Reviews

Sabouk Rouge

Lomor

I can’t escape the feelings that this album brings to me. I feel elated, happy, tapping my foot, nodding my head and happily anticipating what is about to come next.

Desert Ritual

Obey the Sun

All the music that OBEY THE SUN has opted to add on “Desert Ritual” is way above average, is of a natural and organic beauty that is very refreshing in this day of all mechanics and robotics. Yes, that is one thing that has gotten me hooked from the start.

A Place For Those Who Suffer, Alone

Survivalist

As I had never heard of SURVIVALIST before now, I was able to go in with a clear conscience, a blank mind and expecting ears. What I got with “A Place For Those Who Suffer, Alone” is a whole bunch of noises that sound good.

Yūgen

Kolm

This was an outstanding album. They flawlessly combine Progressive elements with other seasonings in their recipe, while holding back just enough mystery to keep the listener engaged. The vocals are so easy on the ears, and the music is definitely heavy enough for Metal fans, although I appreciate the uncharacteristic nuances. This was just so entrancing and fun to listen to.

Pinocchio

We Stood Like Kings

Those of you who know me and have read my reviews probably understand one of the biggest tenants I have when it comes to instrumental music: That is, bands have to work harder in their approach because there are no vocals or lyrics to guide them like a hand they can hold into. You have to feel the music. Here, you will easily feel it all. They balance melody with aggression and the ebb and flow of the music is assimilated like the tides would be to a surfer. Literally oozing with emotion, it’s one of the finer instrumental albums I have heard this year.

Searing Blood

Lorn

I,Voidhanger very rarely disappoints, and this album is another undeniable winner. The sounds was as close to how it was advertised as possible. You will find towering landscapes that unfold in front of your eyes, built on the raw aggression and hatred of Black Metal. But unlike a lot of Black Metal, this album breathes and is alive, with a full layer of synths to round out the sound. It’s also mysterious, and leaves the listener wondering and in awe. Open the book on “Searing Blood” and see what secrets and puzzles it has in store for you.

Shadow Arc Suite

Steve Blanco

Take this rating with a grain of salt... I still don't know what's going on.

Bleknat bortom evig tid

Greve

Part two of my three-part series of "Mitchell forgot to review these black metal albums."

Lucis

MagnaCult

“Lucis” is a fine blend of Groove and Death Metal with focus on powerful guitar riffs and aggressive vocals

Italia’s Gore Talent

Abbinormal

“Italia’s Gore Talent” is a modern Grindcore album with a few touchpoints at neighboring genres. Most tracks are very versatile, ranging from brutal hammering to groovier and slower tracks

Interstellar Madness

Moonlight Haze

With all the crap going on in the world today, “Interstellar Madness” is a well-needed blast of intergalactic hopefulness. Sure, the finale leaves us in the grips of madness, but at least it’s a cheerful kind of madness.

The Beauty of Obliteration

Sleeping Giant

With six tracks and 35 minutes of runtime, “The Beauty of Obliteration” just edged its way past an EP, but to be honest if you could trade out heft for duration, this would be a double album.

The Golden Citadel of the Astral Sphere

Junon

Overall, the album was akin to the descent of values and morals that began to drop with each step you took forward down to the pit of the abyss. It maintained two things throughout: a undeniable tension that was woven into reach song, and the harrowing feeling of death that was reflected by the hairs standing up on the back of your neck while you listened.

Ghost Town

Axel Rudi Pell

German Axel Rudi Pell of course needs no introduction.The German hard rock and heavy metal […]

Divine Spear

Chalice

Chalice are a four piece band from Helsinki,Finland who were formed in 2016.Early releases included […]

Stenahoria

The Fifth Alliance

This was a dreadful affair from start to finish and offered no sense of hope whatsoever. Instead, it reveled in the darker side of life, the side that you are so tempted to explore at times but are afraid if you do, you may never return. The black and white cover art with the looming teared eye is reflective of the album in so many ways also.

An Aberration of the Void

Silaera

I was literally wincing and white-knuckling out of pure intensity. Hoe-lee shit!

Interstellar I

Voidchaser

I'd love to listen to a second part of this Insterstellar series, but for me to really love it, the mixing HAS to improve.

Stack Overflow in Corpse Pile Interface

A Forest of Stars

The timing of this album is perfect, and it’s a total reflection of society today, especially in America. “Stack overflow” is a programming term, and it refers to when too much data or too many loops overload the memory and the system crashes. Combined with “corpse pile,” the album title sinks into the grotesque. Adding “interface” at the end, where human and machine merge, the seemingly unrelated words form a dark bond: A monumental collision between technical overload and mortal decay, or an overload of processing in the mind due to repeated horrors. They are masterful wordsmiths and lyricists, and you can feel the album title in your bones. Their brand of Black Metal drips with Progressive elements and sophisticated songwriting, and it’s an obvious contender for “Album of the Year.”

Veil on Life

35 Tapes

Take a close look at the amorphous album cover and it might clue you in to some of the music on the album. It’s a very personal album, and in the end, I have to decide on an elementary level if I was able to connect with the music. After all, that’s the very essence of all music. In this case, the connection was only lukewarm for me, but I would still encourage all fans of Progressive music to give this album their time, because they may feel differently about it.

Towers

The Machinist

As far as I’m concerned there aren’t enough Industrial bands that are different enough and interesting enough to be a proper addition to the classic names we all know. Well, after listening to “Towers” I have no other option then to add THE MACHINIST to the list of bands in the Industrial genre that I need to keep an eye on.

Theories of Imperfection

Gus Drax

Sixteen years have passed since the release of his debut "In Search of Perfection," and apparently, he's gone from searching for perfection to theorizing about imperfection. I suppose it's better than theorizing about perfection and searching for imperfection... right?

Feral Dominion

Velmorth

Whateverrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Turbulence

Toxikull

I can’t fault any song on “Turbulence”, and for over 39 minutes I am transported into a world where I am floating between a fantasy world and the real one. TOXIKULL make the transitions between the two feel seamless, the effort painless. Even if they do a power ballad, “Dying Star”, they have the ability to keep the power intact and build on it. They’re touring soon, so be sure to be there. TOXIKULL needs to be as massive as can be.

Queue For The Cure

Struck/Down

I’m not going to tell you that STRUCK/DOWN has brought us a life-changing or earthshattering record with “Queue For The Cure”, but it is one that is very enjoyable, pleasant and easy to listen to. Having a good sound to accompany it all does help in this instance, so that earns the band some bonus points.

Casualties of Violence

Persecutor

PERSECUTOR had me roped in easily from second 37 of “Born in Blood”, as the EXODUS riff that really starts off the song is beautiful. And that is exactly where you need to look for the Thrash Metal of PERSECUTOR; the Bay Area.

It Echoes in the Wind

Egregore

Canadian miscreants indeed. I love the boldness of the band to just break through the traditions of the genre and create their own monster. Yeah, the nostalgia of their forefathers is still there in spades, but this is very much their own creation. It’s furious, filthy, and dark, as any good Death or Black Metal album should be.

Resilience

Diluvian

This was an excellent album. In addition to the unbridled rage that is present, and their ability to climb the ladder to reach those heights, it also has a sophisticated sense of melody and clean tones that you can sing along with. It’s well-constructed, and a ton of fun to listen to.

Throat of the Mountain

The Matator

The “Throat of the Mountain” can serve as a metaphor for strength and resilience, and for wonder when it slips into view. It can also mean oppression, ancient memory, and even doom. The best part of the album for me is that the band lays it all out there for each of us to decide what it means.

Iridescence

Serpentheir

This was an outstanding album. Dark, evil, and weighted enough for any Metal enthusiast, it also swirls with Progressive and even orchestral elements. The result is an album that feels totally alive, and it bites hard with deep fangs. It also breathes when it needs to.

VOiD

Godsticks

...but altogether, "VOiD" was just an okay album by a band that promised a lot more.

Crimson Dawn

Deathhammer

We have a blackened thrash/speed metal duo from Norway, their back catalogue of releases spans […]

Spiteful Intents

Cardinal Sin

This melodic black/death metal trio were together in the year of 1994, as the guitarist/bassist […]

Mosaic

Deadnate

This was one of the most potent, ferocious, oppressive, and suffocating albums in the genre so far this year. Their technical abilities are obvious, and so is their control over the flow of the sound. The artwork speaks of fracture, assembly, and perspective. A mosaic only makes sense when you step back far enough to see how all the broken, jagged pieces fit together. That’s exactly how DEADNATE’s music works on this record.

IV

Urus

This was a fantastic album. It wasn’t just raw aggression, though there was plenty of that, it was their use of space, combined with ambient and melodic passages at times. Although it was only four tracks long, it will leave an indelible impression in your brain that you won’t soon forget.

Fugue Gnawed From the Scabbed God Cerebrum

Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

Y'know, I'm getting real tired of the constant juxtaposition of cutesy-wootsey anime girls and straight-up gore.

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Reviews

Sabouk Rouge

Lomor

Desert Ritual

Obey the Sun

A Place For Those Who Suffer, Alone

Survivalist

Yūgen

Kolm

Pinocchio

We Stood Like Kings

Searing Blood

Lorn

Shadow Arc Suite

Steve Blanco

Bleknat bortom evig tid

Greve

Lucis

MagnaCult

Italia’s Gore Talent

Abbinormal

Interstellar Madness

Moonlight Haze

The Beauty of Obliteration

Sleeping Giant

The Golden Citadel of the Astral Sphere

Junon

Ghost Town

Axel Rudi Pell

Divine Spear

Chalice

Stenahoria

The Fifth Alliance

An Aberration of the Void

Silaera

Interstellar I

Voidchaser

Stack Overflow in Corpse Pile Interface

A Forest of Stars

Veil on Life

35 Tapes

Towers

The Machinist

Theories of Imperfection

Gus Drax

Feral Dominion

Velmorth

Turbulence

Toxikull

Queue For The Cure

Struck/Down

Casualties of Violence

Persecutor

It Echoes in the Wind

Egregore

Resilience

Diluvian

Throat of the Mountain

The Matator

Iridescence

Serpentheir

VOiD

Godsticks

Crimson Dawn

Deathhammer

Spiteful Intents

Cardinal Sin

Mosaic

Deadnate

IV

Urus

Fugue Gnawed From the Scabbed God Cerebrum

Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

Latest Reviews

Goddess of the North