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Weekly rundown October 14 – 2022
A week spearheaded by young blood, bringing you tenacity, creativity and raw talent in spades.
After All – Eos
Genre: Thrash metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5This is one of those where the melding of thrash and traditional doesn’t go as smoothly as you might hope. Operatic vocals and bombastic melody clashes with straightforward, cutthroat riffing, and you keep wishing they’d just stuck to the latter of the two.
Alter Bridge – Pawns & Kings
Genre: Hard rock/alternative metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A bit too heavy to be hard rock, a bit too straightforward to be metal, Alter Bridge chooses to exist somewhere in between, bringing some of the best of both worlds to a joined audience. As always, Myles’ voice soars high above roguishly adventurous guitar work, and mostly hopeful melodies. No big surprises, but fans should be stoked.
Avoid – Cult Mentality
Genre: Metalcore/pop punk
Subjective rating: 1.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Playful and energetic with top-of-the-lungs vocals and the enthusiasm of a pappy, this is a lot of fun, if nothing particularly original, for everyone who don’t mind the poppy melody sections.
Birds In Row – Gris Klein
Genre: Progressive hardcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 4/5It’s plainly evident that this is a band with a lot on their mind, and not just considering the lyrics. So much is being communicated here – of lives past and present, and the world that surrounds them. The tone is thoroughly morose, but there is also far too much energy being expended to lead you into sullenness. The drum work is simply phenomenal, with the guitar slightly pulled back but still contributing moving melodies and progressive gallops.
Boundaries – Brightness
Genre: Progressive metalcore
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5Explosive, insistent, striking – this albums goes on a triumphant rampage, striking out with as much precision as reckless abandon. This is djent- and groove-infused metalcore that sets out to achieve a lot in the span of its runtime, and succeeds in most every respect. With inventive rhythms that keep pushing the momentum no matter their intensity, powerful vocals that could exist equally within hardcore and blackened death metal, and non-stop variation, this is a fantastic blend of the familiar and unexpected. Check out “Your Own Murder” and “Heaven’s Broken Heart”.
Catalyst – A Different Painting For A New World
Genre: Technical death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A tech death band that likes it over on the chaotic side of the fence. There’s a good mix of utter drum madness and speedy melodic guitar work, and while ther transitions between the two could be more refined, the overall balance is pleasing. There isn’t quite enough substance on here to reach the big leagues, but still plenty to enjoy.
Cavernous Gate – Voices From A Fathomless Realm
Genre: Atmospheric doom//black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A fairly mellow blackened doom album that sounds like it’s being played out over a bottomless chasm. There’s a big emphasis on atmosphere, with a few, limited aggressive sections. Both are great, but the overall impression is unfortunately one of lots of empty space.
Daeva – Through Sheer Will And Black Magic
Genre: Black/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5Apparently there’s a lot of echoing going on in hell. And hot sand underfoot, cause this stuff is in a damn hurry to get places. The drums and shreds are utterly relentless, driving this hurricane of slightly low fi black thrash onwards at breakneck speed. While it does get to the point of being overwhelming every now and then, the band knows when to shift gears and treat you to some slightly more laid back, doom-tinged melodic riffing. The control these guys possess over the arrangements are nothing short of baffling. Give it a go with “Passion Under the Hammer” and “Luciferian Return”.
Dragonland – The Power Of The Nightstar
Genre: Power/symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5How about some light-hearted, space-bound, symphonic power metal? Sure, it sounds more or less exactly as you expect you too, but somehow they’ve made the cheese very palatable. Instruments, vocals and effects are in perfect harmony, delivering an immersive and uplifting experience.
Earthrise – Until We Rest Beneath The Winter Way
Genre: Atmospheric/progressive doom metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Airy, atmospheric, electronic stuff that sort of just floats around without aim and then flex every muscle to convulsively deliver some pent up rage.
Exist Immortal – Exist Immortal
Genre: Progressive metal/metalcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Modern progressive metal with a metalcore flair, that might be leaning a bit too far into pop in its harmonies to some people’s taste, making substantial parts of the songs rather predictable in the midst of an otherwise good variation in rhythm and intensity.
Firtan – Marter
Genre: Black/gothic metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5An imposing and at the same time rather solemn heavyweight of a gothic black metal album. It offers up a wealth of moderately different approaches within the same, coherent soundscape. There is pure, thunderous black metal aggression, little moments of instrumental showmanship, atmospheric shifts and reverent contemplation. And yet it still manages to keep up a steadfast momentum, as it’s clear the band has poured all their effort into their performances. Not all the melodic sections are equally rewarding, but the whole is still impressive. Dive into “Fadir” and “Menetekel”.
Girih – Ikigai
Genre: Atmospheric/cinematic metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5An instrumental release that wants to take you on a journey of marvels, with an undertone of slight melancholy. You get a well blended mix of sweeping atmospheric melody and surges of intensity.
Lorna Shore – Pain Remains
Genre: Deathcore
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5Cue the vocal acrobatics! Ever since “To the Hellfire”, vocalist Will Ramos has been in the deathcore spotlight, and for good reason. On this album he proves that he can not only be the centerpiece, but also thoroughly support the instrumental performances and mesh beautifully with the flow. Cause he is certainly not the only one who delivers on here. Set to epic, sometimes chorus -topped harmonies, the music struts with triumphant energy. It’s still brutally heavy, and will properly melt your face off with its technicality, but the fact that they still manage such a melodic and radiant whole just takes it to a different league. Fire up “Into the Earth” and “Pain Remains II: After All I’ve Done, I’ll Disappear”.
Nothing More – Spirits
Genre: Alternative metal/hard rock
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5As far as melodic, surface-edgy, emotional and pop-oriented heavy releases go, this is quality. It sounds great, shows great talent for vibrant rhythm, and is led by an outstanding vocal performance. It loses both steam and creative verve towards the end, and as straight up metal it hardly qualifies, but that won’t matter one bit to the fans, who will flock to the big hits.
Outline In Color – Coast Is Clear
Genre: Progressive metalcore/alternative metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5The duality of raspy, rhythmic harshness and soft, melodic serenading is prevalent all throughout this one. It moves well, and the variation is rewarding, but for people leaning to the heavy side will most likely be left a bit disappointed.
Rhythm Of Fear – Fatal Horizons
Genre: Thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Dystopian-themed, with a hardcore harshness and stark quality to it, this is rhythm-driven, slightly thin-sounding thrash. It’s direct, and fairly melodic considering its slightly bleak sensibilities.
Ripped To Shreds – 劇變 (Jubian)
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5This is sinister, flesh-rending, old-school death metal that can do both frantic blasts and scorched grooves. The level of crunch in the riffs is nothing short of delicious, and the vocals are just the right level of hoarse. Thematically it’s a deep dive into history with its and all its delightful atrocities, but the band hasn’t fallen for the temptation of going on any extended ambient tangents or put in any theatrical interludes. Instead it’s a non stop crusher from start to finish. Get into it with “Split Apart by Five Chariots” and “Peregrination to the Unborn Eternal Mother”.
Stormruler – Sacred Rites & Black Magick
Genre: Melodic black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Sweeping, epic black metal with melodic arrangements that definitely sound inspired by Scandinavian death metal. And they don’t skimp on the embellishments. The instruments are loud and proud, and with a fairly thin, cold production it all sounds as crisp as a winter’s morning. But with every other song being an interlude, it can also feel as dragged out as having to wait in line in the cold.
Turbocharged – Alpha Beast, Omega God
Genre: Death metal/punk
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Rough as rusted barbed wire around the edges, that in itself is perhaps this album’s biggest selling point. Trampling any notions of melody or finesse underfoot, this is up close and personal, street brawl death metal. With a bit of refinement (or maybe less), this could be a serious head-turner.
Varials – Scars For You To Remember
Genre: Metalcore/hardcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Trying on a few different hats as they go along, Varials mostly play a form of jagged, rhythm-driven metalcore on here, but with added flavors of hardcore, deathcore and alternative. It can make the whole thing feel disjointed or simply experimental, depending on your point of view.
V.E.I.N. – Blood Oaths
Genre: Death/black metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Properly low-fi, this is strictly for those who wants their record to sound like a cassette found in the apocalyptic aftermath of a nuclear disaster.
Victoria K – Kore
Genre: Symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Marred by a slightly iffy production, this is flavorful symphonic music teetering on the edge between metal and hardcore, and you can’t help the feeling that this really isn’t intentional.
Virgin Mother – Mourning Ritual
Genre: Experimental/ambient metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5This album can feel a bit like being stuck inside a beehive, with various states of the world playing as a backdrop outside, affecting the mood inside the hive accordingly. It’s a bit too disjointed to be fully immersive though.
We Came As Romans – Darkbloom
Genre: Metalcore/electronic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Massive-sounding, emotionally driven, electronica-infused metalcore with a definite sing-along quality that simply will or won’t work for you, It sounds very much up to date, utilizing pretty much every trope in modern melodic metal and electronic music today, and yet they have undeniably succeeded in making it their own.
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, do feel free to express yourself in the comments section below.
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Weekly rundown October 07 – 2022
A week staring into the roaring maws of darkness, catching glimpses of vibrancy amid the varying shades of aggressive nihilism.
Album art by Ben Howe and Ra.design Aenaon – Mnemosyne
Genre: Progressive black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5It isn’t often you get to call black metal adventurous, but here you go. You get the feeling of having entered a house of madness and dark delights, and, while I personally think the saxophone is overused in experimental metal today, the sax certainly plays its part in manifesting this particular sonic space. The music is both wild, slightly unhinged and all the while very intentional. You get traditional snarly vocals and blast beats, but also hypnotic melodies and freaky acoustic interludes. It’s a trip, and one I recomment you take. Try “Psyche” and “Hysteria”.
Album art by David Gray The Antichrist Imperium – Volume III: Satan In His Original Glory
Genre: Death/black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5A black clad melodic death metal album that doesn’t mind spending its time in the second circle of hell. There’s a bit of tech death, a bit of melodeath, and a good dash of gothic in there, but mostly this is straight up blackened death not too dissimilar to the likes of Rotting Christ. They keep up an impressive level of energy throughout, and some of the riff sections straight up rips. If you don’t mind the somewhat less bleak and more groove laden part of blackened death metal, then this is absolutely for you. Check out “Third Degree Baptism” and “Tu Verus Mundi Lucifer”.
Armed For Apocalypse – Ritual Violence
Genre: Sludge metal/deathcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Ready for some hyper-aggression? These guys truly want to bring the world crashing asunder to the sound of throat-rending vocals, hacksaw riffs, stompy rhythms and breakdowns – plenty of breakdowns. This sludgy, hardcore-energy death metal enjoys both explosive outbursts and slow crawls, all the while delivering a misanthropic tone and plenty of tortured guitar squeals. Definitely one to tear something down to. Give it a go with “Full of Phlegm” and “Hourglass”.
Borealis – Illusions
Genre: Power/progressive metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Some very tight and ceremonious progressive power metal that gets a bit too dramatic and self serious for its own good. But musically it’s a pleasant and rousing listen.
Album art by Jacob van Loon Cloud Rat – Threshold
Genre: Progressive grindcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5Off the charts aggressive and surgically precise, this is niche music that has found its target and is stabbing at it repeatedly at a formidable rpm. The sonic equivalent of being shook like a ragdoll, this is an intense listening experience that still manages to offer up distinct and unifying tones. There is bitterness in between the howled lines, but also a sense of vulnerable honesty that gives the whole thing a deservedly earnest quality.
Counterparts – A Eulogy For Those Still Here
Genre: Metalcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Get ready for some scream-till-you’re-hoarse hard metalcore. You get transitions between odd-rhythmed harsh disharmony and classic metalcore melodies, with instrumental flourishes at appropriate moments. For all its intensity and obvious talent, the band struggles a bit to leave a lasting impression this time around.
Diabology – Father Of Serpents
Genre: Death/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5You gotta love it when the youngbloods put together something like this. Sounding more mature than it has any rights to and drawing inspiration from bands and sounds that were at their biggest before these guys were even born, the album bears the trademark of pure enthusiasm. Mixing the heavy of death metal with the straightforward attack of thrash and playing with some NWOBHM melody and showmanship, this is getting close to something that could hold its own against pretty much anyone in the genre.
Ellefson-Soto – Vacation In The Underworld
Genre: Heavy/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A shreddy big-name-collab with plenty of pleasing guitar work and appropriately powerful vocals. It’s more a bob-your-head-along than a true banger though, mostly thanks to fairly uninspired rhythms.
Get The Shot – Merciless Destruction
Genre: Hardcore/deathcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Straight up obliteration from these Canadian heavyweights. They’ve gone a noticeable step closer to deathcore since last, which suits the temperament of their music perfectly. This is all full-body headbanging and breakdowns, and the melding of hardcore audacity with the sledgehammer impact of death metal works just as well as ever. A little bit of character has been lost in the pursuit of reinvention, but the moshpits are still gonna be legendary. Jump in with “Deathbound” and “Divination of Doom”.
Gillian Carter – Salvation Through Misery
Genre: Hardcore/screamo/noise
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Here’s some very noisy, grindcore-level-intensity screamo. It stabs at you like a dentist’s drill, but also tries to lure you in with contemplative melodies. And then it stabs at you again. There’s some cool instrumental work under all the layers, so if you’re attuned to this sort of thing, it’s probably worth your time.
Goatwhore – Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven
Genre: Death/black/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5That’s right, your craving for black charred death thrash is about to be sated big time. There’s the sinister tone, the tremolo and cold guitar solos, the meaty riffs and the relentless speed. Goatwhore knows how to strike a great balance between them all, and so we get thunder and groove, butchery and blasphemy. It’s just that primal, unpretentious sound that every fan of extreme metal is drawn to – gloriously defiled to suit an unholy purpose. Get fired up to “Born of Satan’s Flesh” and “The Devil’s Warlords”.
Lamb Of God – Omens
Genre: Groove metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5The grooooove is back with a vengeance. The album hits with the force of the band slamming a collective spade in your face as a way of asking if you forgot about them. It’s Lamb of God returning to a more no-nonsense, slightly leaner and crisper sound, full of attack and unbelievable riff dexterity. There are a few hardcore elements mixed in to suit this buzzsaw-adorned-bulldozer-approach, but in the end it’s the core sound that draws you in, and it’s on great form here. Bang your head uncontrollably to “Nevermore” and “Omens”.
Languish – Feeding The Flames Of Annihilation
Genre: Death/black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is one of those where if you love one part of it, you better love it enough to listen to it repeatedly for 25 minutes. That’s not to say that this is slow – it’s just not particularly varied. What it does have is a rock solid tone of a kind of devil-may-care, outta-my-way death metal that is somehow also fairly good natured.
Memories Of A Lost Soul – Redefining Nothingness
Genre: Progressive/melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5A Gothenburg-inspired death metal output with progressive and symphonic tendencies, this weighs in on the aggressive side, but falls a little flat as the melodic tangents seem uninspired and not too well planned, killing whatever momentum was built up.
Midnight Rider – Beyond The Blood Red Horizon
Genre: Heavy metal/hard rock
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A nod back to the humbler origins of metal, with a distinctly non-heavy sound and toned down instrumental chops. The tone is just right for a modern throwback like this.
NeroArgento – Land of Silence
Genre: Industrial/electronic metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Sounding like pop-oriented alternative metal had a collision with dubstep, this sounds made for a early 2000s alt-rave dancefloor.
Parius – The Signal Heard Throughout Space
Genre: Progressive metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A supremely nerdy and adventurous trip into progressive metal space. It’s not, as you might expect, a complete instrumental orgy. Rather, the album sticks to theme and trying to color in its concepts with interesting shifts in atmosphere and intensity.
Queensryche – Digital Noise Alliance
Genre: Heavy/progressive metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5The experience of decades definitely shines through on Digital Noise Alliance. This is tight and well coordinated, sounding like a comfortable hiccup-free production. And while there are highlights on here, as a whole it stands as fairly unremarkable in the modern prog world.
Sky Pig – It Thrives In Darkness
Genre: Doom/sludge metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5Dark, crawling sludge infused with a touch of psychedelia, this is for all you out there that just can’t get enough of the grind. It gets a bit too comfortable simply existing in its space a few times, but makes up for it with some boulder heavy riff sections, accompanied by cavern ritual drums and vocals that sound either in trance or exclaiming with dark realization.
Album Art by Jace Kempers Sudden Deaf – Havoc
Genre: Heavy/doom metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Let’s be real – which traditional heavy metal sound is not improved by a touch of doomy gloom and/or stoner crunch? Havoc has both of these influxes, and the melding is everything but superficial. While there is progressive energy all throughout, the band takes the time to truly explore the melodies they bring in, allowing them to evolve organically within a suitable tonal range. This is a gem in the rough, as some rhythm control and performance precision is lost in the heat of enthusiasm, but it’s quickly forgotten at the next vibrant instrumental section. Give “Headhunter” and “Going Down” a shot.
Suspyria – The Valley Of Despair
Genre: Alternative metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5Modern alt-metal balancing metalcore aggression with sappy earnestness. If you can handle both sides of the coin you’ll be rewarded with some good groove and instrumental flourishes.
Teramaze – Flight Of The Wounded
Genre: Melodic prog metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5This is prog metal in the genre-bound sense of the word, working with power metal energy, an uplifting tone and an overall sense of wonderment underpinning highly competent instrumental performances.
Terror Cell – Caustic Light
Genre: Blackened hardcore/mathcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Abrasive and sludgy mathcore in a bad mood. The band seems to have been highly fixated on the tone, which approaches the depressiveness of black metal, but even as they compensate with furious bursts of harsh intensity, the undercurrent of the music is almost at a standstill.
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, do feel free to express yourself in the comments section below.
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Weekly rundown September 30 – 2022
A marathon week that’s drawn extreme metal from all ends of the spectrum, giving you everything from the morbid to the cerebral to the morbidly cerebral.
Acephalix – Theothantology
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A real grinder of a death metal album. A slightly murky production and grumbly vocals gives you that dilapidated abbatoir-feel. You get a generous serving of raw riffs, although not much in the way of surprises.
Amaurot – …To Tread the Ancient Waters
Genre: Doom/black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A folk-clad, black-leaning doom record that brings some dark winter chills. The tempo is low and overall impression fairly simplistic, but the atmosphere works very well if you’re into dark folk.
Angmodnes – The Weight of Eternity
Genre: Doom/death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Slow and grim doom with a well-realized, haunting atmosphere and moments of snarling brutality, that’s also a bit too comfortable wallowing in uninterrupted misery.
Arctora – The Storm Is Over
Genre: Melodic death/folk metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A spirited contribution from the Finnish melodeath scene, this is fast moving and aggressive, with elements of frigid black metal and a mostly guitar driven melody, as opposed to the customary heavy influx of synth elements.
Autophagy – Bacteriophage
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A somewhat chaotic, bass-heavy rumbler of a death metal album. Muted, cavern-emanating vocals are like a whisper on the wind blended with the thundering instruments. On one hand one could wish for more clarity, but it does add to the ominous atmosphere and warm, full tone.
Autopsy – Morbidity Triumphant
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Old-school death metal doesn’t get more no-nonsense than this. From the very first second there is no question that Autopsy is serving up another blood-dripping cut of malevolence. This is a refined sound – not excessive in any way. Just a thoroughly sadistic tone, drums following the rhythm of a lurking axe murderer and vocals that either gurgle in feigned agony or growl with feral hostility. It’s everything but a fresh breath, but that’s hardly what you’re looking for in this genre. Take a stab at “The Voracious One” and “Your Eyes Will Turn to Dust”.
Ceaseless Torment – Victory Or Death
Genre: Thrash/death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Here’s some gritty thrash in a hell of a hurry. There’s a bit lacking in the overall tightness of the performances, and it’s not the most original thing you’ll hear, but if you like your metal fast, menacing and uncomplicated, go for it.
Cruz – Confindes de la Cordura
Genre: Death/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5This is loudly pissed off and vicious death metal with a thrashy sense of urgency. It’s easy to visualize the band shaking their fists at the sky to the barky, raw vocals, and yet it never really dips into hardcore territory. The energy level is maintained throughout the album, even in those instances where the tempo shifts into low gear for some menacing doom sections. It sounds crunchy, angry and evil. Check out “Els Murs Errants” and “Eones de Sangre”.
Darkest Era – Wither On The Vine
Genre: Progressive/folk metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A somewhat gloomy take on the usually rather uplifting ways of folk metal. With elements of black metal and shying away from tropes, it’s not what you’ll hear any day, but also fairly non-compelling in its melodies and atmosphere.
Deadly Vipers – Low City Drone
Genre: Stoner metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A warm and slightly spacey stoner record. The riffs slither and twist, generating groove-laden vibes of travelling across dry desert plains. There is some heft and intensity, but mostly it feels like it just wants to chill out. In that regard it lacks some momentum, but still stands as a characterful listen.
Devouror – Diabolos Brigade
Genre: Death/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5A fired-up blackened death metal output taking all the energy of thrash in order to spit its unholy messages far and wide. It brings little new to the table and rough song arrangements means fairly poor immersion.
Drowning Pool – Strike A Nerve
Genre: Alternative metal/hard rock
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5A fairly low-key release from these alt-metalers, at least until you get towards the end of the album, where it strangely starts to pick up and deliver some heavy crunches. Overall though, it just sounds a bit tired, like they’re running on fumes and lack direction, with well-worn lyrics and uninspired arrangements. And, sorry to say, but that album cover… Just, why?
Ellende – Ellenbogengesellschaft
Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5A truly nurturing experience for those of heavy mind and cynical spirit. This is monumental and forceful black metal built around melancholic, sublime melody. Each aspect grabs a hold of you and stirs emotions that are all related, but to different effects. The milder sections are like long sighs of equal release and resignation, and the heavier ones like silent, pent-up screams of bitterness. It is cathartic, and kind of soothing in a way, but also simply a rich musical experience. More variation in the vocal style might have better served the overall impression of nuance, and the tone isn’t the most expansive, but it’s nonetheless a superbly crafted album. Take a listen to “Ruelos” and “Abschied”.
Escuela Grind – Memory Theater
Genre: Grindcore/hardcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5A supremely combative rager of a grindcore album. Constantly on the attack, it lashes out at you with howling feedback and pummeling riffs like the snapping and gnashing of giant maws. It’s not a sonic treasure trove like Wormrot’s Hiss, but more focused in purpose, trying to rile you up from start to finish.
Gonemage – Handheld Demise
Genre: Black/8-bit metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A wild 8-bit assault of cold bitterness, but also energetic beats and a good dose of whimsy. The lot doesn’t always mix that well, so should be viewed as something of a niche offering.
Hexed – Pagans Rising
Genre: Symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5Brimming with lofty melody and semi-progressive instrumental extravagance, this Swedish symphonic metal album comes very short on originality, but might have enough bells and whistles to satisfy a casual listener.
Internal Organs External – The Brutality of Tomorrow
Genre: Brutal death metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Death metal doesn’t get more gurgle-y and chompy than this. Taking the slam and stomp up to 11, this is like a meatgrinder being used as a blunt force instrument. Unfortunately, there’s nothing particularly interesting about that.
Krankheit – Gargantua
Genre: Gothic/industrial metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Sounding like a mix of Rammstein and Cradle of Filth, this is gloomy gothic tone set to the steady march of, heavy, steadfast riffs. The rhythm gets a little messy now and then trying to accommodate groove, catchiness and a bit of chaos, but overall this album is a pretty good time.
Labyrinth of Stars – Spectrum Xenomorph
Genre: Progressive deathcore/black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 4/5Listening to this you get a strong impression of the same kind of near-zealous conviction that radiates from a Behemoth album. This is something else though, looking to the cold, empty vastness of alien space. And you get the distinct impression that the black abyss stares back. This is unsettling and stark, but at the same time brings the heaviness of deathcore, which at times feels like an effort to rage at the void in order not to go insane. It’s not a varied experience, but certainly a stylistically coherent one.
The Lord – Devotional
Genre: Experimental/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This feels like a dark hymn of sorts, with clean, chanting vocals overlaying what seems like single, unbroken guitar riffs shifting slightly in pitch like the swells of and ocean. As a contemplative closed-eyes listen it might be just the thing you’ve been looking for to soothe your mind.
Lord Of Confusion – Evil Mystery
Genre: Stoner/doom metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Creepy, sluggish disharmony is the name of the game here. A bit of heavy, a bit of crunch, a bit of organ.
Lost Society – If The Sky Came Down
Genre: Metalcore/alternative metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A hard-rock-y, yet heavy metalcore record with a bit of that early 2000s alternative edge mixed in. There are some genuinely arresting moments of aggression and melody, but mostly it feels like relying on old tricks.
Mamaleek – Diner Coffee
Genre: Experimental metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5An oddity for sure, this feels like an extended peek into someone’s disturbed daydream gazing out onto a grey, bustling and uncaring world. The mix of blues, jazz and dreamy lounge tangents with abrasive cuts into hardcore and noise makes for a fascinating pit stop to a schizophrenic’s point of view. It’ll take you places, for sure.
Rage – Spreading The Plague (EP)
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A moderate dose of angry heavy metal from these German veterans. There should be enough grooves and evident energy on display to please those who are already fans, but as a sales pitch for outsiders it might just be a tad too bland.
Rick Massie – Guided To An Imperfect Light
Genre: Progressive metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5An experimental dive into trying to marry different ends of the progressive metal spectrum. There’s a bit of Enslaved, bit of Opeth and a few others, while not fully embracing any. It’s a bit directionless, but offers up a decent array of flavors.
Pestlegion – Sathanas Grand Victoria
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Snarly, fairly sharp and gothic-tinged black metal that allows a fitting measure of chaos, but fails to properly stand out in the cvlt crowd.
Power from Hell – Shadows Devouring Light
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5This is black metal barely touching on death metal and going for a slightly muted, slightly atmospheric approach. It’s the kind that revels in its in-your-face blasphemy and doesn’t care too much about taking the purist route.
Regulate – Regulate
Genre: Hardcore
Subjective rating: 2,5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Straightforward, modern sounding hardcore borrowing a bit too much from metalcore and pop-punk to retain any real street cred, but should please the more hard rock-leaning fans looking for something slightly more gritty.
Septic – Nailed to Ignorance
Genre: Progressive death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A slightly erratic death metal album that doesn’t go all the way into tech territory, but plays around enough to land in the progressive camp. It’s not all as elegantly executed, but it feels alive and like they’re trying to do their own thing, adding elements of melodeath and a bit of black metal. for an entertaining whole.
SilentLie – Equilibrium
Genre: Heavy/gothic metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Catchy and well executed, this definitely works as a lighter foray into gothic metal without hardly any of the cringe factor that usually comes with it. It has much of the energy of spirited traditional metal, and channels it through a modern and fairly accessible sensibility, without sacrificing the artistry.
Slipknot – The End, So Far
Genre: Nu/alternative metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5You both do and don’t really know what’s in store whenever Slipknot drops a new album. They’ve never truly deviated from what makes them instantly recognizable, merely adopted new elements and subtly allowed themselves to change with the times. On The End, So Far they take another slight step forward, while adding in a bit of the delusional chaos of their early releases, and then some new stuff. Certainly, they’ve made some choices radical enough to give you Slipknot like you’ve never heard them before, giving the album a slightly experimental flair. While not revolutionary, it’s a really cool deviation from their slightly over-polished We are Not Your Kind. And then you get some straight up bangers, perhaps not enough for everyone but sufficient to offer impatient listeners a handful of treats. As always, it’s solid craftmanship and shows a band eager to remain a monumental, if not particularly progressive, force in modern metal. Dig into “The Dying Song (Time To Sing)” and “Hive Mind”.
Soul Dissolution – SORA
Genre: Atmospheric black/folk metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5An album that goes on winding, life-gazing trips and doesn’t deviate much from its set course, meaning it ends up a little too limited in scope. If you’re looking for a slight break from the more intense end of the black metal spectrum though, it can feel pretty serene.
Spectrum Mortis – Bit Meseri
Genre: Death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Here’s some moldy, dusty death doom with a slight ritualistic feel. These guys hit the nail on the head with the tone – it sounds like something haunting the halls of a long forgotten temple – although it starts to feel a bit monotone as round the halfway point.
Stormland – The Human Cost
Genre: Technical death metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Sounding all the way like a basement project (which I suppose it is), it’s hard to get past the highly compressed mix, and even then the technical skill of the performances is partly lost in the jank of the arrangements.
Strangle Wire – Shaped By Human Frailty
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Despite a fairly thin sound that strips a bit of meat off the punches it throws, there is more than enough left to appreciate with this semi-technical death metal release. This is mostly very restless, with pumping drums pushing the momentum and propelling the slightly unnerving tone of the guitars at you in wave after wave. Truly outstanding it is not, but probably worth your time.
Strigoi – Viscera
Genre: Death/doom metal/black ‘n roll
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5A pitch black death doom offering that wants to punch you in the gut with leaden misery as much as fire you up with primal, rock ‘n roll energy. With the roar of crisp, full-bodied vocals, hammering drums and flesh rending guitar riffs, it sounds like the heralding of some great, unholy terror. The production is stellar, allowing the darkness to penetrate that much deeper. It does fizz out a bit towards the end, but keeps up the enveloping atmosphere to the very end, clinging on with the clammy hands of death. Get in on it with “King of All Terror” and “An Ocean of Blood”.
Syn Ze Şase Tri – Ultimul Lup
Genre: Symphonic/black metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5A mix of bold, epic symphony an cold, snarly black metal with only moderate success. None of the parts feel fulfilled or well molded together, instead detracting from the other’s potental.
Tankard – Pavlov’s Dawgs
Genre: Heavy/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Despite what the album title might lead you to believe, no, Tankard hasn’t gone hip-hop. This is still thrashy, beer-raising traditional metal. In that regard, long time fans will not be disappointed, and, admirably, they radiate enough force to hold their own among fresher iterations of the genre.
Terra – Für Dich Existiert Das Alles Nicht
Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Murky black metal that is so steeped in atmosphere that only really echoes of all the rest manages to surface. The tone might be just your thing, but if not, then nothing will work for you.
Thulsa Doom – A Fate Worse Than Death
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Horror-death that throws it all in there – chugging riffs, wild drums and animalistic vocals. However, the production is murky to the point that interesting details gets lost, and the rhythm is unfortunately not quite on point.
Tons – Hashension
Genre: Sludge/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This album has a lot of heavy to offer – crunchy riffs and elephant stomp drums, set to a slow, crushing tempo. The doomy side definitely adds an unsettling factor, but also does leech some of the force out of what could have been a sledgehammer blow experience.
Trauma – Awakening
Genre: Melodic thrash metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5While offering up some solid riffs and all of the rebellious tone and tempo you’d expect from a thrash album, it veers off into pockets of melodic traditional metal that just clashes with the rest, both intensity- and harmony-wise.
Vånda – Covenant of Death
Genre: Black/thrash/death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A debut LP with all the right tools to carve a name for itself in the world of blackened death. It has the energy of thrash, tone of black metal and attitude of death doom, with some nice gothic melodies reminiscent of Tribulation. Unfortunately, it pulls in too many different directions, and ends up excelling at none of them.
VoidOath – Ascension Beyond Kokytus
Genre: Death/sludge/doom metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A doomy death sludge album that takes the creepy factor and just runs with it. It feels like being lost in the blackness of a labyrinthine cave system with some unspeakable horror moaning along the corridors. The vocals are bestial, the drums like rushing strides, the bass like a churning torrent in the deep, and the riffs like massive paws thrashing at the walls. There is nothing pleasant on here, but it also doesn’t get overly chaotic – grabbing a hold of you rather than pushing you away. Also – that album cover. Major “The Thing” vibes. “Try “Orion-Cygnus Descent” or “From Gods To Morsels”, if you dare.
Within Destruction – Lotus
Genre: Deathcore/electronic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Talk about pouring it on. You get everything in spades on this album – aggression, speed, melody and effects – it all rushes at you in a multicolored tide. It’s definitely on the artificial and anthemic side, but the performances do get their moments to shine through every now and then, and talent is nothing short of impressive. If you’re into the more accessible, metalcore-y side of deathcore, then this likely has everything you want and more. It’s not unique, but it’s still a fireworks display.
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, do feel free to express yourself in the comments section below.
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Weekly rundown September 23 – 2022
This week black metal strikes like an ash-covered dagger, delivering blasphemous rage, unholy atmosphere and diabolical experimentation to sate your darkest cravings.
Blodskam – Ave Eva
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Raw, disharmonic and bleak, this is black metal for when you’re just feeling fed up with the world. While it feels unpolished, they do sneak in enough melody and atmosphere to expand it beyond the purely traditional.
Celestial Grave – Vitriolic Atonement
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Hostile yet laden with melancholy, this a dark album churning with powerful emotion, like a storm wracked seat in the blackest of night. The vocals and instruments alike embody this restless, tormented spirit, infusing each song with agonized and outraged life. There is haunting beauty in the melody and harsh attitude in the outbursts of aggression. Start to take it all in with “Exaltation” and “Eucharist”.
Condemned AD – Following A Failing Leader
Genre: Thrash metal/punk
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A boisterous and energetic album that offers up some interesting instrumental variations on the classic thrash formula, while also not quite reaching standout territory with their melodic arrangements.
Eternal Closure – At the Center of It All – Chapter I (EP)
Genre: Metalcore/progressive metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A spirited and varied take on metalcore incorporating elements of new and old, going brutally aggressive and not dipping too soft in between. They play around with progressive twists and turns with moderate success, but don’t quite deliver the most convincing melodic sections.
Frayle – Skin & Sorrow
Genre: Atmospheric doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A dark and deep pool of slow, heavy currents, this is a very stylistically unified doom record. The tone and tempo are more or less the same throughout, and while each song does have its own identity, it’s not far from the point where the entire thing feels continuous, with no major distinctions along the way.
Freedom Hawk – Take All You Can
Genre: Heavy/stoner metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A groovy, consistent and slightly muted desert stoner experience that’s at its best when propelled by heavy metal energy. Chugging riffs and dry melodies, with Ozzy-like vocals makes for a confident, if not a bit predictable output.
Gaerea – Mirage
Genre: Progressive black metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5A dark triumph, this is a towering black metal force that dares to move the band’s individual performances to the front to lead the way. While there are atmospheric and orchestral elements along the way, the vocals and instruments really stand out as major pieces among pawns. The surges of fury, flourishes of emotion and dips into melancholy are all masterfully directed by the level of intensity each player puts in at any given moment. Each song is a strong statement, and while this isn’t a wildly experimental record it still offers up an impressive level of variation. Get into it with “Salve” and “Mirage”.
Gutvoid – Durance Of Lightless Horizons
Genre: Death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is meaty-yet-somber death metal with an aura of cobweb-covered majesty. It takes its time to explore the soundscape and offers up a pleasing amount of nuance for a doomy outfit. The melody parts, however, feel a bit under-realized, and don’t really go anywhere.
Harvest Of Ash – Ache And Impulse
Genre: Progressive doom metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A mildly exploratory doom record with traits of hardcore and punk, which adds layers to the gloom. There are lulls and outbursts, but the tone is still monotonous to the point where it all feels a little devoid of purpose.
Invictus – Unstoppable
Genre: Groove/melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Here’s some aggressive-yet-melodic groove very much in the vein of Kataklysm (not surprisingly, it being Kataklysm mainman Maurizio Iacono’s solo project and involving Kataklysm/EX Deo guitarist J-F Dagenais). Fans of said band will find the same inclination for powerful, catchy and razor-sharp riff sections and furious, snarly vocals. But while Kataklysm has shifted in a starker and overall more brutal direction, Iacono has allowed for an influx of metalcore-y melody and nu-metal beats, bringing it a step closer to bands like Killswitch Engage without really compromising the relentlessness at the sound’s death metal-derived core. While it might feel a tad too accessible for some, it’s a real treat for those looking for a solidly crafted, uncomplicated groove/melodeath hybrid. Check out “Exiled” and “Darkest of Enemies”.
Kaledon – Legend Of The Forgotten Reign – Chapter VII: Evil Awakens
Genre: Power metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A fairly vigorous and highly melodic power metal output that unfortunately allows its instrumental performances to drown in an ocean of electronic auxiliary effects.
KEN Mode – Null
Genre: Noise/experimental metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5In-your-face fury, with harsh vocals being complemented by equally harsh instrumentation, this is dark, hostile and dissonant. Adding elements of anguished melody, it feels like an emotionally charged output, that you need to be in a fairly particular state of mind in order to fully appreciate.
Kings Of Mercia – Kings Of Mercia
Genre: Heavy metal/hard rock
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5A lively and melodic classic metal record infused with hard rock energy. The lyrics and melody lines aren’t exactly fresh, but the overall sound feels nurtured.
Live Burial – Curse Of The Forlorn
Genre: Death/black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5With a distinctly cold and low-fi sound, this is atmospheric-leaning death metal emerging from the cemetery to deliver tales of death and the fall of civilizations. It gets a little overwhelmed with trying to balance its chaotic brutality and melodic elements, and so can feel a little jumbled at times.
Living Wreckage – Living Wreckage
Genre: Heavy/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Little bit of groove, little bit of attitude, little bit of bombast. This is classic NWOBHM meets thrash and metalcore. The result is a mixed experience that doesn’t quite excel at anything but offers up a vibrant and fairly varied listening experience.
Meridian – The Fourth Dimension
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A rich and crisp sounding traditional metal album with elements of classic prog. This is melodic and benevolent stuff that’s easy on the ears. Perhaps not extremely imaginative as far as rhythm and lyrical content goes, it’s crafted with expertise and enthusiasm, which makes for a pleasing listening experience.
Mindivide – Fragments
Genre: Progressive/gothic metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5A curious and searching soundscape draped in a gossamer-thin layer of gloom, and unfortunately marred by some poorly adjusted and misplaced harmonies.
Mo’ynoq – A Place For Ash
Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5This is all at once longing, outraged and inspired black metal that produces visions of grim, prophetic dreamscapes. Each song sounds like a proclamation of sorts, and while a good deal of the instrumental strategies are recognizable genre traits, they are employed effectively. It is powerful and immersive, and will surely have fans of all kinds of dark, atmospheric metal captivated throughout.
Nordjevel – Gnavhol
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5Hitting like a diabolical declaration of war, this is refined, well-produced and furious black metal leaning heavily on its traditional roots but also inviting the punishing hammering of death metal. Only occasionally letting up to deliver some graven misanthropy, this is mostly the kind of devilry that gets you riled up and ready to commit atrocities in the mosh pit. Get in on it with “Within the Eyes” and “Spores of Gnosis”.
Orthodoxy – After Ignis
Genre: Death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A murky, cave-dwelling beast of a death doom record with an oppressive atmosphere and uniform tone.
Otus – Torch
Genre: Doom/sludge metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A dreamlike plunge into a slow-moving world of mildly psychedelic visions. This is gritty, gloomy sludge with atmospheric qualities that make the mind wander.
Razor – Cycle Of Contempt
Genre: Thrash/speed metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A serving of classic, speedy thrash, focused and delivered with proper amounts of attitude. The production is very naked, with the drums really highlighted in the mix. This accentuates the rhythm, a side effect of which is that it reminds you how similar it is throughout. While somewhat lacking in fullness and groove, it definitely feels sharpened and purposeful.
Sonja – Loud Arriver
Genre: Heavy/gothic metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5An emphatic push of enthusiastic, alluring and slightly somber heavy metal. Many of the riffs have a heavy rock n’ roll quality to them, and there is a shade of glam over the vocals that go really well with the theme of grey veil nocturnal exploits. There is plenty of catchiness and groove to get your head bobbing, as well as a slightly haunting tone and dreamy melodies to temper it. It makes for an intriguing ambiguity and a standout expression. Try it with “Nylon Nights” and “Pink Fog”.
Space Of Variations – Imago
Genre: Metalcore/electronic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A trendy, energetic, electronic-heavy metalcore output that leans into pop-punk and nu-metal. While there is little unique about the album as a whole, each song has a strong identity as part of the experience.
Stratovarius – Survive
Genre: Power/symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Brace for a wave of mighty Finnish power metal. Bringing symphonic grandeur, melodeath-inspired riffs and plenty of guitar-centric melody, this is the full package. It mixes dystopian themes with a very positive tone, which adds much needed depth to an experience that is entertaining, for sure, but otherwise fairly predictable.
Sundrowned – Glacious (EP)
Genre: Atmospheric/progressive metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5A 3-song EP with far-reaching melodies that envelop you in a comforting, yet immersive sonic landscape. There are elements of black metal, mostly tied to the vocals, that tempers the experience with a backbone of bitter melancholy, but this juxtaposition does not feel jarring.
Talas – 1985
Genre: Heavy metal/hard rock
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A slice of mildly progressive old school heavy metal. It offers up a good amount of variation and original arrangements, with highly competent instrumentation and a fitting vocal style. Two of the very few things holding it back are the rather stale tempo and a lack of standout melody lines.
Venom Inc. – There’s Only Black
Genre: Thrash/heavy/black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Rarely are we served the combo of blackened thrash and groovy heavy metal – certainly at this quality. The aggressive, dark energy never seems to let up, and it’s a band with plenty of tricks up its sleeves still that delivers wicked riff upon wicked riff, accompanied by gleeful licks and characteristic snarly vocals. There’s definitely a good bit of the relentless speed-blasphemy of Slayer to be found, with the added bad-assery of prime Judas Priest. Check out “How Many Can Die” and “Man As God”.
Writhing – Of Earth & Flesh
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A punishing death train delivering deep gurgling vocals, blast beats and rhythmic, meaty riffs. The tone is a bit monotonous throughout, and the arrangements not the most inventive, but there’s plenty brutal goodness to bite into for raw death fans.
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, do feel free to express yourself in the comments section below.
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Weekly rundown September 16 – 2022
With the death metal extravaganza of last week spilling over into this one, there are islands of brightness and melody emerging from the receding tide of blood and brutality.
Assimilator – Assimilator
Genre: Thrash/death metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5A half ‘n half death/thrash album that dares to try a few things, but unfortunately ends up neither here nor there, and suffers from a less than satisfactory vocal performance.
Aviana – Corporation
Genre: Metalcore/deathcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Massive sounding and with undeniable talent across the board, especially in the rhythm section, this is catchy and melodic in a haunting-brutal way, but also quite formulaic.
Battlesword – Towards The Unknown
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Taking quite a few cues from mid-era Amon Amarth, this is rousing yet aggressive melodeath with a bit of folk flair. It’s not the crispest sound, and the detail level does suffer for it, but the variation in rhythm and melodic approach should be enough to keep even casual listeners engaged.
Behemoth – Opvs Contra Natvram
Genre: Black/death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5After two quite conceptually focused albums Behemoth takes a step away from experimentation to deliver a slightly more traditional blackened death metal experience. While it may not be a full on return to the fury of old, there is an influx of energy and urgency that triggers a more primitive response. Aspects of classic and melodic black metal are prevalent throughout, and those signature, infernal riff sections, complimented by thundering drums, kick in at just the right moments. There is also an unusually high frequency of guitar solos, which is a very welcome change. Take it on with “Neo-Spartacvs” and “The Deathless Sun”.
Choke – Desiphon (EP)
Genre: Deathcore/grindcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5An all-out ragefest of meaty riffs, ultra tight drums and demon-roar vocals. The tone is bleak but the overall impression is that of a massive, constant assault. Perhaps helped by the album cover, it does strike me as a deathcore version of Misery Index. Bang your head to “Lobotomy” and “Deranged”.
Confessions Of A Traitor – Punishing Myself Before God Does
Genre: Metalcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Big, emotional and at times quite heavy, this reminds me a bit of Bleed From Within, but toned down a smigde. It has all the right sort of ingredients, and doesn’t go all sappy in the choruses, but the melodies and lyrics are very… let’s say… recognizable.
Destrage – SO MUCH. too much.
Genre: Progressive/nu metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5When I think progressive, I don’t think of any particular sound. I don’t think of odd rhythms or spacey guitar tones. To me, progressive is what you get on this album: A genuine contribution to pushing the evolution of the metal genre just a little further, by taking some familiar elements, then messing around with them a bit and adding new elements that you wouldn’t necessarily have thought of. SO MUCH. too much. is definitely on the experimental side, but is grounded in recognizable traits from groove, hardcore and nu metal. It’s a hectic experience, but quite an enjoyable one. Jump on with “Everythins Sucks and I Think I’m A Big Part Of It” and “An Imposter”.
The Devil Wears Prada – Color Decay
Genre: Metalcore
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Fairly bleak for metalcore, this album hits both peaks of aggression and low lying, withered meadows of sappy, sad softness. If that sort of vibe doesn’t bother you, you’ll probably be quite moved by this. If it does bother you, then you’ll probably hate it.
Epoch Of Unlight – At War With The Multiverse
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A potent fusion of modern melodeath and melodic black metal with some serious sci-fi vibes. The compositions aren’t the most compelling, but there’s talent in them there hills.
The Erinyes – The Erinyes
Genre: Symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A trio of powerful vocal talents that compliment each other really well, but are let down by generic, synth-driven melodies and a serious lack of fullness in the instrumental mix.
Fans Of The Dark – Suburbia
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A fun, uncomplicated retro trip of high pitch vocals, light, choppy riffs and lots of reverb.
Ginevera – We Belong To The Stars
Genre: Symphonic/power metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5High-flying and arena oriented, this is absolutely formulaic, but makes up for it by delivering everything you expect in style – strutting with energy and making the most of their considerable talents. Particularly the vocals are a force to be reckoned with.
Hetroertzen – Phosphorus Vol 1
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Some expansive black metal with its gaze to the cosmos and half a foot into death metal. It’s dark and grim, but not bleak, and delivers both power and atmosphere.
Innumerable Forms – Philosophical Collapse
Genre: Death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is some solid death doom with a very prototype sound. Slow and anguished for most of the time, with outbursts of chaotic brutality. They incorporate some strong, dystopian melodies that lends a feeling of fallen grandeur.
Irist – Gloria (EP)
Genre: Progressive metal/hardcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Following up 2020’s excellent Order of the Mind, Irist prove that they mean business. A dark and gloomy little chapter, this EP showcases the band’s ability to do both atmosphere and all out intensity, binding it all together with confident technicality. Flirting with black metal as well as progressive death, this sounds impressively mature for a band that’s only one full-length into their career. Check out “Heal” and “Watchful Eye”.
Medieval Demon – Black Coven
Genre: Melodic black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5This one nods its head to both old school black metal and melodeath, offering up a primitive sound that’s not at all free of bombast, several sections leaning into the symphonic, and a cold, grim take on melody.
Mindforce – New Lords
Genre: Thrash metal/hardcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 4/5This one’s running on coals with ants down its pants. Never truly content slowing down, it does offer up sections of groove, but the guitars and drums sound like they’re tugging at their leashes for every second of it. The beats are stompy and vocals commandingly rebellious. It’s not terribly complicated, but by its nature shouldn’t be. A proper soundtrack to a riot.
Mortuous – Upon Desolation
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Here we have some proper slaughterhouse death metal. It’s grim and chaotic, tripping over itself to get to the next evil guitar squeal or doomy relief section. There’s not a ton of refinement, but plenty of brutality.
Omophagia – Rebirth In Black
Genre: Melodic/technical death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A technical take on semi modern melodeath, with pleasing results. The production could be both fuller and crisper, but the skill of the band still shines through. There’s a little left wanting for some stronger, more memorable melodies and grooves, but a notable release none the same.
Phobophilic – Enveloping Absurdity
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Sully your senses with this heavy ass filth. Mixing brutal, gurgling vocals with classic, threatening death metal rhythmic charges, a fair dose of groove and some dark prog chops, this manages to stand out without actually straying far from the core of the subgenre. The production secures a full, meaty sound and the slightly subdues vocals help to highlight the nuances of the instrumentation. Two highlights are “Those Which Stare Back” and “The Illusion of Self”.
Silence Oath – From The Womb Of The Earth
Genre: Melodic/atmospheric black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A collection of long, dark and epic-leaning songs with elements of folk and symphony. The production is a bit crude, which does mar the impression of the performances.
Sinnery – Black Bile
Genre: Thrash/death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5This is Slayer-school thrash metal throwing some somber groove into the mix and overall keeping it aggressive and to-the-point stark.
Spiritus Mortus – The Great Seal
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Here’s some mid-to-low tempo, well produced heavy metal that’s donned a bit of a gloomy veil for some extra character. The slightly theatrical vocal style and hard rock-like approach to structure and rhythm might feel like a bit of a stylistic clash to some, but you can’t fault the performances.
Sumerlands – Dreamkiller
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5A direct injection of straight-up vintage heavy metal with something akin to an upbeat doomy tone, if there is such a thing. They’ve been able to distill the most tasteful elements of early, adventurous power metal and both boosted it with some 80s energy and tempered it with moody, classic hard rock. It makes for a very carefully cultivated and honed sound that radiates purpose. Get a taste with “Dreamkiller” and “Force of a Storm”.
Tribal Gaze – The Nine Choirs
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5On one side, this brings to mind a bit of that early Sepultura sound and has a rather coarse sludge-like production, but at the same time operates very much like single-lane classic death metal. It’s aggressive, dark and threatening, but also not without groove. It’s highly consistent in both tone and style throughout, so if you like one song, chances are good you’ll feel the same way about the rest. The album starts off extremely strong with bangers like “How They Wept for Eternity”, then loses a bit of steam further out, but comes back with the likes of “Jungle Rituals”.
Virtual Symmetry – Virtual Symmetry
Genre: Progressive metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Highly melodical, power metal-leaning, piano-backed and fairly complex prog that gets a bit too jerky-rhythmed for its own good.
Wolfheart – King Of The North
Genre: Melodic death/folk metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
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, do feel free to express yourself in the comments section below.
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Weekly rundown September 09 – 2022
A week utterly dominated by death metal in all shapes and sizes – star grasping tech fiends and crypt dwelling abominations, the gloomy, the artsy, the weird and the classic. Take your pick.
Abrams – In The Dark
Genre: Stoner/progressive metal/rock
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A soulful, semi-heavy album with some really quite beautiful melody lines and stirring riff sections. It might appeal more to fans on the outside of the metal camp, as the energy level and feeling of heft largely stays outside that realm.
An Abstract Illusion – Woe
Genre: Progressive death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Before you get into this, you have to be aware – this is an album that invites you to really set aside some time. Never mind its 1 hour runtime, this is full of prolonged, atmospheric sections of serene melody. It’s not a doomy drone though, but clean and melancholy low-key stuff with a few prog bells and whistles and a Scandinavian folk character to it. Some of them are outright gorgeous, and makes the aggressive sections – of which there are plenty – hit all the harder. Perhaps not for impatient listeners, this is a solid record for lovers of extreme atmospheric and prog metal. Try “In the Heavens Above, You Will Become a Monster” and “Slaves”.
Allen/Olzon – Army Of Dreamers
Genre: Symphonic/power metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5While obviously boasting some impressive vocal talent that really compliment each other quite well and melodies that soar ever so high, there’s a profound lack of energy due to low-tempo rhythms and the instrumental section generally taking a noticeable back seat to the vocals.
Bloodbath – Survival Of The Sickest
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5Prepare for some putrid old-school death metal with the delivery of a mass artillery strike. It’s rhythmic, groovy and so, so heavy – pouring it on with thundering drums and squealing guitar solos. At appropriate intervals they slow things down a little and grind out sinister crypt death, before returning to all out zombie apocalypse. While not the highlights of the albums, these slower songs provide essential variety, and the two opening tracks are so damn powerful they keep the adrenaline pumping far beyond their runtime. Two other highlights would be “Born Infernal” and “Affliction of Extinction”.
Bones – Sombre Opulence
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Some dusty, murky death metal emanating from the mausoleum. It’s dark and threatening, mid tempo and a bit mutes, with a few instrumental flourishes. It’s raw and focused, albeit a bit clunky. in its transitions.
Crippled Black Phoenix – Banefyre
Genre: Progressive rock/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5A slow and spellbinding immersion into waters of dream-like revelations. Each song is a different layer which can feel very different from the previous one, even as the band’s distinct musical qualities shine through at any time. They avoid having the prolonged melodies feel like stretched-out droning by regularly adding nuances, building to – or decelerating from – swells of intensity, without ever (apart from on the bonus track) crossing into markedly heavy territory. Even so, this is absolutely a bit of an undertaking at well over 1,5 hours of runtime. If that doesn’t sound discouraging, then dive into “Bonefire” and “Blackout77”
Electric Callboy – Tekkno
Genre: Gothic metal/hardcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A very insistent mix of energetic techno and catchy, industrial metalcore to explode in your face like a colored powder bomb. The party energy brought on by the electronica side undermines any attempt at musical integrity that comes with some of the heavier songs, but I suspect that matters very little to the intended audience.
Fallujah – Empyrean
Genre: Technical/progressive death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5Effortlessly blending face-melting technicality and exploratory, spacey melodies – Empyrean is an impressive show of force. Ever restless, there is little room to breathe even in the slower sections, as the rhythm constantly skips and leaps, keeping you as the listener on your toes. As is often the case with extreme prog metal, some of the listener’s satisfaction is lost in the turbulence of the instrumental performances. That is, unless these performances on their own is what elicits this satisfaction from you.
Greber – Fright Without
Genre: Experimental hardcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5This utterly relentless, slightly unhinged hardcore offering has some seriously heavy riffs, served up to a rhythm like titanic machinery falling apart.
Holy Fawn – Dimensional Bleed
Genre: Atmospheric black metal/shoegaze
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5A mostly contemplative, even meditative, shuffle under comforting darkness. Ethereal vocals usher you along, luring you into the occasional swell of black metal outcry. If you’re here for the atmosphere, there’s plenty of it. If you’re after said black metal, you might be disappointed at the scarcity.
I AM – Eternal Steel
Genre: Groove/death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A mostly mid- to slow-paced, snarly death groove album with a few classic heavy metal influences that shine through with varying clarity. They do let themselves get bogged down to a grindy tempo a bit too often, not really befitting their spicy tone and image.
Inhuman Depravity – The Experimendead
Genre: Brutal death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Ferocious, ill-tempered and moving at breakneck speed, this is punishing death metal that delivers its brutality more by the means of axe chops than sledgehammer blows. Constantly on the attack, it comes up short on big, memorable breakdowns, but certainly delivers on precision and punch.
KMFDM – Hyëna
Genre: Industrial metal/hard rock
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Bold, catchy and electronic, this is adventurous industrial hard rock that likes to detour into a host of different genres, like disco, desert rock and reggea.
Mo’ynoq – A Place For Ash
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5This is black metal that is atmospheric and expansive at its core – painting vast, misty landscapes in black and white, only to constantly distract from it with prolonged wails and incessant blast beats. There are many solid details, which remain hidden beneath a few too many layers.
Ozzy Osbourne – Patient Number 9
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5After his flirt with more mainstream, poppy genres on 2020’s Ordinary Man, Ozzy is back in more familiar territory. A veneer of darkness is allowed to permeate, and even though it makes for few surprises, it’s familiar in the best of ways. Collaborating with old partners and new partners in crime alike, I’d say it’s definitely the pairing with Tony Iommi that has produced the album’s top highlights.
Parkway Drive – Darker Still
Genre: Hard rock/metalcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Shedding their metalcore past like the clothes of yesteryear, Parkway Drive has now firmly entered the hard-rock-meets-heavy, nu-metal-ish realm of such super size bands as Five Finger Death Punch and Disturbed. It’s big, energetic, quite aggressive, but also offers little in terms of distinct flavor.
Pentagram (TUR) – Makina Elektrika
Genre: Folk metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5While offering a flavorful mix of catchy heavy metal, prog and middle-eastern folk, the performances and compositions are fairly uneven and lacking a clear direction.
Perversion – Dies Irae
Genre: Thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Beneath the fairly flat, low-fi production is a spinning saw-toothed wheel of shreds and kicks. While it does spin a bit too evenly across large portions of the songs, there are also quite a few moments of standout feats and levity.
Revocation – Netherheaven
Genre: Technical/melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5When you a hear tech death as focused and purposeful as this, it’s a bit of a revelation. I’m tempted to call it a death metal orchestra at work, in that every instrument appears to have been assigned very specific tasks and then meticulously conducted upon performing these. Taking the lead from the laser focus of high tempo thrash, then upping the aggression ten-fold and chasing the grooviest highs of melodeath, Netherhaven offers up a near endless buffet of jaw dropping instrumental feats and memorable little facets along the way. Check out ”Nihilistic Violence” and ”Re-Crucified”.
Slugcrust – Ecocide
Genre: Grindcore/sludge
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Furious and crusty, this little piece of nasty certainly dishes out the venom, but feels a bit static in that is never seems to move in any particular direction.
Stray From The Path – Euthanasia
Genre: Hardcore/rap metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Channeling a good bit of Rage Against the Machine-energy and upping the aggression considerably, you know what you’re in for here. But there’s more – a good bit of groove, some metalcore melody, mathcore dissonance and a pinch of industrial synthetic madness. All in all a very good, stomping time that dares to kick outside its comfort zone. Jump into “III” and “The Salt In Your Spit”.
Trauma – Awakening
Genre: Thrash/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Here’s some thrash with a slightly more light-hearted side, in the form of high pitched vocals and melodic guitar sections. Even so, it’s the pure thrash sections that work best – the rest is a bit lacking in both originality and finish.
Until I Wake – Inside My Head
Genre: Pop/metalcore
Subjective rating: 1/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5An aggressive shell of electronica-aided slam riffs and hissing growls barely covering a body of pure boyband sensibilities.
Valborg – Der Alte
Genre: Industrial/experimental death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 4/5Trying to pin down this band’s style can prove quite challenging. Slow march of the damned. Madman’s laboratory. A religious congregation for machines. The mental images conjured up while listening to Der Alte are disjointed but also consistent in their off-putting nature. At it’s core this is aggressive, industrial doom metal, with a good bit of grindcore’s utter disregard for listener comfort thrown in. But while it refuses to adhere to conventions, it also doesn’t feel random – there’s a clear method to the madness – a kind of dystopian battle chant and social commentary all in one. The album cover is sublime though.
Warforged – The Grove | Sundial
Genre: Progressive death metal/deathcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5An album that swings rapidly from demonic-insect-swarm-in-a-bottle frantic to hymn-to-the-great-forest serene. It’s not something you pay half attention to. While some of the transitions can feel a little jarring, the way the band has mastered both sides and succeeded in joining them in a distinct way makes this a fresh and engaging listen. Don’t expect to be leaning back all chilled out though, cause this can be quite intense – bringing in the ferocity of tech death and brutality of deathcore to the party.
Wayward Dawn – All-Consuming Void
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Some low-fi, straight-to-the-point death metal with some nice crunch and threatening tone. They lean into some wicked grooves every now and then, and not quite enough for my taste, as it leaves you craving more. And while it brings some decent crypt vibes, the production does kill a bit of the punch. But all in all it’s a pretty good time.
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, do feel free to express yourself in the comments section below.
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Weekly rundown September 02 – 2022
A week that has death metal and metalcore fighting it out in the shadows while prime releases from a flurry of other parts of the metal spectrum steal the spotlight.
156/Silence – Narrative
Genre: Progressive metalcore/mathcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5If you’re looking for a slightly off-kilter, insistent and harsh metalcore experience then this is definitely for you. These guys have found their sonic language and become quite proficient at utilizing it. It’s a stark experience, going between all out aggression and bleakness with little in between.
Aeternam – Heir Of The Rising Sun
Genre: Symphonic death/folk metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A vivid and fairly epic journey into an ancient realm. Different vocal styles, playful guitar and soaring orchestral elements are all on the menu. Even though the overall flow could be a little better, the aggression mixes well with the more folk-y elements. But 3 intro/interlude songs on a 9 song album? Come on guys…
Blind Guardian – The God Machine
Genre: Power metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Why can’t all power metal be like this? All you need is…massive talent. Hansi’s vocals deliver, as always, the barely contained force of a star, constantly on the verge of going supernova and melting your face off. The instrumentation and composition is exceptionally tight and vibrant. While undeniably epic, it’s a refreshingly straightforward release from a band where you’d expect prolonged orchestral sections and numerous story tangents. Certain parts on here are straight up thrash metal. They don’t exactly break new ground, but what’s on offer is as solid as you could possibly hope for. Check out “Architects of Doom” and “Blood of the Elves”.
The Callous Daoboys – Celebrity Therapist
Genre: Mathcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 4/5A carefully composed tug-of-war between poetic social commentary and frantic madness put into system. The musical performances are stellar and quite creative even for this subgenre, with the bass and guitar seemingly speaking their own schizophrenic and highly expressive language and the drums punctuating their arguments. It’s a bit of an earful, but highly recommended if you’re into that sort of thing.
Defacing God – The Resurrection Of Lilith
Genre: Melodic black/death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5An unholy symphony of darkly melodic guitar extravagance, snarly vocals, blastbeat-happy drums and the orchestra of the damned. It’s very well produced, and while they stick to well travelled territory, there’s no reason why this shouldn’t please any fan of the more symphonic side of extreme metal.
Ensanguinate – Eldritch Anatomy
Genre: Death/black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5This one seems like a product of strictly adhering to the recipe for a solid, old-school death metal album. All the correct ingredients are there – riffs that make you do that “hell yeah” face as you appreciatively nod your head, that classic evil guitar tone, snarly vocals and more than a few drops of unholy water in the thematic well. You could call it predictable, but that still doesn’t mean you won’t appreciate what’s coming. Get on it with “Hunted” and “Vile Grace”.
Fear Disease – Floodgates
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5This is pure adrenaline in the form of highly headbang-able, wicked riffs, powerful harmonies in the vein of Amon Amarth and infectious energy that lasts throughout the whole thing. It is pretty straightforward, and lacks the character to be considered particularly memorable, but it’s a excellent workout album.
Heads For The Dead – The Great Conjuration
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5If you’re into horror-themed death metal that’s not a complete gorefest, this ought to be for you. It’s sinister and quite brutal, but not completely devoid of theatrics or melody. There are both sections that feel a little too familiar and parts that showcase these guys’ talents for creating and coherently sticking to a cool concept.
The Hu – Rumble Of Thunder
Genre: Folk rock/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5You simply can’t deny the distinctiveness of The HU’s music. Already on their second full-length they sound like they’re operating with the confidence of legends like AC/DC. Although it’s doomed not to be as inventive as the first time around, it’s not without attempts at variation, as they explore heavy metal, country, punk rock and straight up traditional folk. As a metal fan I’m left desiring a lot more umph, but I won’t underestimate its potential as part of a live performance.
Imperium – Ex Mortis Gloria
Genre: Technical death metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Imagine a V8-powered meat grinder that also shoots fireworks at regular intervals, and you’ve got something resembling this. It’s utterly ferocious most of the time, even when it lets up on the riffing to allow for a bit of shred, and much of what might be unique to their approach unfortunately gets lost in the grind.
Mad Max – Wings of Time
Genre: Hard rock/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 1.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Your typical high flying, glam-themed, fairly formulaic hard rock with a bit of pleasing heavy metal shred.
Mantic Ritual – Mantic Ritual EP
Genre: Thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Some enthusiastic, occult-leaning thrash with that classic brand of jank that harkens back to the birth of the subgenre. With musical chops of full display, this is a choice cut for fans of this particular brand of speedy, up-yours-metal.
Megadeth – The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!
Genre: Thrash metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5I was curious if the guys would be able to match the in-your face energy and brilliantly controlled technicality of “Dystopia” on its successor, and the short answer is absolutely yes. It’s not as much of a pleasant surprise this time around , but should be appreciated all the same from veterans like these. Everything’s remarkably tight, and there are treats in the form of delicious licks and drum fills sprinkled all throughout. Some of the lyrical material might feel a little stale at times, and not every single song feels essential, but if you’re looking for what most people are in a new Megadeth album, then you’ve got loads of it on here. Jump into “We’ll Be Back” and “Night Stalkers”.
Miss May I – Curse Of Existence
Genre: Metalcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A big, well-produced metalcore album where the subgenre’s melodeath roots are on full display. While the band’s sound is absolutely contemporary, there’s a strong presence of that original melodic metalcore from the early 2000s, which will be quite nostalgic for some. That being said, it’s not quite clear which direction the band wants to go in, and lyrics wise they seem content to stick to well tried and tested territory.
Novelists – Déjà Vu
Genre: Metalcore/electronic metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5Slick production, lots of electronic elements, pop oriented and with 5 out of 12 songs being instrumental interludes. If that doesn’t dissuade you, then you might actually highly enjoy this. It’s melodic and high energy, made by very competent players.
Oceans Ate Alaska – Disparity
Genre: Progressive metalcore/deathcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5An onslaught of odd rhythms, snarling vocals and djent-y riffs, with the occasional melodic chorus. It’s actually fairly predictable in all its genre-typical unpredictability. Although a bit uneven in the tonal experience throughout the album, there are plenty of strong moments and performances, with the drum work and harsh vocals being highlights.
Trial – Feed The Fire
Genre: Heavy/progressive metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5This is definitely the level to aspire to for melodic heavy metal bands who actually want to take their music a bit seriously, and don’t mind dipping into prog waters in order to fully show off the full breadth of their talents. For Trial, all theirs are on point here – instrumental, vocal and songwriting. The whole experience feels like being at the telling of a mythical saga – one of wonder and mystery but still grounded in reality and with a melancholy tone throughout. While quite energetic much of the time, it’s definitely one you can let your mind drift away with. Start with “In the Highest” and “Sulphery”.
Under The Oak – Rattus Norvegicus
Genre: Thrash/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A melodic but otherwise gritty thrash offering leaning towards the style of early British heavy metal like Judas Priest and Saxon. There’s nothing to be said against the effort put in, but a few shortcomings in performance cohesion stop them from soaring higher.
Xenobiotic – Hate Monolith (EP)
Genre: Technical deathcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Five tracks of absolutely unrelenting aggression delivered like high explosive shells out of a rotary cannon, plus five live tracks. While it’s brutally heavy, it hardly ever turns chaotic thanks to extreme rhythmic control and precision. They also manage to sneak in enough melody and atmosphere to please those outside of the strictly tech death sphere. I count ”Sever the Ties” and ”Pathos” among the highlights.
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, do feel free to express yourself in the comments section below.
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Weekly rundown August 26 – 2022
A week where chaos is let loose and allowed to reign – spawning a whole host of punishing, experimental, cross-genre, out-of-control releases. It’s pretty great.
Align The Tide – Hollow
Genre: Deathcore/metalcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5An attempt to merge the bludgeoning brutality of deathcore with the more exploratory and groove oriented side of metalcore. It partially succeeds, but reveals some shortcomings in composition and performances when you start to listen actively, and doesn’t stand out as the most fresh.
Anthea – Tales Untold
Genre: Gothic/symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5High-ceiling, melodic and fairly anthemic goth metal with power metal-level polish.
Apeiron Bound – Multiplicity
Genre: Progressive metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Ambitious in its fusion of complex instrumental performances, big melodies and classic high-pitched vocals, this is a work that will find it hard to reach beyond its very contained prog sphere.
Becoming The Archetype – Children Of The Great Extinction
Genre: Progressive metal/deathcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Weaving groove-laden and beat-driven brutality with a genuinely adventurous approach to song progression, this stands out as a fresh and high-energy highlight of dark prog. There’s a fair bit of metalcore melody, but, luckily, next to nothing of the soft earnestness that might have come with it. It’s sort of breakdown-prone, but not in a mindless way – boosting the heavy riffs with enough tone to provide a distinct flavor. Give it a shot with “The Remnant” and “The Curse”.
Blood Of Indigo – Dawn Of The Shaded World
Genre: Gothic/symphonic black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Perhaps misguidedly opening with a 14 minute orchestral instrumental track, this is actually grandiose, gothic black metal in the vein of Dimmu Borgir. The production leaves some depth to be desired, but this should still entertain fans of melodic dark metal.
Brymir – Voices In The Sky
Genre: Symphonic/melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Who needs power metal when death metal can be this melodic and rousing? Although containing plenty of kick-ass riffage, this definitely appeals to those looking for symphonic grandeur and majestic folk tunes in their metal, more so than straight up melodeath fans. Sure, there is a bit of a thematic clash between the playful instrumentation and some of the more serious-leaning melodies and vocal performances, but overall it’s a highly engaging and entertaining experience that’ll have you playing air guitar with your drinking horn. Get in on it with “Herald of Aegir” and “Borderland”.
Child Of Caesar – Spirit & Liberation
Genre: Gothic metal/hardcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A throwback to gritty, alternative 90’s goth metal with a bit of hard rock and hardcore punch. It’s stylistically confident and delivers as promised, offering up dark melody, a whiff of catchiness and just the right amount of gloom.
Cyborg Octopus – Between The Light and Air
Genre: Progressive metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5Blending Avatar-like antics, tech death complexity and much more, plus the typical proggy disregard for your expectations, this is quite the colorful album. While the energy stays sky-high throughout, and the performances remain recognizable, most everything else changes from song to song, ushering you along on a zig-zagging joyride. Once committed to a style though, they stay on point, making this feel much less experimental than simply adventurous.
Death Scythe – Killing For Pleasure Forever
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5This Mexican piece of melodeath has some eager and playful instrumentation and a tone reminiscent of some of the Finnish greats of the subgenre, but sluggish and some times hobbling progressions hold it back.
Drag Me Out – Demons Away
Genre: Technical metalcore
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5Some electronica-tinged, catchy and at times quite intense metalcore that contains far too much sap for my taste, but should please any fan of this modern take on the subgenre.
Dreadnought – The Endless
Genre: Progressive doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is all about tone – if it flicks a switch for you then you’ll probably be left mesmerized. If it doesn’t then you’ll likely get stuck on one or several of the quirks that present themselves throughout. Don’t get me wrong, the experimentation and boldness on here is laudable, but the avant-garde disharmony of the vocals and prevailing lack of direction can make this a lagging experience. On the other hand, there are several sections on here that are simply stunning in their respective beauty, power and/or scope.
Dynazty – Final Advent
Genre: Power metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5With song titles like “Natural Born Killer” and “All the Devils are Here”, you might expect something rather dark and vicious. Quite the opposite, this is straight out of Eurovision – arena ready, melodic power metal. Certainly not bad for what it is.
Eaten By Sharks – Eradication
Genre: Technical death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Shark metal. How did we ever manage without it? Jokes partly aside, this is some fairly frivolous semi-technical death metal in the vein of such bands as Werewolves. It’s certainly entertaining, although perhaps lacking some of the absolute bangers that would have it chomping down on its peers.
Edenbridge – Shangri-La
Genre: Symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Got time for a 2 hour album? Take it easy, it’s actually only half that long, but includes instrumental versions of all the tracks. This is warm symphonic metal that can be best described as a pleasant experience. What it isn’t, is particularly characterful.
Epoch Of Chirality – Nucleosynthesis
Genre: Progressive/electronic metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Metal…in…spaaaace! This is some pretty zany, instrumental stuff that also isn’t completely devoid of grit. Some of the heavier sections deliver plenty of power, and if you don’t mind drifting along on a rocket ride of highly competent musical performances, then suit up.
Grave Digger – Symbol Of Eternity
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Thematically confident and solidly performed, this is nonetheless rather formulaic, epic heavy metal. A touch of grit goes well with the concept of medieval warfare, and if you’re already a fan I suspect you know exactly what you’re in for.
Hierophant – Death Siege
Genre: Black/death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Let a thundering surge of pitch-black and malicious death metal crash over you. The hoarse vocals provide a deathly contrast to the ominous and some times rather chaotic brutality of the instrumentation, and fuses the black/death approach in a confident manner. There is little other than shadowy evil to be found on here, but also enough instrumental variation to make it an engaging listen from start to finish. Jump into “Crypt of Existence” and “Death Siege”.
Intent – Exile
Genre: Thrash metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Ready for a frantic thrashing? This is straightforward and highly groovy thrash metal with some of the most enthusiastic drumming you’ll ever hear. Most of the time they’re in such a hell of a hurry that’s it’s almost overwhelming – pelting you with an infernal hailstorm of riffs, licks and beats. The vocals are suitably raspy and laden with attitude, which adds to the ferocity. Sure, it’s no reinvention of the genre, and you might find the occasional creaky joint in the song compositions, but who cares when you’re in for such a rush (plus an awesome album cover)? Set it off with “Victims of Conquest” and “Time”.
Lacrimas Profundere – How To Shroud Yourself With Night
Genre: Gothic metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5As big and bold as can reasonably fit under a lace-framed funeral shroud, this is fairly aggressive goth metal verging on cinematic in scope. Mixing in a fair bit of melodeath and heavy doom, they punch beyond the subgenre’s usual crowd, but a lot of the rather straightforward vocal sections might land as a little unengaging to some.
Machine Head – Øf KingdØm And CrØwn
Genre: Groove metal
Subjective rating: 0/5
Objective rating: 4/5First of all, I automatically give a subjective ”0” rating to albums using the letter “Ø” in place of “O” for no apparent reason other than style. It’s an ignorant fad move from people who don’t realize or care that “Ø” is an actual Scandinavian letter, and correctly pronouncing it when misused like this makes your band/album/song title sound fucking ridiculous.
Phew. With that out of the way – on to the music. Machine head are back with some properly scorched, thrashy groove metal. At its best it’s genuinely raw, unpolished and bursting with attitude, stirring something deep inside you with undeniably catchy riffs and well composed, haunting melodic sections. At its worst it’s a bit complacent in its conceptually driven progression and marred by overly anthemic sections, but it luckily doesn’t overpower the overall experience. Get a taste with ”CHØKE ØN THE ASHES ØF YØUR HATE” and ”BLØØDSHØT” (man, it damn near physically hurts to write the song titles like that, and I will more than likely not buy this album for that reason alone.)
Manifest – The Sinking
Genre: Experimental groove metal/punk
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5Beyond the (probably intentionally) awful production, this is a chaotic and vibratingly angry record where you get the distinct impression that the band is doing exactly what they feel like.
Might – Abyss
Genre: Doom metal/shoegaze
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5While not entirely metal, this mood-drenched and utterly doom-laden record certainly has its heavy tracks, and offers some interesting contrasts – from spoken-word near standstills to groovy hard rock riffage. While a bit more consistency might make for a more coherent experience, there’s plenty to love if you’re in the mood for gloom and sadness.
Red Rot – Mal de Vivre
Genre: Experimental death/black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5An album that sounds like a violent step-by-step process of exorcising personal demons. You never quite know where each of the short-lived songs on here will take you, be it into lamentation or blistering fury. It’s music that weighs heavily on your mind to the point of exhaustion, but if you summon the mental fortitude to persevere, there’s definitely a catharsis to be had. Start with “Dysmorphia” and “Conversation with the Demon”.
Santa Cruz – The Return Of The Kings
Genre: Glam/thrash/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5A fairly contradicting mix of glam and thrash, with the tempo and general charisma of classic heavy metal, which is kind of neither here nor there.
Sigh – Shiki
Genre: Avant-garde/melodic black metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5Rarely does an album that tries to do as many different things as this one does succeed at anything but completely overwhelm the listener. What keeps “Shiki” coherent is the band’s confidence in their signature black metal sound and style, which grounds everything else. Even as each song can feel like a living, breathing thing – losing and gaining energy and having its mood fluctuate naturally – it’s always the same beast at its core. It ranges from pure black metal dipping into melodic death metal to complete zen, and the transitions between feel very organic. There’s so much wild melody, emotion and obvious appetite for exploration on here that experiencing it is nothing short of inspiring. Give “Mayonaka No Kaii” and “Shoujahitsumetsu” a try.
Stitched Up – Jupiter Jazz and the Suicide Cult
Genre: Sludge/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5This is a kind of down-in-the dirt, caveman, street-hardened yet still pretty slick kind of hybrid that could probably benefit from leaning harder in one particular direction. There’s a bit of groove, medium amounts of attitude, and a very straightforward approach to rhythm.
Syryn – Heads or Tails
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Here we have some fresh NWOBHM-leaning, female-fronted heavy metal. I wouldn’t go as far as calling it a classic sounds, cause they do try to make it their own thing, but lack of maturity becomes evident in slightly disharmonious performances and unimpressive compositions.
Thoughtcrimes – Altered Pasts
Genre: Experimental metalcore/mathcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 4/5An album where the chaos is very much expected and welcomed. The twists and turns on here feel like a glitching automaton, which proves the artists’ mastery of this kind of erratic performance. There’s room for mood though, and it’s all pretty glum. Don’t think for a moment though that they don’t know how to bring the intensity. Personally I think they go too far in their extremes – too dull and morose in the slow parts and too all-out frantic in the aggressive parts – making for an uneven experience. But fans of the genre will probably love it all the more for this exact reason.
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, do feel free to express yourself in the comments section below.
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Weekly rundown August 19 – 2022
As the impact of the melodeath meteor strike last week ploughs on into this one, it unearths a whole slew of gems from all across the metal spectrum.
Conan – Evidence Of Immortality
Genre: Doom/sludge metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Get ready to be CRUSHED. This feels like weight of a building on top of you, and yet the apocalyptic bass somehow doesn’t drown everything else out. There’s a nice groove to the slow, giant’s step riffs, and they manage to conjure up just enough atmosphere that the slow pacing doesn’t feel too stale or repetitive. It’s dark, wicked and damn heavy, and you should definitely give it a try with “Levitation Hoax” and “Ritual of Anonymity”.
Concrete Ties – Unrecognizable (EP)
Genre: Hardcore
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Straightforward, pissed and metalized hardcore with fairly average performances and a compressed production.
Dawnwalker – House Of Sand
Genre: Progressive/doom metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5This album is impressively expressive in the amount of nuances it presents alone. It feels like a sorrowful affair, and yet there’s beauty and tenderness in equal amount to the hurt, anger and darkness. It sounds like a contemplative folk rock band that’s just started down the metal path, and yet perform with the confidence and proficiency of veterans. It’s one you put on to let your mind wander. Get a taste with “R.I.P” and “House of Sand II”.
Dragon Throne – Dawnbringer
Genre: Power/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Mismatched vocal and musical harmony unfortunately hurts this otherwise quite competent work of speedy and gritty power metal.
Empress – Fateweaver
Genre: Symphonic/progressive metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A pretty decent semi-aggressive symph-metal offering with lots of instrumental flourishes and some off rhythms here and there. Doesn’t stand out in a big way though.
Eruption – Tellurian Rupture
Genre: Thrash/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Clean and high pitched vocal’d thrash which lacks much of the harshness and ferocity that you come to expect from the subgenre, and while it’s got some decent groove it doesn’t quite make up the difference.
Five Finger Death Punch – Afterlife
Genre: Groove/heavy metal/hard rock
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5First off, if you’re a fan of FFDP, then you gotta be a fan of the whole package to enjoy this album – groove, brutality, poppy melody and (not so occasional) sappyness. There’s not a great deal of punch on this one, but when it hits it’s as catchy as always. Subjectively, this sounds like an industrial album in the sense that it’s just a conveyor belt delivery of more of the same, with diminishing returns.
Hammer King – Kingdemonium
Genre: Power metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5It’s always nice to hear a power metal band that’s truly melodically competent. There are some excellent harmonies on here. Unfortunately, they lack the punch to back it up on this one.
Hive – Spiritual Poverty
Genre: Hardcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A hard hitting brick to the window, this one balances aggression and characterful noise with a certain degree of unsettling melody. The variation is not great, but there are some real stompers on here.
Holding Absence/Alpha Wolf – The Lost & The Longing (Split EP)
Genre: Metalcore
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5Modern sounding and dualistic in the Jekyll/Hyde split in intensity – one being harch and mechanical and the other quite radio friendly pop/rock-core.
I Prevail – True Power
Genre: Metalcore/alternative hard rock
Subjective rating: 1.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Relying on heavy beats for sublime catchiness and sounding massive, this should definitely appeal to those lingering on the edge of metal at large. This definitely has more than just a foot planted in emo/pop, so personally I can barely stand it.
Kalah – Descent Into Human Weakness
Genre: Industrial/melodic progressive metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Perhaps having bitten off a little more than it can chew, this one tries to be several things at the same time. Synth-driven electronic, semi-industrial yet melodic progressive, and a little modern melodeath brutality. It sounds good in portions, but gets jarring over time.
Mass Extinction – Never-Ending Holocaust
Genre: Death metal/grindcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5A cause-driven, ferocious death metal output bringing the fury of grindcore. It’s technically well executed, but one song is hardly discernible from the next.
Morbid Evils – Supernaturals
Genre: Doom/death/sludge metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A mostly great sounding death doom album that starts off amazing – blending rage, sludgy grittiness and vast, hopeless darkness. The novelty wears off after a time tough, as you realize they’ve failed to make it sound quite as massive as it should, and the songs simply get less interesting in the second half.
Orthodox – Learning To Dissolve
Genre: Groove/new wave of American metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5How about a mix of early Slipknot and Machine head, distilled through an industrial-leaning hardcore filter? Sound good? It sure is. This has much of that angry-deranged attitude you’d expect, delivered through vocals quaking with malicious indignance, riffs bending back and forth between groove and dissonance, and pickaxe-chop beats. It’s very much a stompy, breakdown-prone experience, and suitably so, which effectively brings it out of early 2000s retro into contemporary deathcore and prog-tinged, extreme metal. And yet they retain that sinister, disturbed tone and clenched-fist energy that just makes you want to fucking break something. Get fired up with “Feel it Linger” and “Cave In”.
Psychlona – Palo Verde
Genre: Stoner/psychedelic metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5Come soar on the stone(d) plane! This melodic, psych-groovy record sounds like it’s going places. It sounds optimistic, actually, but not in a silly or overly light-hearted kind of way. This was made by someone serious about their craft, and it pays off in the way that it succeeds in sounding focused and expansive at the same time.
Russian Circles – Gnosis
Genre: Atmospheric/progressive black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5A sometimes contemplative, sometimes stone-crusher heavy kind of instrumental record. Each song has a strong identity and seeks to fulfill a different purpose to the previous one, which makes for a varied and engaging listening experience. While it’s certainly dark, I wouldn’t go as far as calling it stark or bleak. There’s a certain warmth and even innocence lurking in the recesses, although the overall sound is definitely quite sober and mature. It’s the kind of black metal experience you can emerge from not seeped in melancholy or ready to light a torch. Get into it with “Conduit” and “Vlastimil”.
Soilwork – Övergivenheten
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Soilwork have been providers of steady excellence for a good while now, and this latest release isn’t gonna see them lapse. Övergivenheten continues the careful exploration and expansion of their musical range, while not messing with the classic formula. This is more melancholic than they’ve been for some time, and while still feeling grand, it’s not the soaring sense of triumph and marvel that we got last time around. There’s even a little touch of black metal here and there. However, this is very much as melodic as ever, and by no means a gloomy listening experience. The anger and harshness takes more of a supporting role on here, but still rears its roaring head whenever you feel like they might be going too soft. Take it on with “Nous Sommes la Guerre” and “Dreams of Nowhere”.
RIP David Andersson
The Sombre – Monuments Of Grief
Genre: Funeral doom/death metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5A slow funeral march from start to finish, this is for when you just want to wallow in misery.
Spirit Adrift – 20 Centuries Gone (EP)
Genre: Heavy/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A bite-size portion of new Spirit Adrift, with a side platter of covers. It’s good stuff.
Spite – Dedication To Flesh
Genre: Deathcore/hardcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3/5If you’re looking for something fucking ballistic to get you through a heavy workout, then look no further. This is pure headbang-ability that rampaged its way out of anger management. Not particularly complex or innovative, it takes the blunt force of deathcore to further weaponize the antagonistic energy of that original Hatebreed-style metalcore. Only with slightly longer songs. Check out “Made to Please” and “The Most Ugly”.
Still / Form – From The Rot Is A Gift
Genre: Sludge metal/hardcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Unnervingly dissonant, purposefully janky and unpolished, this feels like a shouted, poetic statement from a dark and dirty back alley.
Splintered Throne – The Greater Good of Man
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Nothing new to hear here, just classic hard rock-y metal with pretty cheesy lyrics.
Tomb Of Finland – Across The Barren Fields
Genre: Melodic death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This thing is a riot. A morbid one, sure, but damn entertaining all the same. At the core is some classic Finnish folk-tinged melodeath, which automatically flavors everything with a certain majesty. The vocal style, guitar tone and tempo all insist that this is dark, crypt-dwelling stuff though, and somehow that split personality doesn’t feel off at all. While it might not hit it off with purists, there’s plenty to savor for the rest of us. Soaring, sinister melodies, catchy riffs and a crisp level of brutality. Jump into “Shadows of the North” and “Cursed Be the One”.
Tyrants of Chaos – Relentless Thirst for Power
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 1.5/5
Objective rating: 2/5Weak production, uninspired composition and sub-par performances – bar a few moments there is little on here worth your time.
White Rune – Dawn Of The White Rune
Genre: Melodic black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5The low-fi production might rob this album of some weight and punch, but allows the organ-like keyboards and frenetic riffs to stand out and form the basis of some standout character for this band. It offers up some crisp details, great vocal performance and varied melody.
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, do feel free to express yourself in the comments section below.
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Weekly rundown August 12 – 2022
A week headlined by massive melodeath releases, courteously allowing just enough space in the limelight for a younger cousin and a few other, more distant relatives.
A-Z – A-Z
Genre: Progressive/power metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A fairly low-key prog record that leans heavily in a melodic and anthemic direction, which works well for their talents. The vocals are the key focus in the mix, and the lyrics the main drive of the songs. Unfortunately, these are fairly rudimentary.
Arch Enemy – Deceivers
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Deceivers sees Arch Enemy up the viciousness slightly from their former album while still retaining a measure of its anthemic tendencies. There’s still a very strong focus on melodies and they stick to a mid-tempo pace throughout. You’re treated to a good amount of groovy riffs that get to serve as highlights rather than conform to the main melody line. While there are few surprises on here and the rhythm can get a little predictable, there’s enough character and detail to make up an abundance of memorable songs. Two of which are “Sunset Over the Empire” and “Deceiver, Deceiver”.
Aronius – Irkalla
Genre: Technical death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Complexity is the word here. This is tech death taking a step in a Meshuggah direction without fully committing. There’s enough breakdown’y vibes and haunted melody to restrain it, but that also means it lands in a kind on no man’s land in between.
Blasted Heath – Vela
Genre: Black/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5This one does a lot of things right – disguising a slightly stoner-spacey vibe within a characterful low-fi black metal veneer and spicing it up with a bit of thrash riffage. Unfortunately it feels a little unfocused, leaving it short on standout moments.
Bleed Like Mylee – Nuk Soo Kow (EP)
Genre: Metalcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Metalcore with good energy and blissfully free of sugar-sweet serenading or whining. The performances are raw and don’t all mix too well, betraying inexperience, but this is a good foundation to build on.
Boris – Heavy Rocks (2022)
Genre: Experimental stoner/industrial rock/metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5I’m not gonna pretend to even remotely understand what Boris is all about. Here we have them following up their mostly ambient, experimental W from earlier this year with some far-out stoner rock. At least there are some elements of it among the madness. Harsh industrial dissonance and electronic tangents vie for your attention, making it impossible to predict what’s gonna come next.
The Halo Effect – Days Of The Lost
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Regardless of your expectations considering the people behind this album, there’s a pleasing circularity to be appreciated here. This unmistakably sounds like a band rooted in the classic Gothenburg sound (heck, these guys were instrumental in creating that sound) but trying to approach the style of more modern bands that themselves were heavily influenced by Swedish melodeath. What you get is a kind of hybrid that should appeal to pretty much everyone except those hoping for a full-on return to the origin. You get nuggets of Dark Tranquillity and In Flames all the way throughout, but there’s no mistaking their efforts trying to forge something new. They mostly succeed, but don’t quite achieve a level of distinctiveness to allow them to stand out beyond the reach of their pedigree. By all means though, there’s plenty to love on here for melodeath fans, among which are “Days of the Lost” and “Feel What I Believe”.
Hell Fire – Reckoning
Genre: Heavy/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A band fully embracing their classic influences, radiating enthusiasm and striking a fresh mix between thrash and NWOBHM. The thrash parts are mostly stronger though, and aside from a few strong melodies, their cleaner side leaves a little musical cohesion to be desired.
Moths – Space Force (EP)
Genre: Avant-garde stoner/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is one of those where you just gotta allow yourself to be spirited along. We’re going all kinds of places. This is not jarring, and it’s not serene. It’s spacey and a little weird, but creates these vivid soundscapes that really trigger the imagination.
Nordic Union – Animalistic
Genre: Power/melodic metal
Subjective rating: 1.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Big, melodic, with a slight folk vibe. Hugely clichéd, but that’s probably not a big problem for the setting for which it’s intended.
Norma Jean – Deathrattle Sing For Me
Genre: Metal/mathcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5If you’re into the less emotional, heavier and more proggy side of metalcore, then there’s plenty for you here. At its heaviest it leans into deathcore, and it manages an off-kilter approach to structure that kills predictability without being off-putting. Some of the chorus sections can get a little formulaic, but the band usually switches things up pretty quick. There’s both ample punch, melody and complexity to satisfy people looking for modern, fresh metal with depth and grit. I highly recommend you try “WWAVVE” and “Sleep Explosion”.
Of Virture – Sinner
Genre: Hardocre/metalcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Some rousing metalcore with a bit of extra attitude here and there, but it quickly devolves into very typical, clean cut and over soft.
Sarattma – Escape Velocity
Genre: Experimental doom metal/jazz
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Quite deliberately spacey and nearly free-form, this is a trippy adventure you’re being invited onto. Relaxing is not the word for this, as the sound flutters and mutates as it sees fit. It’s cool and restless, if a little directionless.
Seventh Storm – Maledictus
Genre: Power/progressive metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5When describing metal as big, it’s easy to imagine something massively inflated and ultimately quite hollow. This album attains a soaring, epic quality without falling into that category. It has a grittiness to it, making it a tad darker than most power metal, and demonstrates actual thought having been put into the songs, awarding them different purposes. As such there is good variation on here and allocated spaces for the different musicians to shine, without this slowing things down.
Sunstorm – Brothers In Arms
Genre: Hard rock/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 1/5
Objective rating: 2/5I’ve next to nothing to say about this. It’s characterless, ballad-y, slow, and utterly uninventive.
Unprocessed – Gold
Genre: Pop/progressive metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5An uplifting thing, clearly comfortable in the realm of pop but also dipping its toes into more complex and instrumentally playful waters. If you can deal with the softer parts, then you have a vibrant experience ahead of you.
Wolfbrigade – Anti-Tank Dogs (EP)
Genre: Hardcore/grindcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A short but tasty EP delivering raspy, grainy hardcore with a grindy edge and a good dose of muted groove. Not super standout, but also very little to complain about in regards to quality or entertainment value.
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, do feel free to express yourself in the comments section below.
The Metal Dispatch 