Pink Floyd

Scaphoid – Absent Passages Review

By Kenstrosity on October 6, 2020 in Reviews, Instrumental Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 43 comments

“Somehow, a disproportionate number of the promos I selected so far are debut records. I’m not sure if it’s coincidence or if I have some kind of n00b magnet in my brain somewhere, but one way or another fresh meat keeps passing through. The latest cut of which comes from Austin, Texas, and he calls himself Scaphoid. That’s right, this is a one-man project, courtesy of Matt Hobart. But it’s not raw atmo-black, no. This guy specializes in a post-rock prog-metal hybrid. With only a short EP under his belt, how fares his new, hour-long debut Absent Passages?” Scap metal.

Enslaved – Utgard Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 2, 2020 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Viking Metal, 148 comments

“Sometimes a band makes such a drastic change in style that you’re floored by it. Many times upset by it. But Enslaved made it work. Well, at least for a couple more albums. I liked most of RIITIIR, but nothing after. And when E and its saxophone-sucking closer arrived five years later, I had pretty much given up on the band. So, you can imagine the dread I felt when I got the promo for Utgard.” En garde.

Turtle Skull – Monoliths Review

By Dear Hollow on September 5, 2020 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Drone, Post-Metal, Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 9 comments

“While other monoliths stagnate in dark and gloomy dimensions, Australian quintet Turtle Skull prefers to rely on bright and sunny desert safaris with their unique brand of metal, dubbed “flower doom.”” Smell the doom.

Wills Dissolve – Echoes Review and Album Premiere

By GardensTale on August 25, 2020 in Reviews, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 3 comments

“The single-song album is an art unto itself. I am not a musician, but I can imagine the entire flow of writing changes. How do you balance unity and variety? How often do you bring back certain motifs? Is it even possible to have something resembling a chorus? Questions that undoubtedly plagued Wills Dissolve during the writing and recording of their sophomore album Echoes, a cosmically-themed slab of progressive metal that doesn’t stop until it’s done.” Space madness.

Blackballed – Elephant in the Room Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on July 31, 2020 in Reviews, Hard Rock, 16 comments

“Standing on my shelf next to other “non-metal” records, like Captain Beyond, Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, Waylon Jennings, Blue Öyster Cult, and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, you’ll find albums from B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Joe Bonamassa, Robert Johnson, and John Lee Hooker. Am I trying to say I’m an expert in the field? Heavens, no. But this would explain my odd selection of (typically) straight-forward, go-nowhere blues/hard rock promos for review. And here’s yet another.” Blues balls.

Airbag – A Day at the Beach Review

By Huck N Roll on June 19, 2020 in Reviews, Progressive Rock, 30 comments

“Four years ago now, our AMG Overlords made the error in judgement to bring me on as a n00b. Airbag’s Disconnected was my second probationary review, and I will never forget it. Why? Well, because every week without fail for the past four years, our technologically advanced promo distribution system has notified me that “Steel Druhm has stopped sharing Airbag with you.” Okay, I get the hint.” Bag men.

Hexvessel – Kindred Review

By sentynel on April 14, 2020 in 2020, Finnish Metal, Folk, Folk Metal, Reviews, Svart Records, Folk, Folk Metal, 5 comments

“Finnish forest folk band Hexvessel’s music conjures images of druids and deep, misty woods, and I’ve been a fan since Steel covered No Holier Temple. I love this sort of mystical folk-influenced music, a genre my partner describes as “witchy music.” Right after I wrote about All Tree, I saw them play an enchanting show in an incense-steeped church in London. And now, of course, we’re all stuck in quarantine and unable to actually go wander in the woods. You’d think, then, that I should be excited for another album.” Forest fever.

Pure Reason Revolution – Eupnea Review

By Huck N Roll on April 5, 2020 in 2020, British Metal, InsideOut, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Progressive Rock, 30 comments

“This week my good friend TheKenWord got his hands on a pretty sweet doom album from Loviatar. When I saw the score assigned, and went back and listened to Lightless, I was kind of upset with myself for not grabbing it when I had the chance. But then I remembered why I left it alone: Eupnea, the first album from Pure Reason Revolution in ten years. When people talk about PRR’s first three albums (all released between 2006-2010), comparisons to Pink Floyd, Muse, and Tool are often mentioned.” Better than PBR.

Spectral Lore and Mare Cognitum – Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine Review

By Kenstrosity on March 12, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Greek Metal, I Voidhanger Records, International Metal, Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 47 comments

“I am not a particularly patient individual. In fact, it seems that the “older” I get the less patient I become. With this in mind, I asked myself, “Why. The fuck. Did you decide to pick up the two-hour split between Spectral Lore and Mare Cognitum as your next promo?” It’s atmospheric black metal for heaven’s sake! For two hours! Little did the voice inside my head know that this epic love letter to the planets (and planetoid) of our solar system would be so compelling.” Put a ring on Saturn.

Psychonaut – Unfold the God Man Review

By Kenstrosity on March 4, 2020 in 2020, Belgian Metal, Pelagic Records, Post-metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Post-Metal, 33 comments

“I love the color purple. Such a rich palette of hues lie within this particular segment of the spectrum, all of which pair well with an extensive array of complements. Purple can convey royalty, seduction, obliteration, depression, and damn near everything else provided a competent application thereof. Of course, that holds true for most colors, but just seeing purple is more exciting to me than seeing any other color. This brings us to Belgian post-metal trio Psychonaut, whose debut album Unfold the God Man features a gorgeous cover warmly ensconced in my current color of choice.” Do not tear, fold or mutilate.