Raunchy

Arcade Messiah – The Host Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 4, 2020 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 27 comments

“But when I revisit the 2016 TYMHM piece, I’m reminded of a certain comment: ‘It must have been a shitload of work for a single person, to write and perform an album full of such dense arrangements and rhythmic irregularities, without losing the overall flow of the music. Hats off! I’m impressed.’ Four years later, I can say nothing less about Bassett’s newest outing, The Host. I can still say it’s ‘simplistic’ and smooth to the ears. But, musically, this new record is anything but simplistic.” Host with the most.

Serious Black – Suite 226 Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 8, 2020 in 2020, AFM Records, International Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 25 comments

“It’s no secret that Serious Black has fallen out of favor with me since 2016’s Mirrorworld. I mean, how do you fuck up a recipe as simple as As Daylight Breaks? Furthermore, how do you go from a Grier top-ten pick to a disappointment of the year? Well, it happened. Which found me almost missing out on 2017’s Magic and completely missing out on that same year’s acoustic release, First Light. And, when this year’s anticipated new record landed, I almost missed out again. For better or worse, Suite 226 is here with another concept story. This time a deranged lunatic rather than a top-hot magician. All I can say is buckle-up, kiddos. If I have to be here, then so do you.” Why so Serious?

Narnia – From Darkness to Light Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on July 31, 2019 in 2020, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 72 comments

“Pretend with me, for a second, that there is no god. If there wasn’t a god (or gods, for that matter), what an odd, peaceful existence mankind might have had. Think about the centuries of avoided wars and the countless lives spared. What if there were no bibles, no churches, no Jesus, no Virgin Mary, no resurrection, and no afterlife? What if everybody accepted death as an absolute end and lived every day to the fullest? Damn near every war fought has involved religion or a culture’s lack of understanding for another. So don’t tell me there isn’t a god. He’s real alright.” Lords of light.

Manes – Slow Motion Death Sequence Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 23, 2018 in 2018, Avante Garde, Debemur Morti, Electronica Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Electronica Metal, Non-metal Metal Things, 70 comments

“The first time I heard the Norwegian oddity known as Manes, I was in grad school. That fateful day, I was grading organic chemistry exams, locked away in that windowless closet of a grading room. With hours of work ahead of me, I took the time to find some new music to ease the pain. After getting caught in the rabbit’s hole of ‘similar artists’ and the ‘who-played-with-who’ links of Metal Archives, I emerged with Manes. And, I figured, this oughta do.” Music for destroying futures.

Parasite Inc. – Dead and Alive Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 20, 2018 in 2018, German Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reaper Entertainment, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 114 comments

“Bands like Hypocrisy and Dark Tranquillity were like gateway drugs for me. I remember getting heavy into the style about a decade ago and then it seemed to run its course. And, as most of my favorite bands carry on with run-of-the-mill material, while others—like Soilwork, Arch Enemy, and In Flames—continue to bore me to fucking death, it’s become even more clear that I’ve fallen away from the genre. So, in hopes of rekindling some of those flames, I grabbed Parasite Inc.’s Dead and Alive. What the hell was I thinking?” The Doc has worms.

Devilment – II – The Mephisto Waltzes Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 24, 2016 in 2016, English Metal, Gothic Metal, Groove Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Gothic Metal, Groove Metal, 47 comments

“Though Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth continue to deliver some decent material, I struggle to find that initial pleasure I once felt with releases like Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, Spiritual Black Dimensions, Dusk and Her Embrace, and Cruelty and the Beast. And, for the most part, I had a falling out with both bands. But, I recently discovered a musical venture of Dani Filth’s I had no idea existed—one that I am rather enjoying.” If you can’t have the King, at least you can wallow in Filth.

Område – Edari Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on April 14, 2015 in 2015, Avante Garde, French Metal, My Kingdom Music, Reviews, Avante Garde, 25 comments

“There’s just something about Seldon Hunt’s artwork that draws me deep into the full concept and mood of an album. Hunt is somehow able to match auditory art with an observable one. And Område’s Edari is no different. Hunt’s work conveys a sense of beauty, confusion, and uneasiness that perfectly encapsulates a band that compares themselves to influential acts such as Manes and Ulver.” What’s with all the avant-garde metal this year? Must be due to global climate change.

Raunchy – Vices.Virtues.Visions. Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 23, 2015 in 2015, Danish Metal, Industrial Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Industrial Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 17 comments

“There are three things you need to know in regards to Raunchy: 1) I’ve had an unhealthy love affair with them since stumbling across Wasteland Discotheque back in 2008; 2) they have the most misleading band name ever; and 3) never say “can I get Raunchy?” when asking for their promo.” We call that a micro-aggression, and we only tolerate macro-aggressions at AMG. HR awaits!