Self Release

Torii – Torii Review

By Ferox on January 11, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, 38 comments

Self-releasing an album can be a viable path to success in 2021, but if you’re still at it after seven tries, most bands would find it tough to keep the flame burning. This isn’t an issue for Torii mastermind Bill Masino, whose apparent need to create has seen him persist with the project through years, lineup changes and numerous shifts in approach. Their latest, self-titled platter finds the act returning to its origins as a solo outfit, intent on bringing Masino’s blend of post-metal, doom, and death metal to fresh audiences.” Torii is the word.

Cara Neir – Phase Out [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Dr. Wvrm on December 23, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2021, 14 comments

“Oftimes, “experimental” is just a nicer way of saying “incomprehensible” or “long-winded”, “avant-garde” a tidier “sucked up its own ass.” Metal is at its best when it’s truly different, not just strange. Cara Neir received high praise their last time out, but I didn’t hear it. Until now, very little from the Texans intrigued me, nothing I couldn’t swap for some Warheads at the lunch table. Until now.” 8-bits a biting.

Mega Colossus – Riptime Review

By Eldritch Elitist on December 17, 2021 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 38 comments

“You might be surprised to hear that even in a position of relative music authority, more than a handful of my recommendations fall flat. Case in point: Riptime. I’ve preached the virtues of this album more than a handful of times on Twitter to zero fanfare. My AMG colleagues, caught in the fever of the 2021 list season, essentially shrugged it off. Now here I am, in full clown makeup, writing a few hundred words to apparently nobody at all. And that’s okay, because even if it’s for my own amusement, there’s no other band I’d rather be writing about right now than Mega Colossus.” Mega ginormous.

Age of Athena – Gate to Oblivion Review

By Twelve on December 16, 2021 in Reviews, Metalcore, Symphonic Metal, 32 comments

“This is also how I feel about symphonic metal, its glimmering, shiny surface often subject to intense scrutiny from those who say the subgenre has stagnated. Enter Age of Athena, a new band from Canada’s Ontario whose debut, Gate to Oblivion, combines “influences of American metalcore and European symphonic metal.” Symphony of opera destruction?

Dead Space Chamber Music – The Black Hours Review

By Ferox on November 30, 2021 in Reviews, Folk Metal, 37 comments

“A doom band emerges from the hills of Southwest England. So does a dark neoclassical outfit, along with a group of ambient specialists dedicated to building sound collages… oh, and a neofolk collective is there, too. They’re not going to do battle, as metal as that might be—they can’t, because they’re all the same unit. Dead Space Chamber Music channels their restless muse into The Black Hours, an ambitious fusion of techniques that spends much of its run time reinterpreting material from the medieval and Renaissance periods.” Chamber of horrors.

1000 Bone Cylinder Explosion – Bind Review

By Eldritch Elitist on November 25, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Thrash Metal, 25 comments

“Solo projects are somewhat fascinating to me. They offer a fresh perspective into what makes an artist tick yet, for whatever reason, are seldom ever as good as the musician’s root project. The obvious takeaway here is that a band is only as good as the sum of its parts, and isolating one of those parts is bound to result in a lesser product. What makes 1000 Bone Cylinder Explosion an interesting case, then, is that the founder is already the primary compositional voice behind his greatest claim to fame. We are already acquainted with Peter Hraur’s vision; we have Lör. So what new wonders, then, can 1000 Bone Cylinder Explosion offer.” Bone collector.

Bryan Eckermann – Plague Bringers Review

By Twelve on November 15, 2021 in Reviews, 13 comments

“Bryan Eckermann, of such acts as Scars of the Flesh and Wings of Abaddon, is something of a multi-instrumentalist. In the aforementioned bands, for example, he covers guitars, bass, and drumming, which is already more than a lot of musicians can say for themselves. Since 2014, however, he has also stood at the helm of his own solo project, for which he does, well, everything. Vocals? Eckermann. Keys? Drums? All Eckermann. Mixing? Mastering? Recording? Still Eckermann.” One-man army.

Black Sites – Untrue Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 30, 2021 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, 111 comments

“Black Sites has taken his entire collection of musical influences and presented it to you. What makes it unique is how he absorbs his love for bands like Van Halen, Judas Priest, Trouble, Black Sabbath, and Bay-area thrash (to name a few) and puts himself into them. We love Mark in these parts, but that doesn’t shadow the truth that he’s one of the best songwriters in metal today.”

Ryghär – Thurmecia Eternal Review

By Steel Druhm on September 27, 2021 in Reviews, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 42 comments

“Conan’s mighty name is heavy upon the wind of late around the stately AMG offices/black market organ emporium. Ancient Empire just released a Cimmerian-themed outing and now Texas trve metallers Ryghär are set to drop their Hyborian age debut. Adopting a sound somewhere between Savage Grace, Manilla Road and Sumerlands, this unheralded act has an iron fist locked firmly on the olden ways and know how to craft epic odes to all things rusty, tarnished and ancient.” Sëize the umlaut.

Master Spy – The Train Review

By Holdeneye on September 20, 2021 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Power Metal, 75 comments

Today is the culmination of a long, drawn-out chapter in Angry Metal Comment Section™ lore. Years back, a regular reader and commenter began making allusions to their forthcoming album. Virtually any time a record of the heavy or power metal variety was covered, said reader would factor in the ensuing discussion by offering their perspective on the reviewed album…and shamelessly plugging their own project, Master Spy. I couldn’t help but be intrigued and impressed by the gumption with which this person promoted their creative endeavor. So when the promo for Master Spy’s The Train appeared on our doorstep, I felt compelled to grab it and give it a fair shake.” Trainkiller.