Sep19

Slaughtbbath – Alchemical Warfare Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on September 17, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Chilean Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 20 comments

“Time to draw ourselves a Slaughtbbath, folks. What bathing in slaughtb feels like is known to those who heard 2013’s Hail to Fire, the predecessor of Alchemical Warfare and Slaughtbbath’s debut. I took a Slaughtbbath many times via Hail to Fire, which is the least important qualification I possess to review that record’s successor. My most important qualification? Look at my pen name, and then look at the title of this record; Slaughtbbath and I share an enjoyment of gratuitous Slayer puns.” Rub-a-drub-drub.

Cult of Luna – A Dawn to Fear Review

By Huck N Roll on September 17, 2019 in 2019, Hardcore, Metal Blade, Post-metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Swedish Metal, Hardcore, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, Sludge, 61 comments

“This summer saw a couple of top-notch releases from instrumental post-metal vets Russian Circles and Pelican. Both albums were worthy entries in the genre, but we should consider them appetizers, or warm-up acts, because one of the heavy hitters just walked in, and they have something to say.” Drink this Kool-Aid.

Transport League – A Million Volt Scream Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 16, 2019 in 2019, Hard Rock, Mighty Music, Reviews, Sludge, Swedish Metal, Hard Rock, Sludge, 13 comments

“If you’re like me, you’ve probably never heard of Sweden’s Transport League. Formed way back in 1994, they knocked out four full-length discs before breaking up in 2005. During this time, TL played an in-your-face sludge style that combined the hard knocks of Clutch with the ghoulish qualities of Rob Zombie and the Southern flavors of Down and Pantera. After dabbling in the industrial world for a few years with their band M.A.N., the boys decided to give Transport League another try.” League of the unextraordinary.

Urn – Iron Will of Power Review

By Mark Z. on September 16, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 38 comments

“Nothing in this world is as good as blackened thrash metal. In the book of Z, it is the pinnacle of not just metal, but music in general. While Australian acts like Gospel of the Horns and the fukkin almighty Deströyer 666 do it best, that doesn’t mean the rest of the world has nothing to offer. Finland’s Urn are one such band who have been reliable in keeping my head banging over the years, even if their straightforward take on blackened thrash was never enough to bring them to the big leagues.” Boo-Urn?

Ghost:Hello – Sound of Color in Space Review

By GardensTale on September 16, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Self-released, Stoner Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 41 comments

“Now this is a band who has their shit together for a self-released debut. They got a logo, a professional looking website, even an animated music video. Their online presence is fantastic for a band this young. One of them just might be a web developer, or they get enough from their day jobs to have hired a good one. They have a whole slew of merch available for their new album, including panties. Sure, the name Ghost:Hello is kind of stupid (I keep imagining a sheet-with-holes ghost going “HellooOOoooOOooo!”) but when did a silly name ever stop an eager young band?” Boo-burns.

Cognizance – Malignant Dominion Review

By Holdeneye on September 15, 2019 in 2019, British Metal, Death Metal, Deathcore, Melodic Death Metal, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, Death Metal, Deathcore, Melodic Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 28 comments

“Until a few years ago, I didn’t realize that technical death metal was even a thing. Sure, I’d heard it before, but in my simple mind, tech-death was merely death metal that goes ‘clickity-clickity click and noodly-noodly nood, and sometimes has a bass that goes farty-farty fart.’ As you can imagine, I was relieved to find out that there’s a shorter way to describe this genre.” Commence the noodly-noodly!

Void King – Barren Dominion Review

By Dear Hollow on September 14, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Doom Metal, Drone, Reviews, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Drone, Sludge, 14 comments

“Void King is a four-piece stoner doom metal band from Indianapolis and Barren Dominion is their sophomore effort. Paying homage to doom greats like Sleep, Electric Wizard, and Goatsnake, while channeling amp- and pedal-abusing monoliths, these fucking stoners are set to drown listeners in THC-saturated waves of distortion. Do they succeed? Or will they end up only being the bulls-“high” of endless stoner doom puns?” Fuzz bombs.

Pinewalker – Migration Review

By Carcharodon on September 14, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Sludge, Sludge, 10 comments

“Five years in the making, the Salt Lake City five-piece describe the recording of their self-released debut as a “form of catharsis for all of us … [following] painful realities and losing loved ones to cancer, we poured [out] every ounce of hurt, sorrow, mourning, remembrance, joy, and clarity…” And make no mistake, you can feel that emotion in the many moods of this record.” Riding the pine.

Blood Red Throne – Fit to Kill Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 13, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, Mighty Music, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 34 comments

“I’m not gonna lie, I’m a giddy school child right now. No one in their right mind would have seen it coming but it has been a Grier wet dream to review Blood Red Throne. BRT is one of my top ten favorite bands of all time. Who? What? When? How? Where? Being the casual death metal listener that I am, this is the kind of death metal I like.” Fit to thrill.

BAEST – Venenum Review

By Ferrous Beuller on September 13, 2019 in 2019, Century Media, Danish Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 51 comments

“It is easy to underestimate Denmark’s contribution to death metal, especially in the face of America and Sweden. But from early days of infancy, through trembling years of youth, long murky middle-age and final hours long in the tooth. Denmark is the hundred names of terror, creature you love the least. Now picture its name before you and exorcise the BAEST.” Get in its belly!