Reviews

Oraculum – Sorcery of the Damned Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on October 28, 2014 in 2014, Chilean Metal, Death Metal, Invictus Productions, Reviews, Death Metal, 6 comments

“I’ll be the first to admit that I truly enjoy the old school death metal (OSDM) revival that seems to have been going on forever in the metal scene. That said, it does have its fair share of problems. Too often bands hopping on the OSDM train will focus on and nail down the cavernous murk that helped define classics like Onward to Golgotha and Diabolical Conquest, but forget that atmosphere was only half the battle…” The OSDM train just keeps chooglin on down the line, but do you still want a ticket to ride?

Sidious – Revealed in Profane Splendour Review

By Grymm on October 28, 2014 in 2014, Black Metal, Death Metal, English Metal, Kaotoxin Records, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 11 comments

“When you spend six years together, playing in each others’ bands and various side projects, it’s assumed that you get a strong feel of what each member is capable of bringing forth in a relatively new project. With each member also a part of the great UK doom/death outfit Eye of Solitude, Sidious has the distinct advantage of years of camaraderie and musical experiences together under their belt.” Lots of time in the tour fan can be a good thing, or lead to…complications. Which shall it be for this crew?

Beyond Creation – Earthborn Evolution Review

By Kronos on October 27, 2014 in 2014, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Death, Reviews, Season of Mist, Death Metal, 20 comments

“If you’ve never heard Beyond Creation’s début The Aura, honestly, what are you doing with your life? Are you happy with who you are? Because you damn well shouldn’t be. The Aura is, and I have no reservations in saying this, the best death metal début since Onset of Putrefaction. It also might be the best technical/progressive death metal album this decade has yet to offer. Out of complete fucking nowhere, a bunch of flaxen-locked French-Canadians self-released what might just be the pinnacle of modern tech-death. It’s brutal, it’s heavy, it’s overpowering, astonishing, and inventive, yet there also exists nuance, care, and maturity in the writing and performances that is completely unparalleled. The album is damn near perfect. This means, sadly, that Earthborn Evolution is doomed from the start.” Well, that seems pretty darn unfair!

Riot V – Unleash the Fire Review

By Steel Druhm on October 26, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 14 comments

“Riot is a legendary name in the New York metal scene with a career spanning almost 40 years. They’ve released genre classics like Narita, Fire Down Under and their crowning moment, 1988s Thundersteel. I’ve banged on about how great that album is since joining AMG and to this day it remains one of my all time favorites. The Thundersteel lineup reunited in 2011 for the brilliant Immortal Soul, which earned a very rare 5.0/5.0 from yours truly and it seemed the world was about to witness a major Riot renaissance. Then tragedy struck and founder and guitarist supreme Mark Reale passed away, leaving Riot in limbo.” The New York titans have been resurrected along with their seal faced mascot. But will it earn Steel Druhm’s Seal of Approval?

Obituary – Inked In Blood Review

By Madam X on October 26, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Death Metal, Relapse, Reviews, Death Metal, 26 comments

“Way back when Obituary were big, they delivered the kind of ripping death metal that rivaled Florida peers Malevolent Creation, Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel and Deicide. To say that they once peeled the skin from your face is no understatement… think back to the pungent stench of Slowly We Rot and Cause of Death. It was them along with Winter that first incorporated the Celtic Frost dirge element into death metal, and when combined with John Tardy’s lunatic vocals left you wondering whether music could get any heavier.” The old boys are back to kill once again, but are the tools still sharp enough?

Cavalera Conspiracy – Pandemonium Review

By Dr. Fisting on October 24, 2014 in 2014, Brazilian Metal, Grind, Napalm Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 24 comments

“There is a car parked in my neighborhood that has Sepultura, Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy stickers on the back window. I see it every day, and I can’t help but feel bad for whoever the owner is. Not just because he probably has a closet full of urban-camo shorts, but because he has been holding out on a lost cause.” The Cavalera brothers are back and we’ve made Mr. Fisting go with them. Hilarity ensues.

Pestilential Shadows – Ephemeral Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on October 24, 2014 in 2014, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Reviews, Séance Records, Black Metal, 8 comments

“Pestilential Shadows comes from the land down under, where the women glow and men plunder. Listen closely, and you’ll hear their black metal thunder. Listen even closer, and you’ll run for cover. Gimmicky introduction aside, the men in Pestilential Shadows have been at work making some seriously bleak music since 2003, and their fifth album, Ephemeral, shows no signs of deviating from this path.” Anyone want a Vegemite sandwich?

Abysmal Dawn – Obsolesence Review

By Kronos on October 23, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Death Metal, Relapse, Reviews, Death Metal, 24 comments

“Those readers familiar with my reviews may have guessed that I have a bone to pick with modern death metal. In reality, it’s more like a small skeleton. I love death metal, and I’m no retro-fanatic, but the vast majority of death metal that’s been made this decade is about as inventive and impactful as a marshmallow gun. The genre has always risked stagnation through competition, but as of late it’s a pissing contest between dozens of bands trying to be more technical, more brutal, and louder than everyone else, and none of them succeed.” The wrath of Kronos is terrible to behold when it comes to sub par death. Can Abysmal Dawn sooth the savage beast that dwells in his jaded heart?

Thy Darkened Shade – Liber Lvcifer I: Khen Sedjet Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 23, 2014 in 2014, Black Metal, Greek Metal, Reviews, W.T.C. Productions, Black Metal, 7 comments

“I became intrigued by Thy Darkened Shade from a very interesting interview I read recently. So when the opportunity came up to review their new album (Liber Lvcifer I: Khen Sedjet) I jumped right into this dark realm of satanic black metal full of wonder and excitement.” Satan worship is certainty exciting!

While Heaven Wept – Suspended at Aphelion Review

By Steel Druhm on October 22, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, 18 comments

“While Heaven Wept is a band I expect excellence from and actively root for them to achieve it, almost as if I was in the damn band myself. Their Of Empires Forlorn album is one of the best doom releases ever and one I return to religiously whenever I need a good soul drubbing. Follow ups Vast Oceans Lachrymose and Fear of Infinity were very good, sometimes great doses of highly polished melodic doom, though neither could replicate that special something Of Empires possessed. With all the hype surrounding the writing and recording of Suspended at Aphelion, and the fact it’s a conceptual piece composed of one song with eleven movements, a fanboy could dream this would be their magnum opus rex.” Ah, the dreams of a fanboy…so fragile, so precarious.