Review

Slaughterday – Ravenous Review

By Lord Doom on August 8, 2014 in 2014, Death Metal, FDA Rekotz, German Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 4 comments

“Death metal has pretty much gotten to the point where if you’re not doing something new and cool with the genre, then you’re damned to be unknown for the rest of your career. Even though tours like Summer Slaughter are covering every corner of the genre, some bands are just not willing to progress any further and stick to what isn’t broken and doesn’t need fixing.” It’s time for yet another probationary writer to shake the word machine and see what falls out. Here we have Gothmog discussing the wares of retro deathsters Slaughterday.

Midnight – No Mercy for Mayhem Review

By Al Kikuras on August 7, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Black Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 13 comments

“Punk and black/death metal are closer brethren than one might think. Obviously, punk’s influence on metal is undeniable, but when a band like Cleveland’s Midnight comes along and seamlessly mashes both styles together, it becomes even more evident how the different genres are all branches of the same tree. There are also some strong elements of NWOBHM, thrash, crust… I can go on and on, but what Midnight really hammers home is that when you throw them into a big pile, light it on fire, and piss on it, besides that horrible acrid cloud of pissmist, you get what can best be described as rock and roll.” This album has charisma AND pissmist. You can’t beat that for a dollar!

Accept – Blind Rage Review

By Steel Druhm on August 6, 2014 in 2014, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 9 comments

“Accept (and Grave Digger) are Germany’s grand contribution to the Pantheon of Unkillable Cockroaches of Metal. Decade after decade they continue releasing albums brimming with the same traditional metal ideas, slightly rejiggered and reformed, but always recognizable and predictable. Even after the loss of the diminutive but iconic Udo Dirkschneider, the boys from Berlin just kept right on rolling and the two post-Udo platters were their liveliest in forever. Here they come yet again with Blind Rage and it’s comforting as always that nothing much has changed.” With age comes wisdom, and in the case of Accept, surprisingly solid metal.

Empire Auriga – Ascending the Solarthrone Review

By El Cuervo on August 5, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Black Metal, Moribund Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 4 comments

“A curious thing occurred while listening to Ascending the Solarthrone for the first time. I was commuting into the city, a monotonous, cramped experience at the best of times, when we were informed by the disturbingly enthusiastic guard that someone had committed suicide on the tracks. I was already noting the record for its depressive and desolate atmosphere, and in that moment, the feeling it produced was quite extraordinary.” Another double secret probationary writer joins the fray as El Cuervo reviews some bleak black metal. It’s getting like a goddamn frat house around the AMG offices!

King of Asgard – Karg Review

By Steel Druhm on August 4, 2014 in 2014, Melodic Death Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Viking Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Viking Metal, 18 comments

“Formed from the ashes of the highly underrated and (AMG worshipped) Viking metal act Mithotyn, King of Asgard has more or less continued the mission statement of releasing odes to the northern winds, Viking valor and snowy landscapes, all heavily influenced by latter period Bathory as well as Einherjer, Ensiferum. Karg is their third such endeavor and it observes the traditions of its ancestors with all due reverence, while moving things in a darker, more stripped down direction.” Do you feel the need to plunder and pillage? If so, here’s your liege lord.

Nachtmystium – The World We Left Behind Review

By Grymm on August 3, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Black Metal, Century Media, Reviews, 16 comments

This post has been removed because it promoted Nazi or Nazi-adjacent metal bands or musicians. We apologize.

Bölzer – Soma Review

By JF Williams on August 2, 2014 in 2014, Black Metal, Death Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Swiss Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, 2 comments

“Bölzer know that time is precious and quality cheap in today’s oversaturated music climate. Armed with three songs clocking in at about 23 minutes, the Swiss duo more than charmed the metal community and earned themselves a slot right at the forefront of extreme metal hopefuls dwelling in the underground with their 2013 EP, Aura. Bölzer is back and JF Williams is back with them.

Methedras – System Subversion Review

By Mark Z. on August 1, 2014 in 2014, Italian Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 0 comments

“Like other hybrid genres, death thrash is inherently diverse. On one hand, you have bands like Deceased and Vader who throw occasional thrashy riffs and old school guitar leads into a classic death metal template; on the other hand, you have bands who take Testament-style thrash as a foundation and stack on harsher vocals and heavier riffing characteristic of death metal. Italy’s Methedras fall into the latter category. The style they play has never really exploded in popularity the way retro-thrash did a few years back, which may explain why Methedras have remained relatively unknown despite forming in 1996 and releasing three full-lengths in the 2000s.” Another new writer dares test his metal at AMG by reviewing some death-thrash. Godspeed, Mark Z.

Gnosis of the Witch – Dauðr Burðr Þrysvar EP Review

By Grymm on July 31, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Black Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Black Metal, 0 comments

“The summer of 2014 is quickly becoming the Summer of American Black Metal. Between stellar releases from Panopticon, Wolvhammer, and Wolves in the Throne Room, the Land of the Free has been churning out some primo, top-shelf Grade A Black(ened) Angus. Brand-spankin’-new two-piece Gnosis of the Witch are tossing both of their hats into the fiery pits with their second EP (and first for Iron Bonehead Productions), the easy-to-pronounce Dauðr Burðr Þrysvar. Will you be lost in their Thursian black charm, or will there be some work to be done to enslave you to the darkened grasp of Ginnungagap?” American black metal, like Elvis, is everywhere.

Belphegor – Conjuring the Dead Review

By Steel Druhm on July 30, 2014 in 2014, Austrian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 16 comments

“Hey look, everybody’s favorite necromantically inclined, goat bondage enthusiasts are back from the latex boutique to unleash another wave of blackened death on the tied and naked masses. Austria’s Belphegor are one of the leading voices in mega-extreme music and 2011s Blood Magick Necromance left quiet an impression on my steely cranium, ending up one of my best albums of the year. While these fetish freaks don’t do anything all that different from contemporaries like Behemoth, their simple, utterly savage blend of Morbid Angel pummeling and Marduk like blitzkrieging blackness really resonates with me in a way even the Polish Demigods do not.” Steel doesn’t always listen to blackened death, but when he does, he prefers Belphegor.