Pink Floyd

Space Witch – Arcanum Review

By GardensTale on June 15, 2017 in 2017, Doom Metal, English Metal, HeviSike Records, Reviews, Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, 48 comments

“All musicians have to cope with the amount of music similar to their own. There are thousands of bands in any given sub-genre: how do you distinguish yourself? Lately, I have felt this stronger with stoner-doom than any other metal genre. Every band peddles 15-minute songs of plodding cyclical riffing, various sorts of harshly belted vocals, and a slow stomping rhythm section. The bands that do anything different are far and few between, and quickly drop from their bin into a differently labeled one, like sludge-doom or progressive-something.” Space Witch, mother_________.

Område – Nåde Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 28, 2017 in 2017, Avante Garde, Electronica Metal, French Metal, My Kingdom Music, Reviews, Avante Garde, Electronica Metal, 47 comments

“Well, Område have done it again. Two years ago, I opened their Edari review talking about the marriage of an album to its artwork. What seems simplistic turns out to quite difficult. Finding the right artist and the right piece of art to match an album’s character is like food presentation. For instance, if not careful, you’ll turn your entire family against your amazing chili dogs. I thought the artwork of Område’s debut was the perfect match to its sound, but Nåde takes the cake (or, in this case, a foot-long chili coney).” Of trippy music and penis-shaped meats.

Cursus – Cursus Review

By GardensTale on May 2, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Artificial Head Records, Doom Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, 27 comments

“I consider last year’s 40 Watt Sun album a particularly effective example at creating space and even emptiness with its sparse arrangements and use of repetition, reflecting the social distance in the lyrics. Since every good example is most effective when juxta- I mean, when placed opposite a bad example, Cursus has volunteered to demonstrate.” Doom death, where is thy sting?

Without Waves – Lunar Review

By Kronos on March 21, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 17 comments

“Chicago has a busy music scene, and I can hardly be bothered to go to shows even when bands I already like are playing, so there are plenty of cool second city bands that I’ve always heard of but never checked out. One such familiar name is Without Waves, an experimental/prog metal/rock outfit set to release their third album, Lunar, into a crowded field of new music this March 17th.” In a crowded field, is this brutal enough?

Pallbearer – Heartless Review

By Grymm on March 20, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Doom Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Doom Metal, 144 comments

“Pallbearer’s last album, the stellar Foundations of Burden, not only provided the soundtrack for the memories of broken promises and lost friendships, but also became my favorite album of this past decade. So needless to say, a lot is riding on Heartless, the third full-length from the Arkansas doom kings.” When expectations and fanboyism meet reality.

Cult of Luna and Julie Christmas – Mariner [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Huck N Roll on December 20, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Indie Recordings, Post-metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Post-Metal, 37 comments

“For me, the most compelling collaboration of 2016 was the transatlantic partnership of post-metal stalwarts Cult of Luna and post-hardcore siren Julie Christmas. Both acts on their own provoke ample curiosity — Cult of Luna for their orchestral post-metal machinations, and Christmas for her insanely talented and schizophrenic vocal acrobatics — but put them together and you have a recipe for something amazing.” It’s a post-Christmas miracle!

Schammasch – Triangle [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Roquentin on December 18, 2016 in 2016, Ambient Metal, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Post-metal, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Swiss Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Ambient, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 31 comments

“Based on vocalist and guitarist Chris S.R.’s amalgamation of a number of religions and philosophies, Triangle is a sprawling, grandiose effort that bridges progressive black metal, progressive rock, post-rock, and ambient music, while hinting towards a deeply personal struggle.” A triple album again? Why do we do this to AMG?

Crippled Black Phoenix – Bronze Review

By Huck N Roll on November 6, 2016 in 2016, British Metal, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Stoner Rock, Swedish Metal, Progressive Metal, Stoner Metal, 56 comments

“In honor of our esteemed Dr. A.N. Grier’s misplaced love for baseball (and the fact that the season has finally come to a merciful conclusion), I present a baseball analogy for Crippled Black Phoenix. CBP are like big-league sluggers: most of the time they strike out, but every few games they wallop one into the second deck of left field.” Swiiiiing, batter.

Hail Spirit Noir – Mayhem in Blue Review

By El Cuervo on October 24, 2016 in 2016, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Greek Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Psychedelic Rock, 37 comments

“Tensions remain, not just between Greece and the overlords of the EU but within the country: between those who support the economic freedom conferred by greater government spending and those who advocate fiscal responsibility. It’s in this turmoil that Mayhem in Blue was written.” Frugality breeds insanity.

Katla – Embryo Review

By GardensTale on October 13, 2016 in 2016, Non-Metal Metal Things, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Svart Records, Swedish Metal, Non-metal Metal Things, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Metal, 35 comments

“Ah, the seventies. An excellent decade for wanton sex, drug abuse and consequently, psychedelic music. In the common mindset, the foremost psychedelic band is of course Pink Floyd, and with good reason. But another influential band that tends to get overlooked, is Hawkwind, who had a bit more oomph than the aforementioned space rock colossus, using experimental timbres and textures to accentuate their otherwise fairly straightforward proto-metal. The influence of Hawkwind (who, amazingly, are still around) is clear on the debut of the trippy Swedish quartet Katla.” A might (Hawk)wind blows.