Post-Metal

Culted – Nous Review

By Akerblogger on March 1, 2021 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Sludge, 12 comments

“Some of the most dense and horrible sounding music is beautiful. There’s beauty in the expression of extreme emotions, a vulnerability perhaps. It’s strangely alluring when a singer screams their lungs out without a care in the world. We all hold close to our hearts those special tracks that feature a riff or transition that pummels you to the ground for no good reason. These moments in music are special. For me, they often appear during records that carry a hefty sense of despair. Up steps the Canadian-Swedish outfit Culted. Despair is their game and Nous is their third full-length.” CultedER.

Empyrium – Über den Sternen Review

By El Cuervo on February 27, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Post-Metal, 47 comments

“If you asked me to name an underrated band, Empyrium would be one of the first out my mouth. Beginning life as a symphonic/folk/metal band in the mid-1990s with gems such as Songs of Moors and Misty Fields, they strayed into pure neofolk territory as they developed before disbanding in relative obscurity in the early 2000s. 2014 saw their return with a fresh, post-metal influence in their sound in The Turn of the Tides. It borders on an atmospheric masterpiece and remains one of my favorites from that year.” Atmo-magik.

Five the Hierophant – Through Aureate Void Review

By Carcharodon on February 24, 2021 in Reviews, Ambient Metal, Drone, Post-Metal, 51 comments

“The last time I encountered a hierophant, I 4.5ed it and slotted into the highly respectable – to me, at least – second spot on my 2020 List. While I dared not hope that London’s Five the Hierophant could reach such heights, a small part of me hoped that this band, which has been plying its trade since 2014 and bills itself as a psychedelic fusion of black metal, jazz, post metal and ambient drone, might just share some DNA with my beloved Hierophant Violent.” Holding out for a Hierophant.

Sea Sleeper – Nostophobia Review

By GardensTale on February 9, 2021 in Reviews, Death Metal, Post-Metal, Sludge, 30 comments

“The nasal, Mastodon-like cleans, oftentimes soggy with vocoder effects, reveal an occasional word or two, but most of it gets lost like foam on a cresting wave. The more prominent harsh vocals hold the middle between screeching and barking and are only distantly related to words. The riffing style is the direct result of running a simulation for simplified old Gojira mixed with simplified old Mastodon with the knob marked for “slamminess” turned to full.” Sea ranties.

Sarin – You Can’t Go Back Review

By Huck N Roll on February 4, 2021 in Reviews, Post-Metal, Sludge Metal, 17 comments

“For post-metal fans, the big release this week is the Cult of Luna EP. But other bands are working hard in this genre as well, one of which is Canada’s Sarin. Their third album You Can’t Go Back drops this week, and while they don’t have the marquee name to go with the release, that doesn’t mean they should be thrust to the side as we all rush headlong into The Raging River.” Breathe deep.

Harakiri for the Sky – Mære Review

By Dear Hollow on February 4, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Post-Metal, 44 comments

“If there’s ever been a band that reeks of potential, it’s Harakiri for the Sky. Standing separate from twinkly genre-mates with muscular songwriting and a refusal to stagnate, these Austrians have released album after album of incredibly strong post-black that always hinted at true greatness but never quite achieved it.” Mære, Mære, quite contrary.

Stellar Death – Fragments of Light Review

By Carcharodon on January 11, 2021 in Reviews, Ambient Metal, Instrumental Metal, Post-Metal, 23 comments

“Well. Here we are, 2021 at last and I decided to ease myself into this new year of ~~misery~~ musical exploration with a pick that seemed to be safely in my wheelhouse, based on the genre tag at least: a nice slab of safe, comforting post-metal. Fragments of Light is the debut LP from Washington, D.C.-based Stellar Death. The two-piece comprises Scott Loose (also of While Heaven Wept) and Matt Kozar (Witnesses).” Soft landing.

Arbrynth – A Place of Buried Light [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Carcharodon on January 5, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Atmospheric Black Metal, Post-Metal, 37 comments

“It’s nine years since Arbrynth dropped their self-titled debut. At that time, these Australians were a five-piece, playing a brand of folk-inspired, prog-tinged black metal, given an almost symphonic note by then-bassist and vocalist Tina, who has since departed. Scrolling forward to 2020 and their sophomore effort, Arbrynth — now a quartet — have narrowed their scope and arguably been somewhat less adventurous on A Place of Buried Light, which is a 50-minute slab of atmospheric black metal. What makes this such an excellent release, however, is the quality of the songwriting and the depths of emotion it plumbs.” Crouching atmosphere, hidden light.

The EP, Split, and Single Post [Things You Might Have Missed 2020] Part III

By El Cuervo on January 3, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Sludge Metal, Speed Metal, Technical Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 44 comments

“The neglected, forgotten children; that’s what this post is about. Full-length albums are the proud first-born, strutting about with muscular arms and a beautiful face. But EPs?” Three times’ the harm.

The EP, Split, and Single Post [Things You Might Have Missed 2020] Part I

By El Cuervo on December 22, 2020 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Synthwave, Thrash Metal, 52 comments

“The neglected, forgotten children; that’s what this post is about. Full-lengths albums are the proud first-born, strutting about with muscular arms and a beautiful face. But EPs?” Arms for the poor.