Sep17

Squalus – The Great Fish… Review

By Saunders on September 20, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Doom Metal, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Punk, Reviews, Rock, Sludge, Translation Loss, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Punk, Sludge, 59 comments

“When the trailblazing and difficult to classify Giant Squid went on indefinite hiatus in 2015, the heavy music world lost one of its great innovators and truly underappreciated acts. They signed off with their exceptional 2014 album Minoans before news eventually filtered through of their demise the following year. While all good things must end, thankfully the creative juices are still flowing for the Giant Squid band members. Vocalist/guitarist and mastermind Aaron Gregory has collaborated with the bulk of the Giant Squid crew to deliver the debut LP from Squalus.” Once squided, twice shy.

Ufomammut – 8 Review

By GardensTale on September 20, 2017 in 2017, Doom Metal, Italian Metal, Neurot Records, Reviews, Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, 54 comments

“Stoner doom seems such an easy genre to play. Write every kickass riff you can think of, play them slow and heavy, and you’re most of the way there. Yet many struggle with the cyclopean task of keeping their bundle of riffs interesting for 45 (or 75) minutes. Ufomammut is not one of them, however.” Putting the “uf” in Ufomammut.

Highrider – Roll for Initiative Review

By Treble Yell on September 20, 2017 in 2017, Doom Metal, Hardcore, Reviews, The Sign Records, Thrash Metal, Doom Metal, Hardcore, 35 comments

“It’s been a long and bitter journey. Fatigue clings to you like a drowning sailor; a debt accrued from the rancid marches and frigid mountains your troupe of brigands have had to push through. You stumble out from a forest that delighted in stymying your efforts to leave unscathed and come across a time-worn bridge that leads to a welcome sight — home. Before you can muster a cry of exultation a blood-curdling roar splits the silence and a gigantic blur of teeth and scales crashes down before you. A dragon now blocks your path.” Chaotic neutral.

Hexx – Wrath of the Reaper Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 19, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, High Roller Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Power Metal, Thrash Metal, 11 comments

“There are albums and there are comeback albums. While the former can have their share of pressure and anticipation, pressure and anticipation are inevitable for the latter. Especially the larger the gap between a band’s previous releases and their comeback. Celtic Frost’s Monotheist, for example, had a ridiculous amount of hype surrounding it. The band felt it, the fans felt it. But, after sixteen years of CF silence, Monotheist arrived and left its mark. Another legend to return from the grave is Autopsy. After another sixteen years, they returned with a vengeance—proving to the world they could still be as raunchy as ever. But, why a come back?” Back from the dead with the Reaper in tow.

Chelsea Wolfe – Hiss Spun Review

By Saunders on September 19, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Doom Metal, Industrial Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Post-metal, Reviews, Rock, Sargent House, Doom Metal, Folk, Industrial Metal, Post-Metal, 78 comments

“With expectations sky high after the mesmerizing Abyss, Wolfe returns with her highly anticipated sixth opus, Hiss Spun. One of Chelsea Wolfe’s key strengths as an artist lies in her ability to continually evolve and reinvent herself. Familiar strands tie her works together, but she is not in the game of repeating herself, as Hiss Spun firmly attests.” Wolfe at your doorstep.

Sándor Vály – Young Dionysos Review

By Kronos on September 19, 2017 in 2017, Ektro Records, Finnish Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Reviews, Not Metal, 56 comments

“Young Dionysos is that rare album which I feel almost incapable of reviewing. Not because it is boring, derivative, or unlistenable, but because it proves difficult to fit it into the ‘album’ category at all. A new addition to the impressive ouvre of Hungarian-Finnish artist Sándor Vály, the album Young Dionysos is itself only a small part of a larger body of works, including video, painting, decollage, and performance art, which constitute the entirety of ‘Young Dionysos.'” Art in strange spaces.

Belphegor – Totenritual Review

By Ferrous Beuller on September 18, 2017 in 2017, Austrian Metal, Black Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, 28 comments

“Ever blackened, ever brutal, ever bothersome of livestock, Austria’s Belphegor have once again returned to necromance us with another flurry of panzer division extremity. I may not have gushed quite so profusely over the previous album, Conjuring the Dead, as Steel Druhm, but I certainly enjoyed the uptake in death metal that informed that record and still occasionally drop in when in need of a merciless bondage beating.” Hogtied and beaten sheepless.

Myrkur – Mareridt Review

By Saunders on September 18, 2017 in 2017, Ambient Metal, Black Metal, Danish Metal, Folk Metal, Relapse, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Folk, Post-Metal, 61 comments

“Like or hate her heavily indebted style of enchanting folk and atmospheric, Scandinavian blackened metal, talented Danish singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Amalie Bruun has taken the metal world by storm since her inception operating under the Myrkur moniker. Moving from strength to strength in a relatively short period, her potential began to crystallize on 2015’s debut full-length, M. Despite her share of detractors and some ignorant bashing of her supposed black metal credentials, M revealed a musician in a rapid mode of artistic development, where prominent influences were largely trumped by Myrkur’s confident, charismatic vocals and improving song-writing skills.” Myrkuring in the shadows.

Mascharat – Mascharat Review

By Grymm on September 18, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Séance Records, Black Metal, 17 comments

“The Venetian Carnival originated in the 1100s as a way to celebrate the overthrowing of the Patriarch of Aquileia, Ulrico de Treven in 1162. Wearing colorful outfits and dancing in San Marco Square, the celebrants retained an air of anonymity by donning elaborate masks, which shortened the gap between the rich and affluent, and the poor and downtrodden. Milan’s Mascharat plays up this influential period in Renaissance history, using it as a backbone for their debut full-length, right down to the fact that almost nothing is known about the band except their location.” No one expects The Venetian Carnival!

Vanora – Momentum Review

By Lokasenna on September 17, 2017 in 2017, Crime Records, Djent, Norwegian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Djent, Progressive Metal, 22 comments

“Norway. A country home to a beautiful language, gorgeous fjords, and hideous metal. While most, including me, associate the country with black metal, there are other brands attempting to make their mark, including this offering, Vanora. Playing a mixture of djent and more traditional progressive metal that feels distinctly of the current trends in metal, Vanora’s debut Momentum claims to promise sharp riffage, a nice mixture of singing and growling, and big, heady synth lines. Wait, what?” Putting the prog in Norway?