Reviews

Throneum – Morbid Death Tales Review

By Mark Z. on October 18, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Death Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Polish Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 13 comments

“Another day, another blackened death release from Hells Headbangers. It’s not that I don’t like what the label puts out — the past few years have seen great material from Destrukor, Denouncement Pyre, and Profanatica, to name but a few. But it’s albums like Morbid Death Tales that make me wonder if some bands just utilize a filthy sound and the ‘no trends, just pure metal!’ aesthetic as an excuse for churning out music which is half-assed, knowing full well that members of their ‘kvlt’ fanbase will rabidly devour it regardless.” A diet overly high in kvlt is not recommended.

Khemmis – Hunted Review

By Steel Druhm on October 17, 2016 in 20 Buck Spin, 2016, American Metal, Doom Metal, Doom Metal, 94 comments

“Khemmis sat atop my list of very pleasant surprises for 2015, with their unheralded Absolution debut being one of the best doom platters of the year and one of the top metal albums overall. I assumed 2016 would see these youngsters flushed with newfound success, touring extensively and carefully prepping to battle the dreaded sophomore slump sometime in 2017. Instead they chose to come right back at us with Hunted, and I wondered if they might be rushing things.” The hunt for quality doom is on.

An Autumn for Crippled Children – Eternal Review

By El Cuervo on October 17, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Dutch Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Wickerman Recordings, Black Metal, 36 comments

“And so we return to An Autumn for Crippled Children for their sixth full-length in as many years. I was reluctant to take Eternal, being acutely aware of the ultimatum I set following their last album: evolve or die. Their work was already stagnating, both within their discography and within the album itself for its highly consistent song structures. There is a formula for my feelings towards this successor. Take The Long Goodbye; add nearly 2 years; multiply by duller melodies.” Sleepy autumns and dimming futures.

Tid – Fix Idé Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on October 17, 2016 in 2016, Avante Garde, Industrial Metal, Post-metal, Swedish Metal, The Sign Records, Post-Metal, Synthwave, 32 comments

“Take a moment to drink in the epic beauty of the image to the left of this text. It’s amazing that a picture with so much monochrome can conjure such a powerful atmosphere. My expectations for the music are already sky high without hearing a single note, and are only increased on discovering that Tid (aka Time Is Divine) contains former members of Swedish experimentalists Magna Carta Cartel and Subvision. Can they possibly have come up with music that matches such an incredible visual impact?” Open the pod bay doors, Hal.

Iron Mask – Diabolica Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 16, 2016 in 2016, AFM Records, Belgian Metal, Neo-Classical Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Neo-Classical Metal, Power Metal, 20 comments

“While Narnia has shifted their direction to a more power-metal sound, Iron Mask stayed true to the Mighty Malmsteen. Hell, Iron Mask even used an actual Malmsteen vocalist for their epic Black as Death release. But, the Belgian’s 2013 record, Fifth Son of Winterdoom, was not good. And I’m sorta afraid to hear this newest release. Well, duty calls. Here goes nothing…” Answer the call of Malmsteen.

Vorgrum – Last Domain Review

By Eldritch Elitist on October 16, 2016 in 2016, Argentinian Metal, Folk Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Via Nocturna, Folk Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 12 comments

“Somewhere along my personal timeline of listening to extreme music I formed an imaginary line dividing two equally valid camps of folk metal. On one side, you have your bands of brooding boys who like to pose next to frozen streams for their promo shots in between discussions of just how great Windir was; on the other, you have your gangs of drunken revelers, crowding into the nearest tavern to relate raucous tales of wenches and trolls to any half-willing passersby.” Is that a troll on the cover or are you just happy to see me?

Re-Armed – The Era of Precarity Review

By Dr. Wvrm on October 16, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Saarni Records, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 13 comments

“It was noted in the comments that there’s been a lot of negativity around here lately. That’s not false: 2016 has suffered the runs worse than a 3rd grade recorder recital that accidentally hit the brown note. Whether that’s due to an outflow of compelling material, the recent infestation of scrubs (That’s Dr. Scrvb to you), or just something in the water at AMG Inc., the readership can only take so much aspersion. I swore I wouldn’t embrace the misery. If Re-Armed could generate a lick of positivity from their hyphenated frames, I was going to find it.” In every cloud there’s a silver lemming.

Age of Woe – An Ill Wind Blowing Review

By Grymm on October 15, 2016 in 2016, Doom Metal, Hardcore, Reviews, Sludge, Swedish Metal, War Anthem Records, Doom Metal, Hardcore, Sludge, 20 comments

“It was bound to happen. As I’m sitting here, writing a review of the appropriately titled An Ill Wind Blowing, the second album by Swedish sludgemeisters Age of Woe, I gaze out the rear door and see picturesque blue skies, mild temperate winds, and a garden teeming with life and vibrancy, complete with a Godzilla statue wolfing down some unfortunate garden gnomes. This is all important to note because, just a full day ago, Hurricane Matthew beat the ever-loving shit out everyone in its path through the Bahamas and parts of Florida, including my sleepy neighborhood.” From the storm comes…doom.

Sacred Steel – Heavy Metal Sacrifice Review

By Steel Druhm on October 15, 2016 in 2016, Cruz Del Sur, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Heavy Metal, 20 comments

“In the rich annals of metal bands crossing over into unintentional parody, Sacred Steel looms large. The perpetually over-the-top cheese fueled trve metal warriors led by “unorthodox” vocalist Gerrit P. Mutz have been pounding on the doors of the Great Hall ov Great Metal demanding entrance since 1997 only to be met with a shrug and a “No Solicitation” sign. But ignore them at your peril, for they’re as relentless as they are comical.” In trvth there is pain.

Opeth – Sorceress Review

By Angry Metal Guy on October 14, 2016 in 2016, Moderbolaget, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Progressive Rock, 171 comments

“It’s funny to think about how long it has been since the golden age of Swedish metal. In the mid-to-late ’90s and early aughts, Swedish bands were atop the world. Now venerable legends were young, hungry and novel. 1995 saw the release of Slaughter of the Soul, The Gallery and Orchid, while the following year graced us with Morningrise and The Jester Race. And when I got into Opeth in 1998 I was swimming in a veritable ocean of amazing Swedish records. Despite my love of the band, I would have laughed if someone had suggested that Opeth—the guys who couldn’t write a song shorter than 10 minutes—would be the most successful of the bunch in 20 years. Maybe it’s obvious in retrospect. Opeth was the band with the broadest opportunities for evolution. They have shown that consistently in their long career. Record after record they evolve; sometimes for the better and sometimes not. But they have always been forward thinking and—given their recent moves into merch and their own imprint—clever.” But is the new album good?