Reviews of metal albums released May 16 – May 22
A week for both unhinged aggression and conceptual exploration, predictability and surprises, mostly in its best forms.
Armored Saint – Emotion Factory Reset
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Review: Time to go old school. Think Saxon and the like from the 70s with a bit of the 80s hair metal swagger and hard rock simplicity, and you’re there. Unfortunately, it’s also quite obvious that this is not, in fact, from 40 years ago, but that the musicians behind it has aged by that much. There’s plenty of charm, but it doesn’t quite make up for the flat-falling melodies, tired lyrics and fairly rigid rhythm- and vocal performance.
Highlights: “The Monochrome Blade” and “Cold Heavens”
As The Sun Falls – Songs From The Veil
Genre: Melodic death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Review: Been too long since you got a fresh hit of Insomnium? I’d be surprised if this didn’t do it for you. As The Sun Falls (I mean, it’s all in the name, isn’t it?) make melancholic, atmospheric melodeath that sounds like it’s emanating from the deepest, darkest, most remote forests of Finnish winter. Thanks to a coldly vivid, mildly uplifting quality to the melodies, this doesn’t really feel depressing, nor come close to the bitterness of black metal.
As is typical with Finnish epic extreme metal, it’s not what you would call lean, but while it sounds nice and rich, it also doesn’t pack too elements into its production. Acoustics and background vocals are reserved for the calmer sections, and the guitars and drums mostly get to drive the rest. It’s not particularly characterful, and could benefit from a few more outstanding moments, but it certainly doesn’t feel derivative. From what I’ve heard it’s a step up for the band, that sees them balancing heaviness and thoughtfulness just as well as the very best in this corner of the subgenre.
Highlight: “As Night Devours”
Blindead 23 – Deuterium
Genre: Progressive extreme metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
Review: Newly reformed from the remnants of Blindead, which existed from 2003-2022, this new iteration of the band features an impressive lineup that draws its experience from such acts as Behemoth, Katatonia, Vltimas and more. And the talent behind the performances is quite obvious on “debut” album Deuterium. I’d describe it as a mix between the rhythmic smoothness and melodic cleans of Leprous with the driving, harsh brutality of Cult Of Luna at their heaviest.
While there’s absolutely a starkness to the sound, I wouldn’t describe it as harsh, instead going quite meaty and punchy when the intensity builds, more like death metal than black metal in that regard. Led by highly competent and expressive vocals, the progress of the album flows on mostly steady and patient currents, although with a few unexpected detours along the way. It requires focus, but rewards it by unlocking a whole host of different layers and deep immersion. A bit over-stuffed with atmosphere, but really well produced and mature-feeling in every way.
Highlights: “Deuterium” and “Immersion II”.
Dimmu Borgir – Grand Serpent Rising
Genre: Symphonic black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Review: We’re not exactly spoiled with Dimmu Borgir releases, so when a new one marches out of the mist, it’s always a bit of an occasion. As far as expectations go, it’s not the kind of black metal you think to take too seriously. Big, bombastic drama and catchy riffs, yes. Actual, sinister, unholy conviction? Perhaps not so much. In this regard, it seems the band have taken a few steps to slightly shift their image.
“Grand Serpent Rising” is a mountainous mass of an album, both in a good and bad way. It’s melodically quite intricate, and feels very mature and concise in its symphonic scale and tone. But it also feels a bit like moving through soup-thick fog with how densely it’s layered, with the instruments often fading into the background. Standout melodies and riffs get buried, making for an overall experience that’s a bit poor on highlights. That being said, it’s darkly majestic in an un-flippant way that I really didn’t expect, and feels aggressive and epic in a Keep of Kalessin kind of way that’s a welcome change of pace. I’ll understand people who find it a bit forgettable, but give it time to really sink in and I think you’ll appreciate just how much nuance there is.
Highlights: “Ascent” and “Slik Minnes en Alkymist”
Makkmat – Syke Fantasier
Genre: Grindcore/punk
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Review: Makkmat (worm food) is a ferociously aggressive, grindcore-driven punk band from my original home town of Bergen, Norway, which allows me the insider’s privilege of extra-layer amusement at some of their lyrics and song titles. So yes, I’m a bit biased, but if you’re a fan of the ragged-edge and extremely in-your-face end of the metal spectrum then there is plenty of objective reason that you should have a blast with “Syke Fantasier” (sick fantasies).
Most of the time they pour on ripsaw riffs and charging drums with shrieking vocals on top, keeping track lengths to a minimum (averaging just over 1 minute), and all of a sudden you’ve got a bit of death metal, hardcore, crust, and of course a few, obligatory samples. The stuff in between the standout tracks does blend together a bit if you’re not paying strict attention, but blink and the album takes a new, sharp turn in an attempt to snap your inattentive neck. It’s a sandpaper face slap of an experience that’s far from too chaotic to have fun with.
Highlight: “Shahed-136” and “Arna Verdenskrieg”
Membrance – Resa Marciana
Genre: Death/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Review: Sometimes you just gotta love a band that say “yes please” to pretty much all the classic, aggressive metal subgenres and proceed to splice it all together with great enthusiasm. On this latest release by Italian band Membrance you get death, black, thrash and heavy metal with a good bit of rock ‘n’ roll jump-around-ness and plenty of shred-y melody.
Now for the kicker: Is it actually well written and put together with purpose? Not really. It’s a bit of a mishmash with some fairly heavy handed rhythm work, and there’s little sense of an overarching idea for the album. It’s fun though, and plenty energetic. Try it, and see if it doesn’t put a big smile on your face.
Highlight: “Sentensa da resa”
Noituma – Yhdeksän sairautta
Genre: Folk/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Review: Yes, despite what that album cover might lead you to believe, this is actually full-on Finnish folk metal that’s somewhat of a clash of traditional solemnness and punk rowdiness. You get hoarse-throated, belted-out vocals, classic doom riffs with a bit of black metal darkness to the tone, lots of energy but also plenty of melodic beauty from the violin and fun texture from the jaw harp.
This is not an impeccably put together album, nor expertly produced, nor well-matured in terms of concept. But it more than makes up for it with raw enthusiasm and well-balanced conflux of stylistic elements. It’s a bit like a proto-Finntroll if they decided to go the pagan route rather than the antic-y goblin-ear one.
Highlight: “Kynnen ja kulmahampaan laki”
Psyclops – Bound to Burn: Melody of the Martyr
Genre: Progressive metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
Review: If you think this is gonna be the type of conceptual, story-driven prog that treats tracks like chapters in a tale and absolutely blows up the runtime with spoken-word segments and wild, unending instrumental tangents, then you are right on at least one count. Yes, this is storytelling in musical form, but at less than 33 minutes, it doesn’t overstay its welcome in the least. And sure, if you’re allergic to musical theater-reminiscent vocal delivery and a thematically driven flow, then it might not be your cup of tea. But you’ll be missing out on some great music.
The variation on the album is expertly managed, and ranges from chugging harshness to meditative pools of laid back, atmospheric melody. The vocals are wildly competent and display a wide spectrum of styles. It’s not the heaviest or most intense, but feels incredibly well-considered, with organic, reassuring pacing that’s devoid of tropes and never makes a single misstep. Will it win over a lot of people outside the prog sphere? Probably not. And that’s okay.
Highlights: “Consequences III: Swallowed Skies, Sea of Eyes (Pg. 12)” and “Indomitable I: Depths of Dissent (Pg. 26)
As always, if you think I’m completely off on an observation, unfairly dissed your favorite band, or need to give an album another shot, why not pop a comment down below?
The Metal Dispatch 