Prog Metal

Hex A.D. – Funeral Tango for Gods & Men Review

By Doom_et_Al on October 26, 2021 in Reviews, Doom Metal, 12 comments

“Much like a first love, a first review will always hold a special place in your heart. I popped my AMG cherry on Hex A.D.’s cheeky 2018 offering, Netherworld Triumphant. While dad-metal isn’t usually my thing, the confident and eclectic blend of influences the band served up, ranging from Cathedral to Sabbath, may not have been original, but it sure was a lot of fun. 2020’s follow-up, Astrotongue in the Electric Garden, dialed up the sex references even further, doubled down on the psychedelia, and signposted a band on the cusp of something great. When Funeral Tango for Gods and Men dropped, I took one look at the zany cover and figured this was it: these Norwegians were ready to ascend.” Funerary fuzz.

Neck of the Woods – The Annex of Ire Review

By Carcharodon on March 16, 2020 in 2020, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Metalcore, Pelagic Records, Progressive Death, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Metalcore, 30 comments

“Do you ever have that feeling of listening to an album and feeling that it’s somehow better than you’re giving it credit for? Or, as GardensTale put it to me, the feeling that “I’m probably just not good enough for the album”? That’s how I felt about the second full-length from Vancouver’s Neck of the Woods, until about 4pm today.” You’re good enough and people like you.

Somehow Jo – Tusk Review

By Carcharodon on November 18, 2019 in 2019, Alt-Metal, Finnish Metal, Inverse Records, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Rock, Alt-Metal, 11 comments

“I’m not sure what, if any, expectations I had for Finnish alt metallers Somehow Jo when I etched my crude shark sigil into the review boulder by their name. It’s not a moniker that really speaks to me and the artwork – although quite pretty – also doesn’t give a lot away. But you can be sure that any expectations I may have unconsciously harbored, plummeted when I read that sophomore album Tusk was written largely in a “small bunker next to a shady titty bar” and that, throughout, the band prioritized “freshness and originality in all of the ideas we’ve brought for the other members to be eaten and then later to be defecated in to a demo of some kind.”” Jo momma.

Astrosaur – Obscuroscope Review

By Kenstrosity on October 3, 2019 in 2019, Ambient Metal, Instrumental Metal, Norwegian Metal, Pelagic Records, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Post-Metal, 16 comments

“Much like my need to take the infrequent day off from work, I occasionally require a break from the never-ending storm that is extreme metal. When I require such dalliances with lighter fare, I generally choose prog-metal or something bumping shoulders with post-whatever. Established bands like Voyager, Dreadnought or Fair to Midland are my go-to’s. Hailing from Norway, Astrosaur get their foot in the door with their sophomore full-length Obscuroscope, an instrumental post/prog/jazz album that promises to satisfy my Chillaxoproxin™ fix.” Relaxosaur.

Avandra – Descender Review

By Kenstrosity on April 29, 2019 in 2019, Blood Music, Epic Metal, Melodic Metal, Progressive Metal, Puerto Rican Metal, Reviews, Epic Metal, Progressive Metal, 55 comments

“There are some excellent metal records out there—Voyager’s Ghost Mile comes to mind, along with Wishfield’s self-titled release from earlier this month—that I find quite relaxing. These kinds of records sneak up on you. You might not think much of them at first, but as time passes you crave them more and more. Which brings us to the band of the day: Avandra. ” Prog for pondering.