Self Release

Hoth – Astral Necromancy Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on June 18, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 58 comments

“Astral Necromancy, the third release from American metal band Hoth, has caused me to discard far more words than I will publish about it. Very little of these words concerned the Star Wars theme of the band, which seems to interpret that series as a bunch of myths with archetypal themes that can be put into any context. This makes the whole enterprise more appealing, as there are no forced references and the focus remains on the music instead of hunts for little Easter eggs concerning Jar-Jar.” Death to Jar-Jar!

Raum Kingdom – Everything & Nothing Review

By Akerblogger on June 12, 2018 in 2018, Irish Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Self-released, Post-Metal, 26 comments

“When post-metal is done right it’s so mothersludgin’ right. It gets a bad rap from some for its lack of definable riffs, pretentiousness, and bloated structures, but it’s one of those styles that can grip and shake your core like no other. It’s a patient, reflective, solitary sub-genre that does require a certain state of mind for the juice of an album to be extracted. Sometimes you’ll be met with a thick wall of repetitiveness that cannot be penetrated, other times with a sloppy mush of watery crescendos and vocals. Sometimes, though, you’ll encounter a beast of an album that throbs with the force of a membranous world-eater, an oozing, atmosphere-drenched annihilator that secretes a vitriolic self-loathing power into your mind as you listen.” Celtic rage.

Infrared – Saviours Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on June 8, 2018 in 2018, Canadian Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 40 comments

“Each month there’s another thrash release and each month—depending on opinion—they get better or worse. Spain’s Crisix brought it in March. Germany’s Traitor added to it in April. Now it’s May and Canada is here to contribute to the next batch of old-school thrash. And what does Infrared’s Saviours sound like?” Excuse me, friend, do you have a moment to talk about old school thrash and Saviours?

From Beyond – The Band From Beyond Review

By Steel Druhm on May 8, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, 64 comments

“Life coaches and creepy self-help gurus always seem to tell you to get a clear plan and follow it. As if all life’s complexities and intrinsic chaos could be bypassed by the mere existence of bullet points and feel good mission statements. Like many of my fellow metal fanciers, I prefer a life of chaos, uncertainty and random disaster. I feel safe saying Texas oddballs From Beyond are right there with me on that too. Their debut jettisons policy and protocol, instead hurling ideas against a studio wall to see what sticks and how deeply.” Of plans and punches.

Spellblast – Of Gold and Guns Review

By Swordborn on April 5, 2018 in 2018, Italian Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Power Metal, 69 comments

“No, it’s not Orden Ogan’s Gunmen: Part Two, but we’ve got another European power metal band going full-bore American west on us. This time around, it’s a lesser-known Italian power metal act by the name of Spellblast, which is well known to me for its release of a pair of strong, if rather unkempt, albums in 2007’s Horns of Silence and 2010’s Battlecry. In 2014, the band executed a crowdfunding campaign (which I contributed to) for its third studio album entitled Nineteen, which was based on Stephen King’s Dark Tower saga. Unfortunately, despite having the band’s best vocal performance, Nineteen suffered from some serious redundancy and creative regression, caused in part by lineup changes and a new preoccupation with “western themes,” which were much less apparent then than now. No longer presenting a fantastical front, Of Gold and Guns is simply an homage to the characters of the American old west.” Spent bullets and dead horses.

North Hammer – Stormcaller Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on March 20, 2018 in 2018, Canadian Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Folk Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Power Metal, 65 comments

“‘Just so you know I’ll be milking this for a long time.’ These were the first words out of my girlfriend’s mouth after acting willingly (albeit with trepidation) as a last-minute road trip and concert companion to see Watain and Deströyer 666 after the flu struck down two friends who were originally supposed to go. I knew that sitting through myriad episodes of Dr. Phil or Real Housewives of [Pick a Place with Pretentious Snobs Galore] was my price to pay for seeing one of black metal’s most entertaining live acts rampage through the excellent ‘Nuclear Alchemy’ and other great songs, and that was fine. I knew what I signed up for, and honesty is always the best policy.” Our word is our bond, until we break it!

Purest of Pain – Solipsis Review

By El Cuervo on February 27, 2018 in 2018, Dutch Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Self-released, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 0 comments

“In the interests of full disclosure, I must confess that I think Delain, the Dutch symphonic metal band, is trash.” Now we can all move forward.

Savage Machine – Abandon Earth Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 24, 2018 in 2018, Danish Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 48 comments

“The crack of lightning, the rumble of thunder: If I had a nickel for every time I heard a song with such ominous bleatings, I still wouldn’t be able to buy a pint. But, this time, there’s no falsettos to back the rumble or guitar shredding to support the raining blood. Instead, Denmark’s Savage Machine uses this sky screaming to launch mankind from this puny planet. But, what’s in store for mankind on Abandon Earth?” Into the void trvly.

Dark Hound – Dawning Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 17, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Rampant Struggle Records, Reviews, Self-released, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 19 comments

“What’s your first impression when I say Dark Hound? No, this isn’t a trap. And, no, I’m not looking for anything perverted, so fucking stop. For me, Sherlock Holmes comes to mind. I don’t know… creepy dogs and shit? Anyway, with that, I would imagine the band’s music to be dark, brooding, and haunting—with an atmosphere to match. Well, no surprise, everything I thought was wrong. If anything, this Nashville, Tennessee quartet is anything but that.” Bro down(tuned).

Xanthochroid – Of Erthe and Axen: Act II Review

By Saunders on October 22, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Symphonic Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Progressive Metal, Symphonic Metal, 53 comments

“Nevertheless, the stronger moments from Act I are powerful examples of the band’s capabilities. So, here we go again with round two. Can Xanthochroid pull off this ambitious project with a worthier second act? Or is Of Erthe and Axen gearing for a spot on my ‘Biggest Disappointments o’ 2017′ list?” These double and triple albums, man.