Sep20

Mindwars – The Fourth Turning Review

By Steel Druhm on September 24, 2020 in Reviews, Thrash Metal, 51 comments

“There hasn’t been much thrash that really grabbed me over the last few years. Coming of age as I did in the 80s and having the opportunity to watch the genre born and reach its golden era made me fairly jaded. I appreciate the retro rethrash movement and enjoy a lot of it, but it’s rare a new thrash platter really blows my doors off. Being as Holy Terror was one of my favorite thrash acts, I hoped Mindwars, the band founded by Holy Terror guitarist Mike Alvord could spark the flame of speed in my rusted metal heart.” Turning the shrew.

Ayreon – Transitus Review

By sentynel on September 24, 2020 in Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 87 comments

“There’s nobody quite like Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Sure, Tobias Sammet of Avantasia is the other big metal opera guy, but he can’t match Arjen for variety or quality. Besides the prog/power sound of Ayreon’s core albums, his other successes include the gorgeous classical instrumentation of The Gentle Storm, the mopey Porcupine Tree prog of Guilt Machine, and more.” Show tunes on show.

Infesticide – Envenoming Wounds Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on September 24, 2020 in Reviews, Death Metal, 12 comments

“Reviews of death metal bands from Mexico normally start with a phrase which says, literally or in effect, “when you think of death metal hotbeds, you don’t think of Mexico!” This is a trite observation, but much like discussing the weather it gets the conversational ball rolling. That Mexican death metal hasn’t developed a readily definable sound can be an advantage, as there’s no expectation evoked when the phrase “Mexican death metal” is used as there is with “Swedish death metal” or “Finnish death-doom.”” Don’t drink the wounds.

Sammas’ Equinox – Tulikehrät Review

By Kenstrosity on September 23, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, 11 comments

“The style approached by Sammas’ Equinox harkens back to the days of olde, when face-painted specters frolicked in the church cemeteries amongst the flames. Not quite as raw as early Darkthrone and not quite as melodic as Emperor, Sammas’ Equinox occupies the middle ground, offering all the tremolos one could ask for and loading up on the synths for atmospheric grandeur.” Old hrät.

Svalbard – When I Die, Will I Get Better? Review

By Dear Hollow on September 23, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, Post-Hardcore, Post-Metal, 52 comments

“It’s hard to have hope sometimes. We live our lives constantly getting up and going, always moving onto the next thing—moths chasing flames that grow more elusive as the dawn approaches. We’re tortured by silence in a screaming year, laced with events of turmoil and perpetual change—a silver silence that holds a mirror up to our faces and our truths. And we don’t always like what we see. It’s hard to have hope when we’re distracted, romanced by the illusion of productivity, blinded by privilege, and shielding our weary eyes from discomfort. This is what makes Svalbard so important; they force us to look.” Dying to heal.

Dynfari – Myrkurs er þörf Review

By Doom_et_Al on September 22, 2020 in Reviews, Post-Metal, 10 comments

“One of the countless awful consequences of COVID-19 has been music from artists having their releases delayed. Icelanders Dynfari were one of many victims of this. Their fifth album, Myrkurs er þörf (Darkness is Needed), originally slated for an April release, is only seeing the light of day now. For the uninitiated, Dynfari plays an organic blend of black metal and post-metal in the vein of Sólstafir and Agalloch. Their last LP, The Four Doors of the Mind, was a concept album chronicling the various human responses to profound mental trauma.” Therapy delayed.

Just Before Dawn – An Army at Dawn Review

By Steel Druhm on September 22, 2020 in Reviews, Death Metal, 18 comments

“If you’re in the market for a death metal album that approximates the very specific sensation of being turned into a bloody pancake by an unstoppable tank division, here it is, folks. An Army at Dawn is the 4th platter of war-themed splatter from Just Before Dawn, and as on their prior battle primers, they target a sound halfway between the bulldozing punch of Bolt Thrower and the doomy, dreary war-death of Hail of Bullets.” Breaking Dawn.

Ambassador – Care Vale Review

By GardensTale on September 22, 2020 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Post-Metal, 47 comments

“Interesting, the grey area between rock and metal. It takes a lot of different shapes, from the classic hard rock proto-metal to the commercialized tough guy semi-nu-metal that still wanted to have radio play.[1. Joke’s on them, the hardest thing on commercial radio these days is fucking Imagine Dragons.] It’s an area that, in one of its many incarnations, has been elemental to most of us in our journey into the depths of our favorite depravity, as a bridge between the socially acceptable and commercially viable on the one end, and metal on the other. Ambassador, a four-piece from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, have a different approach to this uncertain spectrum from those I’ve mentioned.” Sad diplomacy.

Hark From The Tomb – Let Them Die Review

By Felagund on September 21, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, 18 comments

“Unlike most other genres, metal has made hating humanity a part of its quirky charm. Black metal in particular has turned the distaste for all things carbon-based into a truly terrifying art form. It’s no surprise then that Hark From the Tomb, an anonymous Swedish duo who play a prehistoric form of old school black metal, was formed solely to express their shared disgust for their fellow bipedal lifeforms.” Hark, the hateful angels sing.

Blackevil – Forever Baptised in Eternal Fire Review

By Holdeneye on September 21, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 84 comments

“Something wicked this way comes. What is that thing? It’s Germany’s Blackevil — and their sophomore record Forever Baptised in Eternal Fire follows with them. These maniacal monsters play a potent mixture of blackened thrash, speed metal, and pure heavy metal — the kind that Iron Maiden would have played if they’d been nearly as satanic and evil as the PMRC thought they were back in the 80s.” Z-evil never dies.