Ferrous Beuller and GardensTale need to unburden themselves and share all their picks for the best of 2018. Be polite and sit quietly until they’re done, then you can go outside and get a cupcake.
Voivod
Mayhem – Grand Declaration of War Remixed and Remastered Review
“It’s odd being given the task of “reviewing” a record that, if it were a person, would be in the age of majority. Mayhem’s Grand Declaration of War has remained a controversial record for arguably black metal’s most controversial band, and this remixed and remastered version is unlikely to change anyone’s mind on the contents. These contents were ably highlighted by Angry Metal Guy himself, and while him and I disagree on a lot, we agree on the merits of this record.” Grand remastering?
Revolutio – Vagrant Review
“When I look back, there’s been a notable lack of quality thrash, aside from the weirdo avant thrash of Voivod’s latest. Maybe my ears have been directed in the wrong places, but the genre in which I cut my teeth on many years ago continues to largely disappoint. So with a flicker of fleeting optimism I jumped on the chance to check out unheralded Italian thrashers Revolutio on their debut platter, Vagrant. But how does it fare? And should you give a shit?” Revolto, resisto.
Revocation – The Outer Ones Review
“In just over a month I’ll be celebrating (with metalcore, most likely) my fifth year writing for Angry Metal Guy’s family feedbag, and what better way to do that than with the latest LP from Boston’s own prog-death-thrash torchbearers, Revocation. My review of their self-titled album way back in 2013 was the first of my many ill-bred proclamations from these servers to you, and the band have done me a solid by producing material at a pace brisk enough to suit biennial navel-gazing.” Revoked.
Voivod – The Wake Review
“I, Dr. Fisting, am back—but much more importantly, so is Voivod.” Strange never dies.
Bloodstock Open Air 2018 Review
“On Thursday the 9th of August, myself and 19,000 others descended upon the grounds of an old manor house in the heart of the British countryside for a weekend of heavy metal, drinking, and debauchery.” AMG was there. Were you?
Degrave – Degrave Review
“As Eldritch Elitist pointed out in his recent review of Antipeewee’s Infected by Evil, thrash in 2018 often takes the form of exercise, rather than expression, as bands scramble — and fail — to recapture the magic of the genre’s ’80s heyday. As far as I’m concerned, thrash was over even before Metallica jumped the shark and became a hard rock band; Megadeth’s Rust in Peace effectively obviated any attempt to further the genre (and art itself if you trust The Onion) back in 1990, and the thrash of the present day for the most part either ignores or emulates the record. But that doesn’t mean emulation can’t still be fun and Degrave are well aware of that fact.” Thrash to the future.
Aura Noir – Aura Noire Review
“I once jumped from the roof of my parents’ double-wide trailer with a cape/kite attached to my back and a four-foot plastic snow sled duct taped to my chest. No, I wasn’t drunk—I was ten. And, man, it hurt. Fast forward twenty-one years and you’ll find Father-of-the-Year Grier scaling a tree, scooting out along a solid cottonwood branch, and falling twenty feet atop a fence—my feet hitting the top strand as my face hit the ground. All because yours truly refused to hop the fence. And, guess what? It didn’t hurt at all. Because, yes, I was drunk. Those truths aside, I’ve never (fallen?) or thrown my soon-to-be corpse from a four-story building. But, I guess that separates Grier from Aura Noir’s Aggressor.” Norwegian black thrash, drunk with power.
Mindwars – Do Unto Others Review
“Holy Terror was a special band. Though only active for a few short years, they released two of the best thrash albums of the 80s, mixing speed and real heaviness with both progressive and rock influences to create something truly unique. Those albums are among my most beloved and they never, ever sound stale. When I saw a band in the promo sump bearing the name of Mindwars (Holy Terror’s brilliant second album), with an album titled Do Unto Others (a song on that brilliant album), my curiosity was certainly piqued.” Psychic warriors unite!
Headless Crown – Century of Decay Review
“Switzerland is not exactly a world force when it comes to heavy metal. The small, non-opinionated country has a few folk metal bands, a few death metal bands, and a few traditional metal bands — Krokus and Shakra come to mind in the last category, and we can add Headless Crown, as well.” Swiss steel.
