Reviews

As Lions – Selfish Age Review

By Huck N Roll on January 18, 2017 in 2017, Better Noise Records, British Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 37 comments

“Heredity can be a blessing and a curse. Unless you’re George Clooney, you will be endlessly compared to that elderly, more famous relative of yours no matter how different you proclaim to be. Often, lineage will be the curiosity factor that garners early attention, but even more often it will be a stumbling block to legitimacy. Take Lauren Harris, for example, daughter of Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris. She’s been trying for over a decade to make a go of it, with little luck. Another “Child of Maiden,” Austin Dickinson, is bravely trying to carve his own path, first with unmemorable metalcore act Rise to Remain and now with As Lions.” How far is that apple gonna roll?

Ekpyrosis – Asphyxiating Devotion Review

By Akerblogger on January 18, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, Italian Metal, Memento Mori, Reviews, Death Metal, 4 comments

“The stoics believed in ekpyrosis, the yearly destruction of the universe by an all-consuming inferno. They believed that life is a cycle of destruction and rebirth. Recreation out of chaos. Ekpyrosis embody ekpyrosis through their fiery homage to old-school death metal and Asphyxiating Devotion is the unrelenting debut record by this Italian four-piece.” Burning the way to rebirth!

Infamovs – Under The Seals of Death Review

By Ferrous Beuller on January 18, 2017 in 2017, Chilean Metal, Death Metal, Labels, Memento Mori, Death Metal, 19 comments

“Introducing Chile’s very own Infamovs, champions of that perennially classic style of exhumed, grave dusted death metal, which we all love to love. And, yes, I did spell the band name correctly; you’re going to have to be extra kvlt to read this one.” There is no “v” in old school.

Firewind – Immortals Review

By Steel Druhm on January 17, 2017 in 2017, Century Media, Heavy Metal, International Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 41 comments

“Long running Greek power metal warriors Firewind have always been a reliable second-string act thanks to the capable stewardship of axe God, Gus G. When news broke in 2009 that he was to be Ozzy’s new guitar wiz, I wondered if he’d be able to keep his first love alive on the side. Immortals marks the third Firewind platter since he joined with metal’s original maniac, so it seems the man can multi-task just fine.” This Gus is on fire!

Infernal Angels – Ars Goetia Review

By GardensTale on January 17, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Death Metal, Italian Metal, My Kingdom Music, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 11 comments

“Expectations can be an odd thing when dealing with hybrid genres. The more genres descriptors added to the band’s tag, the harder it gets to form a view of what you’re going to listen to, and it doesn’t just apply to blackened melodic industrigothic deathfolk. Take Infernal Angels, now releasing their 4th album in 15 years. Various sources I checked listed the band as melodic black metal, melodic black/death metal, or plain black/death metal.” Get in your pigeonhole!

Uniform – Wake in Fright Review

By Treble Yell on January 17, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Industrial Metal, Noise, Reviews, Sacred Bones Records, Thrash Metal, Industrial Metal, Noise, Thrash Metal, 31 comments

“‘May you dream of the devil and wake in fright.’ This old curse serves as the inspiration for the novel and later film adaptation Wake in Fright, a harrowing descent into madness that tells the tale of an English school teacher in a remote Australian town who wrestles with conformity, misery and the innate self-destruction that clings to man like a shadow.” To sleep, per-chase to scream.

Emptiness – Not for Music Review

By Grymm on January 16, 2017 in 2017, Ambient Metal, Belgian Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Ambient Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 23 comments

“If there was a saying that Papa Grymm would instill on us kids (besides to clean our rooms), it would be to make ourselves as uncomfortable as humanly possible. I don’t mean wearing sweater vests in the summer, folks, but rather stepping outside those little boxes we build for ourselves. Discomfort begets growth, after all. And what can be more uncomfortable than atonal, ambient black metal?” More edgy than a wedgie.

Witchmaster/Voidhanger – Razing the Shrines of Optimism [Split] Review

By Mark Z. on January 16, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Death Metal, Polish Metal, Reviews, Third Eye Temple, Black Metal, Death Metal, 9 comments

“From Vader to Behemoth, Polish death metal has always rocked my socks off and left me standing in line for all the blastbeats and pierogies I can stomach. From the same foul breeding grounds come the perpetrators behind today’s split.” Nasty and nastier.

Thron – Thron Review

By Eldritch Elitist on January 15, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Clavis Secretorvm, German Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 27 comments

“Relentlessly picking on black metal bands whose members opt for anonymity is a favorite pastime of ours here at Angry Metal Guy, but it kinda sorta makes sense when you look at the practice from the band’s perspective. When trying to break into the scene, withholding one’s identity means that critics have only the music to go on, and if the musicians happen to suck, it eliminates any possibility of cred shredding in the eyes of the masses.” Secret identities are metal.

Black Anvil – As Was Review

By Mark Z. on January 15, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Black Metal, Progressive Metal, Relapse, Reviews, Black Metal, Progressive Metal, 15 comments

“Black Anvil is one of those bands you always expect to break through on their next record. Formed in 2007 by members of New York hardcore act Kill Your Idols, the black metal quartet’s 2009 debut Time Insults the Mind and 2010 follow-up Triumvirate initially seemed poised to break the group out of the underground with their infusion of Watain-style riffing into a sweaty hardcore aesthetic.” Is this when the Anvil cracks through?