Swedish Metal

Sorcerer – Lamenting of the Innocent Review

Sorcerer – Lamenting of the Innocent Review

Posted by Steel Druhm in Reviews, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, 19 comments

“Sweden’s Sorcerer has had a bouncy ride through the ages. They released a series of demos I really enjoyed back in the early 90s and then completely vanished from the metal scene for some 20-plus years. They reappeared in 2015 with a comeback album I slept on, then knocked me flat, silly and senseless with 2017s stupendous The Crowning of the Fire King. That album’s expertly crafted blend of traditional and doom metal was impossible to resist and Fire King seized my Record o’ the Year glory easily. Naturally I was quite stoked to receive the followup, Lamenting of the Innocent. With a concept based around the Inquisition and witch trials, all signs and omens pointed to another big dose of classy metal with hooks by the boatload.” No one expects the Swedish Inquisition!

Sodomisery – The Great Demise Review

Sodomisery – The Great Demise Review

Posted by Dr. A.N. Grier in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 35 comments

“Sweden’s Sodomisery began as a project that included live members from the monstrous Diabolical, as well as Katatonia‘s Niklas Sandin on bass and Netherbird‘s Johan Fridell on vox. At the completion of their 2017 self-titled EP, Fridell and Sandin left and a new lineup formed. Borrowing from their experiences with Diabolical, Sodomisery unleashes a crushing mix of black, death, Swedeath, thrash, and melodeath for their debut, The Great Demise. I know what you’re thinking: that’s a lot to digest. Well, at least the record title sounds uplifting?” Big death, big prizes!

Henry Kane – Age of the Idiot Review

Henry Kane – Age of the Idiot Review

Posted by Holdeneye in Reviews, Crust Punk, Death Metal, Grind, 19 comments

“It’s been nearly two months since I last wrote a review for a Jonny Pettersson project, so I’m long overdue for another one. I’m beginning to think that we should probably give Pettersson and fellow Swede Rogga Johansson a cool team name like ‘The Teeming Twins,’  ‘The Boys of Bounty,’ ‘The Copious Corps,’ or my favorite, ‘The Patriarchy of Profuseness.'” Snatch and jab.

Naglfar – Cerecloth Review

Naglfar – Cerecloth Review

Posted by Dr. A.N. Grier in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 34 comments

“These Swedes have been around a long time and, I’m sad to admit, I kinda gave up on them after 2007’s Harvest. Yet, here we are, some thirteen years later, with Naglfar‘s newest record plopped in my lap. Upon initial inspection, Cerecloth looks, feels, and smells like Naglfar. Former bassist, Kristoffer W. Olivius, is still at the mic, after replacing the mighty Jens Rydén on 2005’s Pariah. And, as it’s been since ’95’s Vittra, each instrument is as crucial as the next. The result is some of the strongest songwriting in the genre. Never groundbreaking and never meant to be, Naglfar is a true purveyor of that melodic black metal sound.” Olde and still colde.

Then Comes Silence – Machine Review

Then Comes Silence – Machine Review

Posted by Master of Muppets in Reviews, Electronica, 27 comments

“For starters, one of the weirder batches of name drops that I’ve ever whipped together: Then Comes Silence sound something like the frolicking gloomchild of The Cure, MGMT, Eurythmics, and Impure Wilhelmina. Machine is a strange thing of bouncing electronica and sullen prog, a 45-minute dance through the tears—or maybe it’s with?” Auto-saboi.

Head of the Demon – Deadly Black Doom Review

Head of the Demon – Deadly Black Doom Review

Posted by Carcharodon in Reviews, 19 comments

“Head of the Demon, were unknown to me when I picked up what is their third full-length outing. Thus far in their career, the occult-themed doomsters have kept a healthy four years between releases, dropping their self-titled debut in 2012 and its follow up, Sathanas Trismegistos, in 2016. Can 2020’s Deadly Black Doom deliver on its oh so tantalizing title?” Demon doom.

Witchcraft – Black Metal Review

Witchcraft – Black Metal Review

Posted by Twelve in Reviews, Black Metal, Not Metal, 27 comments

“Magnus Pelander, the sole remaining founding member of Witchcraft, takes the reins on Black Metal, seemingly completely. There is his voice, and there is soft plucking on an acoustic guitar, and these two sounds comprise almost the entirety of the Black Metal sound. It sounds very different than the Witchcraft usual — certainly, it stands completely apart from Legend and Nucleus.” One man, one guitar.

Katatonia – City Burials Review

Katatonia – City Burials Review

Posted by Angry Metal Guy in Reviews, Post-Metal, 165 comments

“Katatonia‘s brand of depressive post-metal has not changed so much in the years since they released The Fall of Hearts. At its heart, the band’s sound is built around slow, lilting tunes in a minor key, with a clear and unaffected voice hovering above the fray.” So, has Angry Metal Guy’s Law of Diminishing Recordings™ finally caught up with these Swedes?

Ocean Chief – Den Tredje Dagen Review

Ocean Chief – Den Tredje Dagen Review

Posted by Carcharodon in 2020, Argonauta Records, Doom Metal, Reviews, Stoner Metal, Swedish Metal, 6 comments

“Doom is a tricky genre to get right. At least in my opinion. It has a fine line to walk, trading in tectonic riffs, bleak atmospherics and roared vocals, often at glacial speeds, it  risks sacrificing memorability on the altar of heaviness.  Swedish quartet Ocean Chief have done their time and paid their dues, however, and should be well equipped to avoid this pitfall.” Riff rafts.