Review

Wretch – Wretch Review

By Treble Yell on September 15, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Bad Omen Records, Doom Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 23 comments

“Of the wavelengths split from heavy metal’s prism, doom is the color that can most clearly trace its path back to Black Sabbath. Down-tuned riffs, fuzzed-out solos and a bottom end that would make Sir Mix-a-lot dab the sweat from his brow, today’s doom acts unabashedly carry the flame first lit by Messrs Iommi, Ward, Butler and Osborne. The danger in this familiarity is that some bands struggle to escape their progenitor’s orbit and end up as pale imitators rather than carving out a space of their own.” Doom space is tough to come by these days.

Slomatics – Future Echo Returns Review

By Akerblogger on September 15, 2016 in 2016, Black Bow Records, Doom Metal, Irish Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 16 comments

“A blanket of smoke and incense billows from an attic-bedroom conversion as Electric Wizard makes a rare appearance from his occult abode to make a sandwich or to record an episode of Most Haunted. Conan sits in the garage and uses his sharp fingernails to shape mythical creatures out of wood, sporadically bellowing songs of war into the night, begrudgingly quieting down when his mother threatens to take away his copy of The Silmarillion. Slomatics is the younger brother of the two aforementioned doomsters. He spends his time gazing into the stars, reading Frank Herbert, Philip. K. Dick and H.G. Wells, and exploring the Moog that his father found for cheap at the car boot sale.” At home with the Slows.

Heaven Shall Burn – Wanderer Review

By Grymm on September 14, 2016 in 2016, Century Media, German Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 38 comments

“I love seeing bands progress beyond their infant stages, taking their influences and branching out into worlds unknown. Germany’s Heaven Shall Burn are not one of those bands you think of when you picture the word “progress.” They’ve taken their signature sound from 2004’s landmark Antigone, refined their attack, and proceeded to beat us over the head with variations of their trademark brand of metalcore/death metal/whatever it is the cool kids are calling them these days.” AMG: Voice of the cool kids since 2009.

Volturyon – Cleansed by Carnage Review

By Ferrous Beuller on September 14, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Uncategorized, ViciSolum Productions, Death Metal, 29 comments

“One of the things I love about death metal is that I always find it appropriate. Walking to work? Absolutely. Working out? Yes please. Spring cleaning? Why not? Volturyon, Swedish purveyors of all things death, are a band clear in their understanding of this and eager to churn out an absolute riff-fest to facilitate any and all spur of the moment gym sessions… or vacuuming.” Make that carpet BLEED!

Insomnium – Winter’s Gate Review

By Steel Druhm on September 13, 2016 in 2016, Century Media, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 90 comments

“Coming from the refreshingly short blasts of concise metal by High Spirits and Sumerlands and having to tackle a 40-minute melo-death song seemed like a particularly arduous shift of gears for yours truly. Winter’s Gate is Insomnium’s seventh release, and apparently they wanted to pay homage to Edge of Sanity’s legendary Crimson opus by crafting a massive composition filled with similarly diverse moods and complexions.” Winter is coming (and staying).

Inanimate Existence – Calling From a Dream Review

By Kronos on September 13, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Progressive Death, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Unique Leader, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 22 comments

“Advice is a tricky thing, really. I try to give only when asked and take only what’s given freely, but the general advice economy moves much faster than I like to. So instead of giving advice, I prefer to just point out issues and have people come up with their own solutions. This works well when you’re reviewing music since most of the job is explaining why that music isn’t as good as it could be. A case in point would be the last album from Inanimate Existence, A Never-Ending Cycle of Atonement, an album about which I had many complaints.” Is this an atonement?

Barishi – Blood From the Lion’s Mouth Review

By Akerblogger on September 11, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Progressive Metal, 35 comments

“Metal is undeniably a multifaceted wonder. It has many moods and it incorporates many styles from a wide range of genres and mediums. But how much is too much? Is it too late in the evolution of this dark and dangerous genre for us to return to the simple days of booze, drugs, and rock ’n roll?” Yes, yes it is.

Iron Fire – Among the Dead Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on September 10, 2016 in 2016, Crime Records, Danish Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 24 comments

“Formed at the turn of the millennium and billed in their promo material as “Denmark’s best-selling power metal band,” Iron Fire have consistently put out strong records with distinctive characters. 2014’s Voyage of the Damned was perhaps their darkest album to date, sounding like a cross between Dark Tranquility and Kamelot, but with more balls. Since then the band has seen some personnel changes: original drummer Gunnar Olsen has returned to the fold, and they’re now operating as a three-piece. What does this mean for new record Among the Dead?” Big in Denmark!

Sumerlands – Sumerlands Review

By Steel Druhm on September 9, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, Relapse, Reviews, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 39 comments

“As always, I’m dating myself with my taste in music, but so be it. Sumerlands is an unheralded act set to explode on the nostalgia-core scene with their self-titled release and let’s just say, I’m fully on board. Featuring Phil Swanson (Hour of 13, Briton Rites, et al) on vocals, Sumerlands plays exactly the kind of music I couldn’t get enough of in the late 80s/early 90s. It’s dark, brooding, traditional American metal with traces of prog and doom around the edges.” The boys of summer never sounded so olde!

Bloodnut – Blues from the Red Sons Review

By GardensTale on September 9, 2016 in 2016, New Zealand Metal, Revaulting Records, Reviews, Sludge, Stoner Rock, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, 31 comments

“I’m a big supporter of not taking yourself too seriously. From bands like Gloryhammer to movies like Tucker and Dale vs Evil, a little tongue in cheek, self deprecating humor can get you a lot of sympathy. Case in point: Bloodnut is Australian slang for redhead and the whole band pride themselves on being gingers all around. They don’t take themselves too seriously either.” Red is the new black.