Sep19

Vokonis – Grasping Time Review

By Huck N Roll on September 9, 2019 in 2019, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Sludge Metal, Stoner Rock, Swedish Metal, The Sign Records, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, 17 comments

“Grasping Time is an album I’ve been keeping my eyes open for since 2018, when Swedish trio Vokonis re-released their 2016 album, Olde One Ascending. First, they spelled Olde correctly. Second, it was a damned fine debut, an oddly alluring progressive take on bands like Black Sabbath and Sleep, with a bit of Stooges and old Baroness mixed in. At that time, they stated they were working on a 2019 release, so I kept a sharp lookout, and lo! Here we are, with the band’s third album in hand.” Just like olde times?

Sonata Arctica – Talviyö Review

By Angry Metal Guy on September 6, 2019 in 2019, Finnish Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 77 comments

“Sonata Arctica’s Talviyö marks the 20-year anniversary of the release of Ecliptica. For many fans, the band’s first four albums are the real highlight of their career. But one thing that Tony Kakko and his lovable band of Finns could never do was to sit still. Instead, in 2007, they released Unia, which saw them deviating from the formula they had perfected as an upstart Europower band. Since then, they haven’t stood still.” Stillness of winter.

Disillusion – The Liberation Review

By Saunders on September 6, 2019 in 2019, German Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Prophecy Productions, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 48 comments

“I’ve gushed about the astonishing debut album from Germany’s Disillusion before, and consider 2004’s Back to Times of Splendor to be one of melodic death metal’s finest post millennium offerings. Following-up their phenomenal masterwork was always going to be difficult, so rather than repeat themselves Disillusion took a significant and questionable stylistic detour on 2006’s ambitious but underwhelming Gloria. Now, following a Tool-length break from the studio, Disillusion make their long-awaited and highly anticipated return via their third LP, entitled The Liberation.” Under no illusions.

Lamassu – Into the Empty Review

By Carcharodon on September 5, 2019 in 2019, Australian Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 29 comments

“Stoner rock is one of those genres where it’s hard to put into words what separates the great records from the tediously competent. What is it that makes Kyuss’ Welcome to Sky Valley or Sleep’s Dopesmoker nigh-on perfect records, while another album with all the same constituents just barely scrapes a 2.0? Well, as I say, it’s hard to put into words but, possibly because of its close relationship with the blues, great stoner has a ‘feel’ to it, a ‘know it, when you hear it’ quality.” Empty feelz and bluesy thrills.

Lothric – Adversarial Light Review

By Dear Hollow on September 5, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Black Metal, Reviews, Twin Victims Recordings, Black Metal, 35 comments

“Ah, black metal. What storied history, what grimly grand aspirations of defiance, what glorious panda men frolicking in snowy forests! What once began as church burnings and murder and a big “fuck you” to the status quo has expanded into countless internet memes and as many sub-sub-subgenres as there are bands. From the lo-fi quality and the blasphemous shrieks, to enough broken picks per tremolo and blastbeats per minute to make a ladies’ Bible study group collectively gasp, it’s the sound of defiance and harshness. However, it toes a delicate line between shock and schlock, and Athens, Georgia, one-man satanic black metal act Lothric hopes to score a win for the home team with his debut LP Adversarial Light.” Fight the light.

5Rand – Dark Mother Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 4, 2019 in 2019, Italian Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Time to Kill Records, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 27 comments

“Regardless what the band name means, I bet those who dabble in guessing a band’s genre by their name can guess this one. With simple melodeath riffs set atop typical metalcore ones, 5Rand’s unique trait is the alternating rasps, growls, cleans by vocalist Julia Elenior. Toss in headbanging licks of Shogun-era Trivium and some rather impressive drum work, and you’ve got the band’s second full-length release, Dark Mother.” Mother knows beast.

Rottendawn – Occult Review

By Ferrous Beuller on September 3, 2019 in 2019, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Saturnal Records, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 32 comments

“Finland’s Rottendawn hold doom metal in the highest regard. Boasting once and current members of Impaled Nazarene, Unholy and Sinisthra, the pedigree on debut album Occult is enviable. Unfortunately, good breeding doesn’t always precede a good album.”When does good breeding become inbreeding?

Alcoholocaust – Necro Apocalipse Bestial Review

By Mark Z. on September 3, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Helldprod Records, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 22 comments

“It’s Monday. 8:24 A.M. I pull my Toyota into the Magazine Street parking garage, fifth floor, the only spot in the shade that still has cell phone reception. Aura Noir’s Out to Die is blasting on the stereo. I pay the parking fee on my mobile app and sigh as I prepare myself for another day at the office. And then, I stop. What if I don’t go in? I think to myself. What if I just turn the car back on and drive away? What if I forget my job and spend the rest of the summer guzzling booze, getting hairy, and banging my fukkin head for the Master in Hell? It seems radical, but a group of people have actually done it.” Down with adulthood!

Ezkaton – Sheen and Misery Review

By Twelve on September 2, 2019 in 2019, Ashen Dominion, Black Metal, Reviews, Ukrainian Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal, 61 comments

“From the opening seconds of “Altars of the Flame,” I knew Ezkaton’s Sheen and Misery was going to be a special record. The mournful, melancholy guitar melody rises and threatens to overwhelm before a voice breaks through the tension. The cold narrator quotes from the 1984 film Children of the Corn, where Issac commands the children to kill Joseph at the behest of He Who Walks Behind The Rows, and I got lost in the story.” From husk til dawn.