Reviews

Born Again – Strike with Power Review

By Treble Yell on February 24, 2017 in 2017, French Metal, Heavy Metal, Massacre Records, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 5 comments

“Motörhead may no longer be around to kill your lawn but, in their wake, churn flotsam and jetsam inspired to take up the axe and split our eardrums asunder. The aptly titled Born Again proffer to raise a pint to the metal gods of yore with their debut Strike with Power in the hopes of rekindling the embers left by Lemmy, et al. The danger in carrying the flame left by music’s Übermensch is that it can be difficult to escape their long shadow and the line between homage and second-rate irrelevancy is thin.” We miss Lemmy.

Lecherous Gaze – One Fifteen Review

By Huck N Roll on February 23, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Proto-Metal, Reviews, Tee Pee Records, 55 comments

“‘I hope this is one you’re reviewing and you didn’t actually buy it,’ said my fiancée less than thirty seconds into this album. Why? I won’t spoil it so early on, but if ever a band’s sound suited their name, the sleazy, leering proto-punk of Bay-area throwbacks Lecherous Gaze would fit the bill.” So sleazy it’ll leave a stain on your speakers.

Arduini / Balich – Dawn of Ages Review

By Steel Druhm on February 23, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Cruz Del Sur, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, 24 comments

“You know all about our stance on so called “supergroups” at his establishment. The whole concept of a group of superlative (or at least well known) musicians coming together to form an exciting new project invites heightened expectations, and all too often the end product is a let down. Of course there are exceptions to the rule like Arch/Matheos and of course, that awesome Metallica / Lou Reed collaboration, but as a rule it’s best to approach these things guardedly. That brings us to today’s subject – a project by former Fates Warning guitarist Victor Arduini and Argus vocalist Brian Balich.” Big doom for big men and women.

Screamer – Hell Machine Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on February 23, 2017 in 2017, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, High Roller Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 17 comments

“Screamer, a group of jovial Norwegian retro-rock revivalists, are putting out their third Hell Machine soon, and there’s a very particular standard by which it ought to be judged. The standard I’m referring to is Audrey Horne’s masterful Pure Heavy, far and away the best record of the retro-rock revival movement.” Mess with Audrey, you get the Horne.

Bloodbound – War of Dragons Review

By Steel Druhm on February 22, 2017 in 2017, AFM Records, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 47 comments

“Bloodbound has been altering their approach from album to album in an attempt to find some mythological metallic sweet spot. Starting life as a cracking traditional metal group, they subsequently drifted into borderline Euro-power and back several times with varied results. On 2014s Stormborn they took things quite deep into D&D Euro-puffery territory with a threadbare Game of Thrones concept.” When you play the Game of Cheese, you win or you fry. Mmmm, fried cheese….

Siberian – Through Ages of Sleep

By Akerblogger on February 22, 2017 in 2017, Post-metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, The Sign Records, Post-Metal, 9 comments

“Sweden’s Siberian – with their second full-length Through Ages of Sleep – have transferred the contents of their dream journals into the realm of post-metal. Through their music, they present consciousness in flux with the physical fading into the incorporeal. The question is: is there enough tangible tastiness here to give weight to the fluffy incoherence of the dream world?” Dreamy post-metal? Is this all a dream?

Bathsheba – Servus Review

By Grymm on February 22, 2017 in 2017, Belgian Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Svart Records, Doom Metal, 31 comments

“It always disheartens me when bands with so much potential turn to ash shortly after burning brightly. For instance, remember the buzz surrounding Belgium’s Serpentcult? Their 2008 debut Weight of Light caught many a doom aficionado’s ear with their sludged-out grooves, crushing basslines, and the otherworldly vocals of Michelle Nocon. Fast-forward three years, and the Nocon-less follow-up, Raised By Wolves, while still heavy and uncompromising, lost its spark with her departure. Now here we are in 2017, and Nocon’s plying her voice in a new band.” Can the Nocon magic happen twice?

Immolation – Atonement Review

By Ferrous Beuller on February 21, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Death Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Death Metal, 89 comments

“My grim compulsion for all things death metal was initially born from a worship of the burgeoning Floridian and Swedish scenes, spawned originally as a continuation of my immortal love of thrash. I was immediately addicted to the genre’s inherent heaviness and dark theatricality, but it wasn’t until I eventually stumbled into the path of the New York acts, who heralded a denser, altogether heavier wave of death, that I would come into contact with Immolation, marking the first time I would be exposed to truly oppressive metal.” Proudly oppressing the masses since 1988.

Sunless – Urraca Review

By Saunders on February 21, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Progressive Death, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Technical Death Metal, Death Metal, Experimental Metal, Progressive Death, Technical Death Metal, 44 comments

“They say it’s important to remain challenged, to help stave off boredom and keep the motivation and creative fires burning. Life certainly throws up plenty of challenges without invitation in our fast-paced and volatile modern world. But with music, and extreme metal, in particular, we have a unique outlet and greater control to challenge ourselves. Unfortunately, it’s easy to rest on our laurels and stay firmly entrenched in our comfort zones.” Into the riff maelstrom.

Antropomorphia – Sermon ov Wrath Review

By Ferrous Beuller on February 19, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, Dutch Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 48 comments

“There is no shame in having loved and lost – it’s a natural part of life and, as sure as the world turns and the seasons pass, as inevitable as our own eventual end. Love and death are two themes that are routinely romanticized, despite their irrefutably painful reality. By extension, The Netherlands’ Antropomorphia are also romantics… although not in the Byronic sense you might be expecting.” Strange, illegal love indeed.