Transcending Records

Snares of Sixes – MoonBladder Review

By Carcharodon on October 5, 2021 in Reviews, Drone, 31 comments

“Jason William Walton. By my count, this guy has been a part, or founder, of at least 24 bands, collaborations and projects. Most notably, of course, as bassist (and sometimes songwriter) for the much-missed Agalloch. Other entries in Walton’s bio include folk-doom outfit Dolven, the bonkers electronic oompah of Especially Likely Sloth and progressive melodeath band Sculptured. Walton strides across broad musical lands, arriving at Snares of Sixes, an experimental collective ‘assembled, arranged and constructed by him.” Constructed insanity.

Chrome Waves – The Rain will Cleanse Review

By Carcharodon on September 9, 2021 in Reviews, Post-Metal, Shoegaze, 19 comments

“Chicago, Illinois’ Chromes Waves have been lapping gently on the post-black metal and shoegaze shores since their formation in 2010. With a line-up featuring members busy with other projects, it seemed outside interests were hampering Chrome Waves’ output, which was limited to a 2012 EP until 2018. At that point, founding member Jeff Wilson departed Wolvhammer and Abigail Williams, turning his full focus to Chrome Waves. Later that year, the debut, A Grief Observed, appeared, garnering a solid review from Mark Z. The same year saw compilation The Cold Light of Despair appear. This creative frenzy continued into 2020 as, apparently unnoticed by this blog, their sophomore LP, Where We Live, appeared. A year on, and further line-up changes behind them, Chrome Waves are back with third full-length effort, The Rain will Cleanse.” Chrome waves of rain.

Amiensus – Abreaction Review

By Emya on October 2, 2020 in Reviews, 28 comments

“It beats me how the grief-stricken yet gorgeous and woodsy, black metal of Minnesota’s Amiensus flew under the radar of my hawk-like colleagues here at AMG up until now. After my first few listens of the ten year old band’s newest material, however, I couldn’t help myself from feeling taken aback and even pouting a little. Where are the beautiful, aching cleans and shimmering synths of 2013’s Restoration and 2015’s Ascension, I wondered? Amiensus’s first two albums, arguably more accessible than their latest, were especially formative for me. They pulled me into the metal genre deeper than any other metal albums I had listened to before, more so even than Panopticon’s Autumn Eternal.” Gourd songs.

Svnth – Spring In Blue Review

By Cherd on August 27, 2020 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Post-Metal, 21 comments

“All bands are post-something by nature of artistic creation, but you can always tell when one voluntarily takes on the label. Italian blackgaze outfit Svnth bears the mantle proudly, but is their take fresh? If history has indeed ended, does it matter?” Post-notes.

Dismalimerence – Tome: I Review

By Doom_et_Al on July 4, 2020 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 9 comments

“Naming a debut Tome: I is a ballsy move. Not only does it hew awfully close to a famously divisive metal work (Wintersun’s Time I), but it’s a sign that a band considers this a “serious album,”TM requiring both patience and effort to understand and appreciate. Chicago’s Dismalimerence is nothing if not serious. Its name is an awkward portmanteau of “dismal” and “limerence,” indicating an ugly or depressing infatuation. It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, and repeating it in quick succession after a few drinks is challenging.” Wherever I may Tome.

Bookakee – Ignominies Review

By Master of Muppets on June 28, 2018 in 2018, Canadian Metal, Progressive Death, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, Transcending Records, Technical Death Metal, 96 comments

“…and though the word of the land was good — for blessed are they who toil as to bring glory unto Jørn — there were those that spake a word which decried all that is right and trve, and through their blasphemy bestowed they unto the land a pox which made a mockery of these things rendered unto all by our Lord’s Jørn-ness. ‘Behold!’ spake the Muppet ‘ye heathens ov Canada! Hear me, I beg! Renounce thy false idol and remove its name from thine tongues forever!'” Muppet the Revelator.

Soliloquium – Contemplations Review

By Steel Druhm on June 2, 2018 in 2018, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Transcending Records, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 79 comments

“This one almost slipped through the cracks into the murky, forbidding depths of the AMG promo sump, never to be seen or heard again. Yet salvaged it was, by me, and I deserve accolades and adoration for rescuing this platter from the cold fate of eternal obscurity. Soliloquium have an awkward name to spell and pronounce, but their music is anything but. They play a sadboy style of progressive doom death that borrows heavily from the likes of Katatonia, Rapture and Anathema, and boy do they know how to bring the depressive thunder.” Contemplate this on the Tree of Woe.

Affasia – Adrift in Remorse Review

By Ferrous Beuller on February 28, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Transcending Records, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 0 comments

“Here at the elucidation-station that is Angry Metal Guy, EPs usually slip beneath the review radar in favor of a meatier morsel. But it’s cutting season, dammit, and no tyrannical filthy ape tells me what to review. Virginia’s Affasia are preparing to release their debut EP, Adrift in Remorse, an offering full of doom-death and a beckoning melodic charm — and when the sad-boy signals, you best believe I answer the call.” Late winter feelz.

Frost Giant – The Harlot Star Review

By El Cuervo on January 16, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Transcending Records, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 38 comments

“So begins my first review of 2018. I concluded 2017 with a very poor last couple of months of writing so I resolved to make some random selections from the promo bin to validate that accidental discoveries are indeed more satisfying than cherry-picking from a carefully curated end of year lists. Frost Giant had a badass name and were apparently American folk metal, two positive indicators of my listening pleasure. And yet, over three years of musical writing has taught me harsh lessons about expectations so I hit play with an open but cautious mind.” With great expectations come great disappointment.