Bloodbath’s ginormous debut full-length is one for the ages. It’s also really olde now. Is the blood still wet? You bet!
Opeth
Black Sea of Trees – The Spiritual Beast Review
Our promo sump feels piled these days, a good thing! And, it may be my attention to these distinctions that has grown over the year that I’ve now been with AMG, or it might just be the world we live in, but the independent release sub-pool seems to be growing drop by drop every day too. This fledgling, self-guided troupe, who funneled from afar to Australia, hasn’t even yet landed on the Encyclopedia Metallum (though they qualify), but they’ve graciously given us 2.4 gigabytes of WAV files to review for their debut outing The Spiritual Beast.” Forest packages available.
Ne Obliviscaris – Exul Review
“Ne Obliviscaris hardly require introduction in these parts. The last decade established a pattern of bi- or tri-annual releases, opening with 2012’s inventive Portal of I and closing with 2017’s well-regarded Urn. One pandemic and an uncharacteristic wait later has revealed 2023’s Exul. Boasting a core fusion of progressive music, extreme metal and classical influences, these Aussies have always reveled in not just musical, but also thematic, excess. Accordingly, Exul appears to lever a loose Crusades theme.” Big Obliviscaris.
Gorod – The Orb Review
“Gorod’s assignment with The Orb is to figure out how to follow up 2018’s magnificent Æthra. This album’s predecessor, which followed on a string of excellent releases, is among the best albums that I have ever underrated. But Æthra brought change and continuing on this trajectory, The Orb is the band’s first fully independent release. And that raises the hackneyed, obvious question: is all this change good, actually?” Won’t somebody think of the riffs!?
AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö: Haxprocess – The Caverns of Duat
““AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö” is a time-honored tradition to showcase the most underground of the underground—the unsigned and unpromoted. This collective review treatment continues to exist to unite our writers in boot or bolster of the bands who remind us that, for better or worse, the metal underground exists as an important part of the global metal scene. The Rodeö rides on.” Brace for Haxprocessing.
AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö: Conspiracy of Zero – Ahthos Arouris
““AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö” is a time-honored tradition to showcase the most underground of the underground—the unsigned and unpromoted. This collective review treatment continues to exist to unite our writers in boot or bolster of the bands who remind us that, for better or worse, the metal underground exists as an important part of the global metal scene. The Rodeö rides on.” Now attacking Greece.
Ocean of Grief – Pale Existence Review
A rare double review arrives with Steel Druhm and Doom_et_Al offering disparate takes on Pale Existence by Greek melodic doom-death outfit Ocean of Grief. Will it be clear sailing or storming seas (ov deep sadness)?
El Cuervo’s and GardensTale’s Top Ten(ish) of 2022
El Cuervo and GardensTale have lists. You’ll need to study them carefully to get maximum value. Get started!
Vorbid – A Swan by the Edge of Mandala Review
“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.
Mother of Graves – Where the Shadows Adorn Review
“As autumn attempts to blow its crisp, leaf-scented breeze through the still-humid, still-swamp-assy climes of Northeastern Florida, I can’t help but reach for my own aural equivalent of a pumpkin spice latte, a sound so comfortable that it’s akin to slipping on a well-worn hoodie that’s seen better days. Kiddos, it’s time to revisit the sounds of early 90s doom/death. I’m talking about reminiscing of days both Brave and Murderous, of paradise being lost, and of flowers withering.” Old dooms.
