Umeå

Zonaria – Arrival of the Red Sun Review

Zonaria – Arrival of the Red Sun Review

By Angry Metal Guy on July 25, 2012 in 2012, 4.0, Death Metal, Listenable Records, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, 9 comments

Zonaria has always been a bit of a footnote to the Umeå legacy. By the time they released their first record Infamy & the Breed in 2007, the Swedish metal scene was a thing of the past and melodic death metal—Zonaria’s stock in trade—was pretty much the red-headed step kid of the metal scene. That didn’t stop the band’s debut from making a splash and getting the band signed to Century Media—where they released Cancer Empire in 2008 to rave reviews and… were promptly never heard from again. Until now, that is.

Sanity of Impiety – In Life We Despise Review

Sanity of Impiety – In Life We Despise Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 6, 2011 in 2010, 3.5, Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Unsigned Bands, Melodic Death Metal, 0 comments

I know it’s not a popular standpoint, but I’ve actually been pretty critical of Sweden’s underground. It is true that Sweden has produced some of the best metal in the world, I still have a bit of a feeling of “What have you done for me lately?” While there are some great bands out there that we all know, the underground here since after that first wave in the early 90s just hasn’t been the same. However, in the last few years a new generation of Swedish death metal and black metal has started coming to the forefront. Sometimes these are older bands, but there are also a number of younger bands carrying on the banner of their proud Swedish heavy metal heritage and doing it well. Sanity of Impiety, from up north in UmeÃ¥ (the same city which spawned Meshuggah, Naglfar, Cult of Luna and others) is certainly one of these bands.

Royal Jester – Night is Young Review

Royal Jester – Night is Young Review

By Steel Druhm on May 3, 2010 in 1.5, 2010, Cock Rock, Power Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Swedish Metal, Power Metal, 6 comments

Hate is a very strong word and perhaps it gets thrown around too casually these days. After all, hate is a very ugly, negative emotion and even the angriest of metal guys should strive to avoid it. With that said, I hate Royal Jester’s debut album Night is Young. Maybe that sounds harsh but it’s the sad truth. It isn’t the musical style that brings me to hate it. Royal Jester plays Euro power metal and I really like Euro power metal when it’s done properly. I even like some of what might be called “happy power metal.” In fact, it seems I have become the resident power metal geek around these parts and that’s why this review ended up in my lap. However, after sustained, repeated listens to this album with an open mind, and giving this young band from Sweden every possible benefit of the doubt, there isn’t much good to say about Night is Young.