Out of Line Music

Tariot – Drag Me to Hell Review

By Dear Hollow on December 14, 2023 in Reviews, Electronic, Metalcore, Nu Metal, Post-Hardcore, 35 comments

“Look, I’m one of like three metalcore apologists at Angry Metal Guy HQ, and I’ve had it up to here. No more sticky noted car, printer wrapped in festive holiday paper, or the squirting flower trick, okay guys? Plus the rubber rat with “BREAKDOWNS” scrawled with Sharpie was going too far. I already get my seven daily lashes from the Most Holy Gorilla when the punishment of metalcore promos seemed insufficient. As we approach the holidays, the last thing I want to do at the office Christmas party is to open my bonus addressed to “sellout.” Don’t even fucking think about it. And Jesus, Tariot sure ain’t helping my reputation.” Apologists and collaborators up against the wall.

Indefensible Positions: Dear Hollow Defends Controversy

By Dear Hollow on April 29, 2023 in Blog Posts, Indefensible Positions, 53 comments

“God probably hates me. The Big Man Himself, the Most High, was like, “wow Dear Hollow, look at all those shitty albums you 4.0ed last year. Eat shit, loser.” And *record scratch* here we are. I guess we all got tired of actually good albums, so I’ve been blessed with an incurably bad taste this year – yeah I know, worse than usual. So take this post with a grain of salt, and maybe try a few of these buttery, greasy morsels. Or don’t, and trash my bad taste like popcorn in a darkened movie theater for me to clean up later.” Defending the indefensible. Again.

Eggvn – La Era de la Bestia Review

By Dear Hollow on May 12, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Electronic, Electronic Metal, Industrial Metal, 38 comments

“Let me introduce you to Eggvn, self-professed “Satanic Death Industrial Metal.” Sporting some obvious black metal influence, I was expecting an ominous ambient album among the ranks of Moëvöt or Velvet Cacoon, but the Mexicans’ sophomore full-length La Era de la Bestia is more akin to a bizarre combination of Psyclon Nine, Brokencyde, Angelspit, and Nine Inch Nails. Featuring pulsing beats, cold industrial flourishes, dark ambiance, and harsh barks, it has its moments of listenable plagiarism, but is comically marred by a club-footed collision of its influences.” Alert the Egg Council.

Arogya – Genesis Review

By Steel Druhm on April 22, 2021 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 42 comments

“Sometimes you see something so oddball in the promo sump, all you can do is roll the dice of fate and grab it. When I saw that Indian act Arogya billed themselves as 80s-centric “synth-rock” with metal influences, I simply couldn’t pass up what was sure to be a steaming dumpster fire of colliding genres and styles. Add to this the band’s image, which sits someplace between Crimson Glory and Slipknot and you have quite the promotional package waiting to hit the world like a frozen bratwurst.” You can’t spell Arogya without AOR.

Night Laser – Power to Power Review

By Steel Druhm on August 26, 2020 in Reviews, Glam Metal, Hair Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 24 comments

“Allow me to be upfront with you all. I only took this promo to stop Holdeneye from getting his grubby, overly generous meat mittens on it and awarding it a Skelatorian 4.0 regardless of intrinsic goodism. Such selfless promo blocks are required of the one who bears the title of Lord Protector of AMG’s Metal Cred, and I’m just doing what other mighty heroes from history would do in my stead. It takes a toll though, as Night Laser burns brightly with cheese-tastic awfulness on third album Power to Power.” POWERS outage.

Erdling – Yggdrasil Review

By Steel Druhm on January 9, 2020 in 2020, Electronica Metal, German Metal, Industrial Metal, Out of Line Music, Reviews, Electronic Metal, 39 comments

“The promo sump is deep, dark, and at times, tricksey and false. When you see an album titled Yggdrasil with cover art adorned with the original Norse prime plant, you’d be justified in expecting a chest-thumping, shield-shattering dose of Viking metal. When the promo material bills this German band as pagan metal and you’re aware that our resident Muppet Boy had it slated for review before dropping it due to time constraints, expectations are heavily reinforced. Then you press play and get…” Ugly sticks.

Bloodred Hourglass – Godsend Review

By Holdeneye on June 25, 2019 in 2019, Finnish Metal, Groove Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Out of Line Music, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Groove Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 45 comments

“Last year, no fewer than eight AMG staff members placed Queen of Time by Amorphis somewhere on their year end list. If you’re reading this and happen to be one of the eight people whose names are written in bolded burnt orange in support of that album on this page — especially if your name starts with Angry and ends in Guy — please stop reading now and go about your business elsewhere. I’ll be honest with you, I never once made it all the way through that album in one sitting despite trying in earnest six times. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot to love on Queen of Time, but that’s just it — there’s a lot of it. The sugary melodies are great, but the album and most of its songs are far too long and there is not enough heaviness to balance out the pop. I was content to remain silent in my dissent until I began spinning Godsend, the fourth record from a different Finnish band, Bloodred Hourglass.” Hourglass houses and stones.