Pallbearer

Monolord – No Comfort Review

By Huck N Roll on October 2, 2019 in 2019, Doom Metal, Relapse, Reviews, Stoner Metal, Swedish Metal, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, 26 comments

“No Comfort is an interesting name for a Monolord album, because every time I’ve played their records I’ve felt a great sense of comfort. I know what I’m in for, and each time the band delivers. Kind of like a lot of the fuzzy stoner metal bands out there. They will bestow upon us massive riffs that are fuzzier than a giant peach, drenching their Black Sabbath worship with Electric Wizard sauce. It is a recipe for short-lived success; while I enjoy drinking at this particular well, I can only do so for a short time before moving on.” Quick comfort.

Cult of Sorrow – Invocation of the Lucifer Review

By Grymm on September 19, 2019 in 2019, American Rock, Black Doomba Records, Doom Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 13 comments

“After almost six years of reviewing here, I’ve noticed American bands latching on to certain trends. Just a decade ago, everyone and their cousin was aping the Gothenburg sound, mixing it with d-beats and hardcore (and some whiny) vocals, and calling it a day. Nowadays, doom is the nectar du jour, and many a band is gulping it. Here in America, you have two prevalent strains: the airy, dreamy, almost progressive take that bands like YOB, Khemmis, and especially Pallbearer have crafted, and then there’s the so-70s-your-sideburns-are-showing Blue Oyster Cult Scoobie-Doobie-Doom “Occult” doom that’s been sweeping the nation. So which side does Invocation of the Lucifer, the second album by Cincinnati upstarts Cult of Sorrow, land?” Culting the herd.

An Isolated Mind – I’m Losing Myself Review

By Grymm on July 8, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Experimental Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Post-metal, Reviews, Experimental Metal, Post-Metal, 66 comments

“Kameron Bogges isn’t exactly a household name. In fact, prior to today’s review, the only thing I had to go by is that he’s the sole proprietor of one-man experimental act Four Hoove Death Pig, who has an album dedicated to baking banana bread under its belt. Sadly, about a year or so, Bogges suffered the all-too-real hospitalization brought on by what I can imagine would be a manic episode and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The ongoing struggle, as well as coping with such a maligned mental health condition, inspired I’m Losing Myself, released under the guise of An Isolated Mind.” Reflections on a struggle.

Spotlights – Love & Decay Review

By Cherd on April 28, 2019 in 2019, Alt-Metal, American Metal, Doom Metal, Ipecac Records, Post-metal, Shoegaze, Sludge, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Shoegaze, Sludge, 42 comments

“The songs on Love & Decay are post-metal in structure with moments of sludge/doom heft, but damn it if Spotlights don’t frequently sound like My Bloody Valentine started down tuning their guitars and forgot to stop. Or like a much heavier Starflyer 59 back when they were accused of being a My Bloody Valentine knock-off. If you’re not following, take a break and go listen to Loveless. We’ll still be here when you get back.” Up in lights.

Deadbird – III: The Forest Within The Tree Review

By Akerblogger on October 17, 2018 in 20 Buck Spin, 2018, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Sludge Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, 54 comments

“We all thought the bird was dead, but like a phoenix the bird has risen. Ten years after their second full-length Twilight Ritual, Arkansas based Deadbird – featuring Rwake vocalist Christopher Terry and drummer Jeff Morgan – are alive and kicking and ready to spread their wings and flap doom into your face.” There’s a Deadbird in the sky! Everybody wonders why.

Un – Sentiment Review

By El Cuervo on October 2, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Translation Loss, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 126 comments

“The tail-end of 2015 yielded a fantastic doom metal record which may have reached more year-end lists had it not been unveiled in December. It was called The Tomb of All Things and was the product of a Seattle four-piece with the unGoogleable name of Un. It spun a menacing tale with the tools of funeral doom and death metal and proudly bore some of the best artwork of that year, too. Their sophomore full-length, entitled Sentiment, is now poised for release, with appropriately amazing artwork to match. It can be considered a counterpart to my recent Fórn review: how to execute doom metal and how to not.” Fun with Un.

Bloodstock Open Air 2018 Review

By Akerblogger on September 2, 2018 in 2018, Blog Posts, Live Reviews, 40 comments

“On Thursday the 9th of August, myself and 19,000 others descended upon the grounds of an old manor house in the heart of the British countryside for a weekend of heavy metal, drinking, and debauchery.” AMG was there. Were you?

Ancestors – Suspended in Reflections Review

By Huck N Roll on August 26, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Doom Metal, Pelagic Records, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Psychedelic Rock, 31 comments

“Sometimes when bands have lengthy breaks between albums, it’s easy to forget them. Case in point: Ancestors, whom I had forgotten all about until Suspended in Reflections showed up in our August list. A quick dig through my music library showed me why the name was familiar: their 2012 album, In Dreams and Time, was one of my favorites of the year, a truly stellar piece of art that, had I been reviewing back in those days, would have been a front-runner for Record o’ the Month.” Respect your Ancestors.

Skeletonwitch – Devouring Radiant Light Review

By Dr. Wvrm on July 17, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Avalon, Black Metal, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 131 comments

“With vocalist Chance Garnette’s unceremonious departure and nowhere to go but sideways, all signs pointed to a long surrender to Angry Metal Guy’s Law of Diminishing Recordings™. Devouring Radiant Light, in this context, makes perfect sense. Good luck explaining that to their rabid fanbase.”Which Witch is which?

CHRCH – Light Will Consume Us All Review

By Huck N Roll on May 18, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Neurot Records, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 71 comments

“Anything that comes out on Neurosis’ home label, Neurot Recordings, is sure to be drenched in minimalist atmosphere and performed with impeccable skill. After seeing critical success with 2015’s debut Unanswered Hymns, as well as this year’s split with Fister, Sacramento’s CHRCH are set to lay claim to the mantle of heaviest all-caps doom band with the release of sophomore effort Light Will Consume Us All. Being one of the few AMGers who is into long, drawn-out doom extravaganzas, I laid claim to the album immediately, and have cranked it for a month now — because when songs are ten to twenty minutes long, you need a lot of time to dig into them.” Missing vowels and busting bowels.