into death more broadly. I missed entirely the blood-and-guts-strewn pathway of Cannibal Corpse, and instead fell head-over-heels for Ulcerate. If I’d come across Finland’s Devenial Verdict in my younger years, I might have passed over them, for their former output has been primarily in the brutal death metal vein. Although they’ve been lurking around since 2009, Ash Blind is their first full-length, representing thirteen years of evolution. A transformation from bludgeoning brutality into darkly melodic, eerily atmospheric dissonance that hasn’t forgotten how to be horrically heavy.” Death in development.

Iron Allies – Blood In Blood Out Review

By Holdeneye on October 28, 2022 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 27 comments

“Accept is another Teutonic band that knows how to throw a killer hard rock/metal tune together, and while I love a lot of their older material, I fell head over heels for their 2010 comeback album Blood of the Nations. I loved follow-up Stalingrad too. In fact, Steel’s review of said album is the first review I remember reading on Angry Metal Guy. When I saw Iron Allies drop into the promo bin, I nearly disregarded it due to the generic name, but when I opened the promo material, it revealed that the band is a project of former Accept guitarist Herman Frank. Frank appeared on Balls to the Wall and was with the band through much of their modern comeback stampede, so I couldn’t resist giving Iron Allies a chance.” Accept the iron.

Earthrise – Until We Rest Beneath the Winter Way Review

By sentynel on October 27, 2022 in Reviews, Post-Metal, 11 comments

“I came into this promo selection fresh off an ArcTanGent high. Post-metal? Sign me up! With a space rock twist, and themed around Laika, the ill-fated first animal in orbit? Interesting. Also, some gorgeous album art. And Until We Rest Beneath the Winter Way is out ten years after Earthrise’s previous album, debut Eras Lost.” Rise from the grave!

Forlesen – Black Terrain Review

By Carcharodon on October 27, 2022 in Reviews, Drone, Post-Metal, 23 comments

The debut record from San Francisco’s Forlesen hit me at a weird time. At the height of the first, very strict COVID lockdown in the UK, Hierophant Violent struck like a (very, very slow-moving) freight train. A masterclass in slow-build songwriting, exuding patience, confidence and skill in its execution, the album hooked me from the first spin, which was on a sunlit walk, taken as my one permitted piece of outdoor exercise for the day. Combining post-metal and drone with flashes of black metal and doom, Hierophant Violent snagged my first ever 4.5 and with it—the album, not my score—Forlesen secured places on three staff end-of-year lists.” Forlesen or Moresen.

Vorbid – A Swan by the Edge of Mandala Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on October 27, 2022 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, Thrash Metal, 27 comments

“A swan at the edge of what? A fucking mandala? You know, those monk-assembled sand drawings that they sweep away as a meditation. A Swan by the Edge of Mandala (henceforth ASbtEoM) is hands down the most egregiously prog-endowed album name I’ve heard all year. And what’s that, Vorbid appears to be leaning on another definition of mandala? A dream symbol that represents a person’s quest for self-unity? So it’s a concept album too, as if we didn’t need more confirmation that Vorbid plans to spill forth a bounty of instrumental gymnastics, introspective lyrics, and formibably lengthened runtimes.” Vorbid tales.

Coathanger Abortion – Plan C Review

By Itchymenace on October 26, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 32 comments

“I had never heard of Tennessee’s Coathanger Abortion before plugging my nose and taking the plunge of shame into the AMG promo sump. For all I knew they were a bunch of fun-loving Christian fundamentalists with a deep sense of irony. Turns out they’re not. They’re a quartet of southern fried sickos who love classic death and grindcore. Can Coathanger Abortion stand shoulder to decapitated shoulder with the latest batch of death metal heavyweights?” Hangers and bangers.

O.R.k. – Screamnasium Review

By Huck N Roll on October 26, 2022 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, 36 comments

“These guys create exciting and vital music that cannot be compared to that of Porcupine Tree. There’s a spontaneity here that is rivaled only by Boss Keloid – in fact, that’s a great comparison. O.R.k. may not be as heavy, but the quirkiness and unique delivery is there in spades, and Screamnasium is no exception.” Fewer quills, more thrills.

The Lovecraft Sextet – Miserere Review

By Dear Hollow on October 26, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Drone, 14 comments

“No one does music like Jason Köhnen. His projects like Mansur, The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble, and Bong-Ra constantly push boundaries, and while my reception to his work has been largely mixed, The Lovecraft Sextet has stuck. Debut In Memoriam was a unique and visceral experience, somehow weaponizing dark ambient, black metal, jazz, and opera into six tracks with three disparate but compatible palettes.” Sax and tentacles.

Daeva – Through Sheer Will and Black Magic Review

By Holdeneye on October 25, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 67 comments

“Daeva carries some serious post-2000 metal credibility among its ranks. Guitarist Scott Jansson and drummer Enrique Sagarnaga are longtime members of Crypt Sermon, and bassist Frank Chin joined Crypt Sermon in 2019 after spending eight years laying down rhythms for progressive thrash titans Vektor. Joining these fine instrumentalists is Infernal Stronghold vocalist Eddie Chainsaw, and together, these four nefarious gentlemen produce some of the most violent blackened thrash I’ve ever heard.” Strange sermons in the brutality vektor.

Cassius King – Dread the Dawn Review

By Carcharodon on October 25, 2022 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Stoner Metal, 23 comments

“A four-piece out of New Jersey, Cassius King is led by guitarist Dan Lorenzo (Hades, Non-Fiction) and features former Overkill drummer Ron Lipnicki, Vessel of Light bassist Jimmy Schulman and on vox we have Jason McMaster (Watchtower, Spastic Ink, Dangerous Toys). Make of that what you will. Cassius King’s 2021 debut, Field Trip, was a straightforward piece of stoner-influenced heavy metal, with hints of classic doom.” Jersey royalty.