Swiss Metal

Virtual Symmetry – Exoverse Review

By Twelve on June 30, 2020 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, Symphonic Metal, 16 comments

“My personal favorite of the AMG banners has always been that most legendary of Yngwie Malmsteen quotes – “How can less be more? That’s impossible!” It’s a perfectly true statement as long as you’re willing to completely miss the point of the original cliché, which, frankly, makes for a great worldview. In that vein, I bring you progressive metal, in the form of the sophomore full-length from Swiss-Italian Virtual Symmetry; that output, Exoverse is the very definition of an album that believes, with everything that it’s got, that less is not more, that that would be impossible.” More is MOOAR.

The Path of Memory – Hell is Other People Review

By Steel Druhm on June 19, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, Dark Rock, 42 comments

“June brings us sun, warmth and an urge to get outdoors. Yet the pandemic still hangs over the world like a mortuary drape, killing the natural buzz that accompanies summer. Stuck as we are between a plague and a good time, the moment may be right for what one-man goth/doom rock project, The Path of Memory is selling.” Most people suck.

Ashtar – Kaikuja Review

By Akerblogger on May 25, 2020 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, 14 comments

“With their cosmic, dense blackened doom, this two-piece seek to conjure a dark Swiss magic. In 2015 they released their debut record Ilmasaari, a psychedelically wrapped piece of doom. Five years later they’ve reemerged from the shadows with Kaikuja.” Swiss mist.

Gomorra – Divine Judgement Review

By Carcharodon on May 18, 2020 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 23 comments

“At last week’s regular AMG staff shaming re-education session, TheKenWord and I stood in the center of the writers’ circle and explained that our problem with thrash, despite all the riffage, had always been the vocals. Our Steely overseer prescribed a crash course in early Destruction, with the more unusual vocal delivery of Marcel Schirmer, aka Schmier. Having taken my medicine—and enjoyed both Infernal Overkill and Eternal Devastation, it should be said—I was stoked to find that the thrash promo I’d picked up on a whim actually included at least one member of Destruction.” A scorching case of Gomorra.

Asgard – Ragnarøkkr Review

By El Cuervo on May 13, 2020 in Reviews, Folk Metal, Progressive Metal, 50 comments

“The concept of Ragnarøkkr is one that has become distinctly tied to metal. Meaning the “twilight of the Gods” and famously forming subject material for Bathory and many other bands, it tells the mythological tale of death and devastation of the world and the Norse Gods. Asgard are (somewhat strangely) a Swiss band adopting this imagery in their name and the title of their new record, Ragnarøkkr.” Half Asgarded.

Funeralopolis – …of Deceit and Utter Madness Review

By Steel Druhm on May 2, 2020 in Reviews, Death Metal, 15 comments

“Though I used to be a die hard death metal junkie, the past few years have found me sampling of it only sparingly, and mostly limited to the melodeath variant. I’m not sure if it’s current events or the need to stay in prolonged lockdown these past few months, but I’ve been on a major death kick of late, spinning heaps of old Suffocation, Incantation and Immolation albums at odd hours. This in turn led me to fish for noxious promos suited to my current listening predilection, and that’s where Switzerland’s Funeralopolis come in.” Forgotten pass.

Charlene Beretah – Ram Review

By Cherd on November 15, 2019 in 2019, Crust Punk, Division Records, Doom Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Sludge, Swiss Metal, Post-Metal, Sludge, 23 comments

“Imagine my surprise when, upon taking this gig, I discovered that some of my fellow writers, including our illustrious boss, were never-sludgers. As I’ve endured their hurtful, anti-sludge rhetoric, I’ve noticed a frequent correlation between sludge hating and symphonic power cheese-loving. As no lover of metallic brie myself, I’m left to wonder if we’re hardwired at the genetic level into these camps just as research suggests we may be similarly inclined toward progressive or conservative politics, or to see a blue and black dress versus the mouth breathing, evolutionary dead-ends who see a gold and white dress. I guess what I’m saying is, if you’re team sludge and wary of anti-sludge sentiment within the body metallic, you’ve got a man on the inside. So let’s wade together into the muck of Charlene Beretah’s new album Ram. Never-sludgers need not apply.” Sticky business.

Serpens Luminis – Bright Euphoria Review

By GardensTale on November 15, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Death Metal, Goathorned Productions, Reviews, Swiss Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, 14 comments

“Random grabs and promo scarcity are fickle and cruel, that’s how. This time fate handed me Serpens Luminis’ debut Bright Euphoria, which is miles removed from my nearest musical comfort zones. Indeed, its very goal seems to be discomfort. The Swiss band mixes post-metal flow of consciousness with the pummeling blasts of death metal and the icy desperation of dissonant black metal, and filter it through the ramblings of a raving madman. If this description reminds you of Deathspell Omega, you’d be right on the money.” Snakes and deathspells.

Bölzer – Lese Majesty Review

By Saunders on November 14, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Death Metal, Lightning & Sons Records, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Swiss Metal, Progressive Metal, 19 comments

“I kept the faith that Bölzer were able to deliver a knockout blow leading up to their 2016 debut LP, Hero. Unfortunately, the album left me feeling indifferent and frustrated due to inconsistent writing and questionable vocal choices, leaving scattered traces of brilliance hidden amidst the wreckage. Finally, Bölzer return on their own label and ready to unleash their sophomore LP, Lese Majesty. With increasingly diminishing returns defining their career thus far, can the dynamic duo reclaim the glory and shoot for the stars this time around?” More or Lese?

Schammasch – Hearts of No Light Review

By Grymm on November 7, 2019 in 2019, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Swiss Metal, Avante Garde, Black Metal, 52 comments

“There are two kinds of metal albums that tickle my fancy. The first kind takes a band’s trademark sound, alters it just enough to keep things fresh, but also retains everything that makes that artist or band unique, enjoyable, and otherwise impossible to do without. The other has mere glimpses of what made that band who they are, but throws so many curveballs, surprise left hooks, and a kitchen sink or twelve your way, and demands that you catch it all. Swiss avant garde spiritualists Schammasch most certainly fit into the latter with relative ease. Even after releasing a three-disc, exactly-100-minute monstrosity in the form of Triangle back in 2016, it still didn’t fully prepare me for what Hearts of No Light had in store for me.” That’s a big Schammasch!