Sylosis

Electrocutioner – False Idols Review

Electrocutioner – False Idols Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 17, 2023 in Reviews, Thrash Metal, 45 comments

“Long Island’s Executioner also thinks El Cuervo is an idiot as they reveal their debut album, False Idols. An album that doesn’t give two fucks about being unique, trendy, or even famous. False Idols feels like a band playing a gig at the bar down the street. There’s no talking to the crowd, complete with short interludes for other band members to switch guitars or chug Jager. False Idols ain’t gonna win any awards for originality or change the face of the scene, but that’s not its purpose. This is how thrash should sound.” High speed or die.

Sylosis – A Sign of Things To Come Review

Sylosis – A Sign of Things To Come Review

By El Cuervo on September 22, 2023 in Reviews, Metalcore, Thrash Metal, 67 comments

“The existence of Sylosis roughly tracks my own experience with non-mainstream metal, running from 2008’s Conclusion of an Age to 2020’s Cycle of Suffering. The band lost me somewhere in the middle as I was diving into the more extreme sub-genres of metal’s sewer, despite my favorable comments on 2015’s Dormant Heart, no doubt induced by a bout of regional favoritism given that they hail from the same bit of the UK as yours truly. Cycle of Suffering represented a roaring return, comfortably my favorite of their albums and comfortably my second favorite album from 2020. Sylosis are one of Britain’s most exciting and energetic bands but how can A Sign of Things to Come hope to match their prior incredible success?” Modern problems.

Summoning the Lich – United in Chaos Review

Summoning the Lich – United in Chaos Review

By Eldritch Elitist on March 3, 2021 in Reviews, Deathcore, Melodic Death Metal, 62 comments

“I’ve always felt like I sort of missed the boat on The Black Dahlia Murder. They were bursting onto the melodic death metal scene just as Amon Amarth was finding a wider audience with the now-classic With Oden On Our Side. I personally ended up falling down the Scandinavian melodeath rabbit hole, neglecting to pay attention to the American brand of melodeath that The Black Dahlia Murder was actively pioneering. In turn, I never fully appreciated the sound of the countless bands they’ve inspired; artists like Inferi are great for one-off listens, but nothing about that specific sound triggers compulsive returns. Summoning the Lich is built different.” Lich pins.

Viscera – Obsidian Review

Viscera – Obsidian Review

By GardensTale on March 14, 2020 in 2020, British Metal, Death Metal, Deathcore, Reviews, Unique Leader, Deathcore, 29 comments

“In Hollywood, there’s a phenomenon called ‘twin films.’ Sometimes movies released around the same time have an uncannily similar plot, even though they’ve been in production around the same time and couldn’t have copied one another. A few well-known examples include Armageddon and Deep Impact, Antz and A Bug’s Life, and The Prestige and The Illusionist. Now, considering the frequency of release and inherent similarities, this isn’t really a thing in metal, but it still gave me pause when I noticed I was about to go through the second Unique Leader techy deathcore release with wav format tracks in just a handful of weeks.” Guts check.

Voice of Ruin – Acheron Review

Voice of Ruin – Acheron Review

By Carcharodon on October 10, 2019 in 2019, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Swiss Metal, Tenacity Music, Thrash Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 7 comments

“Voice of Ruin know what they like to do and are continuing to do it. And “that” is melodic death-tinged thrash. Where Purge and Purify felt like out and out Lamb of God worship⁠—and there’s nothing inherently wrong with that⁠—Acheron sees Voice of Ruin expanding their sound a bit more.” Define “a bit.”

The Moth Gatherer – Esoteric Oppression Review

The Moth Gatherer – Esoteric Oppression Review

By El Cuervo on March 3, 2019 in 2019, Agonia Records, Post-metal, Reviews, Sludge Metal, Swedish Metal, Post-Metal, 79 comments

“In 2015 I reviewed the sophomore album from Swedish post-metallers The Moth Gatherer (TM). It’s an album on which I dwelt somewhat and their name is an amusingly evocative one for me. I affectionately refer to them as The Moth Botherer with an accompanying internal image of a child wielding an old-school bug catcher trying to swipe moths from the air. Indeed, this portmanteau and rhyme generator recently unveiled to me generated the genius fusion of ‘Chrysolicit’. There’s a lot to be said for an imagination-inducing title so it was with interest that I approached Esoteric Oppression.” Wings of oppression.

Lucis Absentia – Gehenna Gate [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

Lucis Absentia – Gehenna Gate [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 10, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Thrash Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 33 comments

“I remember when I was first introduced to Cincinnati’s Lucis Absentia back in 2015. Only that wasn’t the name they went by. When Justin of War Curse first told me about them, they had a single EP under the moniker of Gomorrah. With the name change in 2016, the rumors of a full-length release began to whirl around the dark alleys of the underground. And, now, after three long years, Lucis Absentia’s debut record is here. And you, I, we are going in on Gehenna Gate at ground zero.” Gate creepers.