Oct23

Prong – State of Emergency Review

By Itchymenace on October 8, 2023 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 48 comments

“It was 33 years ago that a young, impressionable Itchymenace was in Musicland and noticed the artwork on Prong’s breakthrough album, Beg to Differ was by Pushead, the same dude who did the Metallica shirts. Thinking it must be good by association, I immediately purchased the cassette and eagerly placed it in my Walkman. It wasn’t love at first listen but there was something there. While not as polished sounding as …And Justice for All or Master of Puppets, the riffs were good in a different way. They had a raw edge that eventually won me over. Subsequent albums would convert this reviewer into a life-long fan and seeing Prong in 1995 solidified my opinion that they were unsung heroes of the metal world. Fast forward to 2023 and Steel Druhm waving the latest release under my nose along with threats to not “Virgin Steele” it. Poke, prod, Prong.

Third Storm – The Locust Mantra Review

By Carcharodon on October 6, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 18 comments

“Well, well, well. How time flies. On 7 November 2018, my first ever review, under the unassuming alias of Nameless_N00b_17, was posted for The Grand Manifestation by Sweden’s Third Storm. Almost five years on, despite various spates of chronic overrating and hopefully showing some improvement in my writing, I am still here to see Third Storm return with their sophomore album, The Locust Mantra.” Bugnado.

Essence of Datum – Radikal Rats Review

By Kenstrosity on October 5, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, Instrumental Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Synthwave, Technical Death Metal, 32 comments

“Belarusian instrumental tech death duo Essence of Datum did what many have tried and failed to do: help me enjoy of deep instrumental metal. For me, there’s something missing in metal that lacks a vocal element. Part of that is surely rooted in the fact that I almost never listen to purely instrumental music anymore. Nonetheless, the core problem I encounter is that so little instrumental metal excites me, either because of fluffy songwriting with no real backbone, or because it’s simply an excuse for a solo artist to wank all over me without my consent. Not so with Essence of Datum or their last effort, Spellcrying Machine, which was a thoughtful, detailed, and compelling instrumental piece. Can its follow-up, the strange and wacky Radikal Rats, keep that trend running?” Rats in the tech.

Iron Savior – Firestar Review

By Steel Druhm on October 4, 2023 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 21 comments

“As with so many German metal bands, Iron Savior doesn’t have a kill switch. They’ve been rolling out albums regularly since 1997, completely immune to the shifting tastes and trends in metal. Formed as a classic Euro-power act with legacy ties to the genre’s beginning, founder Piet Sielck has kept his vision and direction very consistent over the band’s 25-plus year voyage, delivering sci-fi-themed power with a heavier, more traditional metal punch and crunch.” Savior complex.

Putrascension – Forever Below Review

By Thus Spoke on October 3, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, 15 comments

“Forever Below is what I’m going to (cheesily) call old-school grit with new-school wit. The chilling tone of the guitars, the spidery, urgent riffing, the howling vocals, the thrashy tempos, pull from the best of second-wave black and blackened thrash–think Dissection and Goatwhore. But the intelligently dynamic and melodically-developed compositions pull this base sound into the modern world, and deepen their impact.” As above, so below.