Portuguese Metal

Sinistro – Semente Review

By Grymm on April 4, 2016 in 2016, Doom Metal, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Doom Metal, 25 comments

“Whenever I’m given a new band to check out for review, I do as much thorough investigating as humanly possible. So when a band is labeled as “doom rock,” which is the case with today’s subject of scrutiny, Portugal’s Sinistro, I get a bit antsy, as it’s usually just a cover-up for gothic silliness. Add to the fact that the band members only go by one letter each (save for frontwoman Patricia Andrade), and it doesn’t bode very well from the start. Can you judge an album by the band members’ tired monikers?

Ravensire – The Cycle Never Ends Review

By Steel Druhm on January 29, 2016 in 2016, Cruz Del Sur, Heavy Metal, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 39 comments

“One look at that cover and you knew I’d be the chosen one to review it, didn’t you? And rightly so, as Ravensire has an imposing Throne of Usurpation built directly on the epicenter of my metallic wheelhouse. They rock a burly form of trve metal similar to Visigoth and Ironsword, and since that means Conan-core, you can expect much Cirith Ungol worshiping, Manowar loin clothing and Manilla Road raging.” If you’re bored, reforge the sword!

Onirik – Casket Dream Veneration Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 9, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 28 comments

“As suggested by Neige of Alcest, dreams can be a truly inspirational medium to audial art. Personifying places and feelings of the dream world into those of a musical one can produce music that has both character and a buttload of passion behind it (even if the music is shit). Gonius Rex (the man behind Portugal’s Onirik) is another musician that taps into his own REMs for inspiration. In Rex’s case, these dreams manifest themselves into a much darker expression of black metal.” A dream to some, a nightmare to others!

Vaee Solis – Adversarial Light Review

By Madam X on August 15, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Mordgrimm, Reviews, Signal Rex, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 20 comments

“Portugal’s Vaee Solis don’t have much experience administering slow tempo lashings steeped in thick doomy riffs, or for that matter, flogging you mercilessly with shrieks and snarls loaded with blackened ideology. It makes sense then that they’d turn to the guidance and creative output of seasoned veterans like Celtic Frost and Venom to light their path.” Whip it good!

Moonspell – Extinct Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 13, 2015 in 2015, Gothic Metal, Napalm Records, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Gothic Metal, 32 comments

“After ten albums (nine for those that don’t count Under Satanæ as an original release), each new Moonspell album leaves me in a state of “ummmm,” “hmmmm,” and “interesting.”” Things that make you go hmmmm, now including Moonspell!

Wells Valley – Matter As Regent Review

By El Cuervo on February 2, 2015 in 2015, Avante Garde, Portuguese Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Sludge, Post-Metal, Sludge Metal, 4 comments

“Matter As Regent. A bold statement indeed, against Platonic tradition which has dictated Western philosophy for millennia. Such a title rejects the notion that form subordinates matter, esteeming matter as the fundamental force and model around which everything revolves. My interest was immediately sparked, and it was with academic fervor that I approached this promo.” To Hume is this philosophical excess aimed, because I certainly Kant tell.

Infra – Initiation on the Ordeals of Lower Vibrations Review

By Kronos on January 19, 2015 in 2015, Death Metal, Nuclear War Now! Productions, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 4 comments

“Another year, another death metal band you’ve never heard tell of. Infra hail from Portugal (now checked off of the “Kronos’ global domination” list) and aim to please with groovy, dissonant blackened death that’s nearly as underground as the Earth’s mantle and comparably crushing.” Two songs, one Kronos.