The Ocean

Helfir – The Journey Review

By Twelve on November 3, 2020 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, 8 comments

“It’s all about the journey, so the saying goes. For me, the journey from album discovery to album listening to album review is often the highlight of my week, regardless of the ultimate destination (read: rating). For Luca Mazzotta, the one man behind the one-man Helfir project, The Journey is his third release, and one that takes its title very seriously. Taking the helm on every instrument, real and programmed, Mazzotta’s ambitions and inspirations, including such names as Katatonia and Porcupine Tree, are unleashed over fifty minutes of honest, dark, and remarkably flexible music.” Safe travels.

Kardashev – The Baring of Shadows [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Carcharodon on October 30, 2020 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Post-Metal, 58 comments

“Now, I know what you’re thinking: ‘another year, and another EP that Sharkboi is trying to pass off as an album for TYMHM purposes.’ Well, we all have our Christmas traditions and, apparently, this is now one of mine. And, quite frankly, you should be thanking, not judging, me because The Baring of Shadows is an incredible piece of work from Tempe, Arizona’s Kardashev.” Missing times.

Record(s) o’ the Month – September 2020

By Angry Metal Guy on October 26, 2020 in 2020, Blog Posts, Record o' the Month, 183 comments

As winter depression season arrives this far north, I just want you all to know that everything is terrible, your taste is horrific, and the writers of this blog are pursuing lives of futility. That is all.

Enslaved – Utgard Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 2, 2020 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Viking Metal, 148 comments

“Sometimes a band makes such a drastic change in style that you’re floored by it. Many times upset by it. But Enslaved made it work. Well, at least for a couple more albums. I liked most of RIITIIR, but nothing after. And when E and its saxophone-sucking closer arrived five years later, I had pretty much given up on the band. So, you can imagine the dread I felt when I got the promo for Utgard.” En garde.

Second to Sun – Leviathan Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 29, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 31 comments

“As I said in last year’s Legacy review, it’s always Christmas with the annual Second to Sun release. But unlike a yearly Vous Autres release, Second to Sun doesn’t send me spiraling down a black hole of despair. The Walk was the last one of their releases to come close to putting me over the edge. Since then, the band has ditched some of the mindfuckery to focus on heft and melody. Twenty-nineteen found Legacy to be the band’s heaviest creation. But, with a name like Leviathan, one can only expect something mammoth in this year’s release.” Big monster.

The Ocean – Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 16, 2020 in Reviews, Post-Hardcore, Progressive Metal, 48 comments

“Above the couch, in my teeny one-bedroom apartment, hangs a painting of the ocean. I bought it when I moved in and at one of the lowest points of my life. There’re hints of a sun beaming behind those dark clouds, but it won’t come out. The waves are an angry black, with blueish white tips; crashing against the shore like frustrated fists to a tabletop. What shore it is, I have no idea. It’s an imagined piece. There’s no way in Hell a human being would be safe from that viewpoint. She/he would be smashed against those black, volcanic rocks. The result could be a splash of red to round out the blacks, greys, dark blues, and shocking whites. Sometimes I get lost in its chaoticness as it hangs quietly in my living room. To me, it’s a cheap painting that holds emotions and memories—though they’re bad ones. To others, it’s a color palette that matches my space. Regardless, I’ve always thought that if I could put music to it, it’d be The Ocean.” Save the whales!

Nug – Alter Ego Review

By Grymm on August 11, 2020 in Reviews, Post-Metal, 61 comments

“I’m gonna level with ya, kids. Like all of you, all the big plans I made earlier this year have been dashed on the rocks like an unforgiving, breaking wave. Summer is almost over here in the States, and not once have I gone out to our neighborhood pool, carefully-disguised alcoholic beverage in hand, and enjoyed the warmth of the sun or the refreshing coolness of the pool’s water. Instead, I’ve spent my time trying not to kill coworkers at my job, trying not to kill fellow customers at my local Publix, or trying my damnedest to avoid all humanity at any and all cost, whether it’s in person or online. So when tasked with reviewing Alter Ego, the debut full-length from Ukrainian progressive/post-metallers Nug, they were at an unfair disadvantage, as it would have to take something special for me to enjoy yet another take on post-anything.” Post-ego.

GOD – IV – Revelation Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on July 17, 2020 in Reviews, Instrumental Metal, Progressive Metal, Technical Death Metal, 63 comments

“Narnia is one thing. Try a band whose name says it all. Try GOD. All bold, all caps, almighty. I can see you looking at the genre tags, expecting words like ‘gospel’ and ‘power metal.’ Instead, you see ‘prog,’ ‘instrumental,’ and ‘tech-death.’ Do you believe in revelations? Well, you’re about to.” Get right with the Man.

Psychonaut – Unfold the God Man Review

By Kenstrosity on March 4, 2020 in 2020, Belgian Metal, Pelagic Records, Post-metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Post-Metal, 33 comments

“I love the color purple. Such a rich palette of hues lie within this particular segment of the spectrum, all of which pair well with an extensive array of complements. Purple can convey royalty, seduction, obliteration, depression, and damn near everything else provided a competent application thereof. Of course, that holds true for most colors, but just seeing purple is more exciting to me than seeing any other color. This brings us to Belgian post-metal trio Psychonaut, whose debut album Unfold the God Man features a gorgeous cover warmly ensconced in my current color of choice.” Do not tear, fold or mutilate.

Deliverance – Holocaust 26:1-46 Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 18, 2020 in 2020, Black Metal, Deadlight Entertainment, French Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Black Metal, Sludge Metal, 27 comments

“Like Amenra, they have the ability to suck you deep into tension-building ascensions before coming down on the front of your skull like a sledgehammer. But, the biggest difference between Amenra and Deliverance is that the latter prefers the accompaniment of rasping vocals and black-metal song structures. Combining this foundation with Amenra-like builds and Gojira-esque, concrete-cracking riffs, 2020 finds Deliverance releasing their most-impressive work to date. But, good luck looking beyond the haunting artwork, the heart-sickening album title, and a band name that reminds one of hillbilly butt sex. Now, everyone, open your books to the chapter of ‘Holocaust’ and let’s begin.” End times.