SepticFlesh

Rapheumets Well – Enders Door Review

By El Cuervo on June 1, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Technical Death Metal, Test Your Metal, Symphonic Metal, Technical Death Metal, 86 comments

“Despite hailing from an English-speaking part of the world, Rapheumets Well and their third full-length, Enders Door, immediately triggered me with their flagrant disregard for apostrophes. It was this distress which drew my eye to these North Carolinians as I cursorily browsed the promo bin. Alarm bells immediately rang but this is much better than the ambivalence I usually enjoy while surveying upcoming releases. I had something to think about which at least gave them a foot in my active consideration.” Punctuation as predictor.

Karkaos – Children of the Void Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 30, 2017 in 2017, Canadian Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Melodic Death Metal, Power Metal, 27 comments

“When I read words like “Canadian” and “female-fronted,” my mind invariably goes to Unleash the Archers. Without trying, I’ve somehow trained my weak mind to do this. Not that I’m upset about it. Unleash the Archers fucking rule. But, it isn’t the promo sheet for the new Unleash the Archers record I’m reading. Instead, I’m reading the one from Canadian melodeath outfit Karkaos.” Wake up and smell the Karkaos.

The Monolith Deathcult – Versvs 1 Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 18, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, Dutch Metal, Hammerheart Records, Industrial Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Industrial Metal, 39 comments

“Two years ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing The Monolith Deathcult’s 2015 EP Bloodcvlts. And by ‘pleasure,’ I mean something else entirely. The band is everything Leave It to Beaver’s Eddie Haskell would be in reality. At first, the band seems like a serious, straight-laced Dutch death metal group. They seem polite and always outgoing, straight-to-the-point and never misleading. Then you discover the truth: that’s all bullshit.” Bloodcvlts, BS, Beaver.

Ex Deo – The Immortal Wars Review

By Madam X on February 16, 2017 in 2017, Canadian Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Napalm Records, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Metal, 53 comments

“With the strength of 37 mighty African elephants, Hannibal marched 40,000 of his bravest men, 1,500 miles through the Alps, to challenge Rome’s supremacy on their own soil. Such is the premise of Ex Deo’s latest historical undertaking.” People show know when they’re conquered by historical metal.

Black Hole Generator – A Requiem for Terra Review

By Madam X on November 14, 2016 in 2016, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 7 comments

“Give this some thought for a second: you’re putting together a black metal dream team, who would it include? I wonder how many of you would arrive at noted producer and Vulture Industries’ frontman – Bjørnar E. Nilsen, and guitar aficionados Arve Isdal (Enslaved, I, Audrey Horne) and Gjermund Fredheim (Taake, Orkan).” Super groups doing stranger things.

Noctem – Haeresis Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 3, 2016 in 2016, Art Gates Records, Black Metal, Death Metal, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Spanish Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, 29 comments

“Boy, does Noctem bring back memories. Back in 2014, Exilium was one of the better albums I reviewed. A lot of this had to do with the fact that I was a n00b in 2014 (Exilium being one of the first reviews I ever wrote for AMG). But, even so, it stuck with me for the rest of the year. So, you can imagine the excitement and nostalgia I felt when this newest album, Haeresis, showed up in my inbox.” Reflections of a semi-former n00b.

Heavenwood – The Tarot of the Bohemians – Part I Review

By Steel Druhm on July 21, 2016 in 2016, Gothic Metal, Massacre Records, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Gothic Metal, 25 comments

“Heavenwood charted a strange course over their 20 year career. Coming out of the Portuguese metal scene at the same time as Moonspell, the two bands shared a love of dark gothic rock mixed with elements of black and death metal. Their Diva debut played like Wolfheart filtered through Crematory and The Cure and though less heavy than Moonspell, they were almost as interesting. Then came a ten year hiatus and a radical shift of direction toward the kind of hybrid symphonic goth/black/death style as Septicflesh, Nightfall and to a lesser extent, Rotting Christ.” Pick a card (and a genre).

Elderblood – Messiah Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on May 25, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Osmose Productions, Reviews, Ukrainian Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 10 comments

“I used to live near a funny little Polish deli, and my mother would often buy meats from there because Poland seems to do quite well in that area, especially sausage. I don’t recall my experiences in that place very well (I was probably about ten the last time I was there), but it’s apparently common knowledge that you weren’t exactly treated wonderfully there unless you were obviously Polish. Sounds like a bit of a strange business strategy, but I suppose the free market can always use innovation, no matter how small or eccentric. Elderblood hails from Ukraine, but judging by how they sound on their second full-length Messiah, they could waltz right into that deli and get lavished with attention and sausages.” Raining Sausage!!

Darkend – The Canticle of Shadows Review

By Madam X on April 23, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Italian Metal, Non Serviam Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 15 comments

“Until recently, I believe Italy’s Darkend promoted the kind of symphonic black metal that chased the coattails of bands like Cradle of Filth. With their fourth release, The Canticle of Shadows, I was unsure of whether to expect more of the same or something entirely new. I succeeded in missing their earlier releases like Damned Woman and a Carcass, Assassine and Grand Guignol, despite them receiving mostly positive reviews.” What the hell is a canticle?

Necronomicon – Advent of the Human God Review

By Mark Z. on March 6, 2016 in Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Symphonic Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Symphonic Metal, 33 comments

“Despite being dubbed the “Chameleon of Rock” for his ever-changing style, the late David Bowie didn’t agree with this title. “For me a chameleon is something that disguises itself to look as much like its environment as possible,” he once said. “I always thought I did the exact opposite of that.” But fret not, you fanatical herpetophiliacs out there, Canadian blackened-death trio Necronomicon is proof positive that musical chameleons do, in fact, exist.” Those who deny the existence of musical chameleons may be musical chameleons themselves. Trust nothing.