Sail the Black Sea Oct. 23, 2015

Sulphur and Fire
by Archemoron

Archemoron is black metal from Greece. While the region has been a hub for a very specific movement I have heard Fenriz refer to as "The Greek Sound," Sulphur and Fire is more grounded in the classic 2nd wave of Norway, specifically the folk-tinged leanings of early Enslaved. I will make the rem...

DEATHcore. Notice the Emphasis. Oct. 22, 2015

Ecstasy
by Manipulation

Another one from Satanath Records. Poland continues to do us right. Today's topic of discussion is Manipulation's Ecstasy. Manipulation plays deathcore, but they do so without falling into most of the trappings that come with playing that style in the US. No bro-fists, no beatdowns, no neck tatt...

These Are Not My Hands! Oct. 21, 2015

Chaotic Delusions
by Tormention

Tormention is a death metal band out of Kalmar/Södertälje, Sweden. I'll be perfectly blunt, as I'm apt to do (see review for Gloom's Doggod), The name and album cover did not leave me particularly enthused to check this one out. I passed over it a few times before I finally made the right choice o...

Depressive Death Metal Oct. 20, 2015

Collapse in Agony
by Symbolical

So obviously, there is depressive black metal, but I wasn’t sure if “depressive death metal” was really a thing. Yes, I googled that s@#t. I didn’t really see anything substantial, so ol’ Flight is fully taking credit for this one. Accolades aside, if I were to classify Symbolical’s sound, I can’...

Adrift in the Prog Oct. 20, 2015

Adrift
by Kaerulean

Kaerulean is a progressive death metal band from Brisbane, Australia. Songs tend towards the very theatrical, with an almost medieval storytelling quality. I like that they try to incorporate minstrel-like cleans to further the story, even if the delivery has a few growing pains. Even so, it prov...

Kickin' It Old School Oct. 19, 2015

Untouched by the Sun
by Eldrich Horror

You know me, I'm a sucker for the little guy. That's what this site is all about. Meet Eldrich Horror. Out of North Carolina, this quintet is here to do one thing and one thing only: play some unbridled, unabridged old school death metal. With Untouched By the Sun, if they have accomplished on t...

Proof that Flute is NOT for "Little Fairy Boys" Oct. 19, 2015

Lupercalia
by Selvans

Selvans is a black symphonic folk metal band from Italy. On their latest full length release through the excellent Avantgarde Music, a label I have come to trust for quality underground metal releases, Selvans definitely bring their A game. Lupercalia is the name of an ancient ritual that was mean...

It's Not Just Their Wildlife That Is Dangerous Oct. 16, 2015

Laniakea
by The Ritual Aura

Hey look, another awesome band from Perth. I am glad there are some excellent Australian musicians redeeming the continent for the image set by that one extremely average metalcore band that shall remain nameless. In the case of The Ritual Aura's dizzying technical death metal, one might say they ...

No Pun...Just Listen Oct. 16, 2015

Autumn Eternal
by Panopticon

"Tamaracks Gold Returns" is a lovely piece filled with banjo fiddles and acoustic guitar. So much so that I honestly would not have minded Austin going full instrumental folk on us. It's definitely in my list of top songs for the year right alongside all of the most grim and brutal stuff to cross ...

Ouroboros Oct. 15, 2015

Rites of Nullification
by Mephorash

Ah, Sweden, there is very little you can do wrong when it comes to metal. And so it was easy to welcome Mephorash into a dark embrace from the start. Unsurprisingly for the region, the epic production, keen ear for melody, and above all, putrid heaviness of this record are all available in great pro...

So Beautiful Oct. 15, 2015

Laurestine
by So Hideous

Time for a little more atmospheric post-black. With their second full release, So Hideous from New York are here to enter the ever-growing fray. Hot on the heels of other artsy hybrid USBM groups like Bosse-De-Nage, Deafheaven, and the oft maligned Liturgy; So Hideous combine elements of post-hard...

Not to Be Confused with Cloud Atlas Oct. 14, 2015

The Ocean Atlas
by Modern Day Babylon

Ready for some transcendental djent? You'd better be. Modern Day Babylon is an (awesome) instrumental progressive group out of the Czech Republic. This is the latest EP, The Ocean Atlas, and boy is it just great. Say what you will about instrumental and djent, but the killer songwriting here is ...

Mein Herz Brennt Oct. 12, 2015

The Angel's Share
by Islay

I love a good bass intro. This one has brass balls. And that's not even accounting for that crazy guitar riff afterwards. "Self Adulation" deservedly does just that, all while kicking like the wild horse on the cover. This is Islay. This is righteous German death metal. We got hooks. We got s...

Brutal Enough for Odin, Sensitive Enough For Loki Oct. 9, 2015

At the Break of the Day
by Azgard

I am not a hater of deathcore, but the tag does tend to make me hesitate. For every Born of Osiris there are at least 10 piles of insipid BLUUUUUUUUUUUUURGH. Luckily, Azgard from the Ulkraine leave the bro-offs and chugging to the amateurs, instead creating satisfying songs that cover a wide range...

From the Hoardes of Ohio... Oct. 8, 2015

A Kingdom Aflame
by Siren

It's been a little while since I heard some good, rollicking folk metal. Even longer since I heard some solid "heavy metal" that I really connected with. Thankfully, Siren is here to make a change to all of that. With a mixture of black, melodic death, folk, and heavy metal; A Kingdom Aflame rips...

The Black Viper Oct. 7, 2015

Travesty of Light
by Kyy

Kyy, meaning "viper" in Finnish, is a black metal group out of Lahti. I'm not into Satanism, but these guys most definitely are. Regardless of your belief system, there is no denying that this music is intense. Travesty of Light certainly starts things off with a bang. Enormous looming chords ...

Nobody Wins Oct. 7, 2015

War - Agony
by Grim Vision

Three tracks, 11 minutes, pure energy and brutality. Such is the punk rock ethos of Grim Vision from Germany. This is some deliciously crusty metal. Like war, it hits hard and fast, and in the end you wonder if anybody has truly won. Once again, prepare yourself for some hefty Converge influen...

Groove is in the Heart Oct. 6, 2015

Devoutness
by Synapses

Before I even talk about the band, I just have to say that "Spiral of Devoutness" drops the bass heavier than a dubstep song. There, I said it. Now that that's out of the way, this is Synapses formed in Italy. Take Meshuggah's groovy, pure tech-driven origins of djent + the brutal death of Cannib...

The Yellow Album Oct. 6, 2015

Paroxysm
by Plague Rider

Good gravy, those vocals. Reminds me a bit of Gigan, but no matter how you slice it this guy is a death metal monster. This is, of course, Paroxysm by Plague Rider. The band is an experimental death quintet out of the UK. And in just 4 tracks clocking in about 20 minutes, they are here to slice ...

Spoiler Alert: This Album is Good Oct. 5, 2015

The Grim Muse
by In Twilight's Embrace

What an incredible intro. Rivers of drool. I needed to change my shirt. In Twilight's Embrace is here with their third album, and they are out for pure bloodlust. These Poland natives have an unquenchable thirst for speed. There's definitely a touch of Venom thrash, especially notable in tracks...
PREVIOUS
Page 198 of 208 NEXT