Self Released

Adrenechrome – Tales from Adrenechrome Review

By Mark Z. on November 24, 2015 in 2015, Canadian Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Unsigned Bands, Heavy Metal, Sludge, Southern Metal, 6 comments

“When I hear ‘sludge,’ I have a very specific sound in mind. I want wretched vocals, whiskey-soaked guitar riffs, and lyrics about living at the absolute nadir of human existence. I want it to live up to its name, flooding the sonic landscape with riffs that sound like they were written in an abandoned warehouse during an opium binge. Thus, I was a bit disappointed when first researching Ontario’s Adrenechrome and finding that the ‘sludge’ tag often used to describe them is, alas, very loosely applied.” What’s wrong with happy-go-lucky sludge?

Fractal Generator – Apotheosynthesis Review

By Kronos on October 12, 2015 in 2015, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 11 comments

“If 2015 has been skimping on anything (other than good death metal), it’s spheres. Whereas I researched for months in order to compile a list of 2014’s roundest and most symmetrical album art, we haven’t seen enough roll past this year to play a game of nine-ball with. They’re so infrequent that even semi-spherical album covers, like this one for Apotheosynthesis, the debut of Canadian tech-death outfit Fractal Generator, have started to ping on my radar.” Sphere today, gone tomorrow.

Krallice – Ygg huur Review

By Roquentin on August 12, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Reviews, 23 comments

“Krallice is a band that often gets misunderstood. Forcibly shoved into a conveniently labeled drawer of “black metal,” the New York group was an easy target of both the trve black metal kvltists, condemning them for “mocking and desecrating the genre,” and the mainstream public, that couldn’t stand such “noisy wankery.” They’ve been cynically called “controversial,” “divisive,” “hipsters,“ and “ostentatious,” often being mentioned in the same breath with the likes of Deafheaven and Liturgy, with whom they have little in common.” Notice how New York is becoming the Mecca of interesting black metal?

Deathwhite – Solitary Martyr EP Review

By Steel Druhm on August 11, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Gothic Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Gothic Metal, Post-Metal, 35 comments

“Ah, Deathwhite is back to antagonize music reviewers who expect to know things like: who’s in the band, what do they play, where are they from, who is their daddy and what does he do? Yes, Deathwhite scoffs at such outdated formalities, opting to exist in complete secrecy like goth-metal’s answer to those masked marauders in Ghost.” Straight from the Witness Protection Ensemble, more intrigue and confusion.

Alustrium – A Tunnel to Eden Review

By Kronos on July 17, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 42 comments

“For the past two years, my “Album of the Year” honor has gone to albums that clawed at the seams of extreme metal; while imperfect, they represented a rare glimpse at the technicolor darkness trapped perpetually beyond the horizon of the genre. It’s too early to call 2015, which I must say has piddled forth only a dilute stream of quality metal; but I can say without doubt that this album is a contender.” Color Kronos impressed…and burnt sienna.

Ambassador Gun – Tomb of Broken Sleep Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on July 16, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Grind, Metalcore, Reviews, Metalcore, 4 comments

““Awesome, more grindcore, I love reviewing grindcore!” I thought when the AMG carrier pigeon delivered this record to my PO box the other week. Then I became concerned for the state of my memory, because I haven’t ever reviewed any grindcore. I also don’t remember Steel Druhm or Madam X implementing a carrier pigeon-based promo distribution system, but at least that explains where all those record label bribes have gone to. Training good pigeons ain’t cheap you know.” The eagle has landed. I repeat, the eagle has landed!

The Armed – Untitled Review

By Kronos on June 27, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Hardcore, No Rest Until Ruin, Reviews, Hardcore, Mathcore, 20 comments

“Detroit’s The Armed caught fire in 2012 with their second EP, Spreading Joy and haven’t lost momentum since then; successive years have seen EPs, splits, and singles, but until now an LP has been elusive. Now we know why. This LP, left untitled, is an out-of-left-field insurgency, absolutely decimating the group’s previous output and reinventing the mosh-friendly and hard-hitting mathcore that made “Cop Friends” and “Sterling Results” smash skulls and wreck cervicals.” And worst cover of the year goes to….

Dawn of Azazel – The Tides of Damocles Review

By Kronos on April 28, 2015 in 2015, New Zealand Metal, Progressive Death, Reviews, 26 comments

“Readers already familiar with my preferences will recall that on multiple occasions I have referenced Ulcerate as both pioneers of the growing experimental and dissonant death metal trend and the most creative band since Meshuggah. Bold words indeed, (pun intended), but in truth, Ulcerate’s last three albums have been so excellent that I had to update the seal of approval I placed on them to a walrus.” Can Dawn of Azazel win such a prodigious stamp or do they earn the dreaded Frowny Face of Kronos.

Incinerate – Eradicating Terrestrial Species Review

By Kronos on April 21, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 17 comments

“If a brutal death band plays in the forest, where no one can hear you scream, then, frankly, my readers, should we give a damn?” Here we have some death from the Midwest, but is it a fly over?

Killer Refrigerator – The Fridge and the Power It Holds Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on April 10, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, 15 comments

“Hi, I’m Diabolus in Muzaka. You’ve probably read some of my musings on metal music in this space. I come to you today not just as a reviewer, but as a man who has been affected second-hand by appliance violence. Laugh at the cover or concept here all you like, but having witnessed a close friend’s assault by an appliance gone rogue, I see Killer Refrigerator as selfless visionaries using metal to bring us this message of our pending appliance-driven annihilation.” Honey, that appliance just called me an asshole!