-
Weekly rundown March 31 – 2023
What is is about the approach of summer to make all the corpse-paint bands come creeping out from beneath the melting snow? An amazing week for black metal without the need of any of the tentpole bands leading the charge.
Aara – Triade III: Nyx
Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5This isn’t quite what you’d normally expect from an atmospheric black metal record. It sounds massive and majestic, without any of the bombast you’d get from a symphonic approach. The vocals are pulled far back in the mix, sounding almost like they’re being swept up by the storm of the instruments. The melodies are melancholic, and yet ascending, and so the whole thing feels more like a climb towards a golden dawn than a crawl into the gloom. There is aggression and plenty of force, but it’s not a chaotic or particularly brutal affair, and offers up several mellow variations without breaking the progression.
Ad Infinitum – Chapter III – Downfall
Genre: Symphonic/pop metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Pop-rhythms and simple melodies apart, this one offers up a decent variety of influences from across the metal spectrum. The production is, of course, also impeccable.
Angelic Desolation – Orchestrionic Abortion
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Rather silly-themed death metal with good thrash energy. It never really gets to a point where it goes beyond the expected, but it’s good fun nonetheless.
Bury Tomorrow – The Seventh Sun
Genre: Metalcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Finger-on-the-pulse metalcore with elements of deathcore aggression, electronic elements and fairly soft melodic sections. The rhythm work is exceptionally tight though, and if you’re here for the energy, you won’t be disappointed.
Dai-ichi – Dai-ichi
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5Japanese (?) raw black metal with a sound like the record is passing over sharkskin while playing. However, the riff work is extremely effective in creating atmospheric moods that conjure up mental images of dark and desolate settings. There is lots of aggression, but it’s expertly measured, and overall it strikes a great balance between diabolic and somber.
Dead End Finland – Victory
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Heavily synth-infused melodeath with a mostly fairly anthemic approach.
Decorpsetated – Human Words
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Stark, slightly industrial semi-tech death metal with a brutal vocal approach.
Demonstealer – The Propaganda Machine
Genre: Technical death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Relentless yet symphonically melodic tech death with a massive sound, plenty of guest appearances and lots of shredding.
Derhead – The Grey Zone Phobia
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Hostile, slightly introspective black metal that feels on the cusp of crossing over into avant-garde.
Desert Storm – Death Rattle
Genre: Progressive sludge metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Sludge with some southern groove, warm and slow melodies and a progressive attitude to structure and tempo.
Diablation – Par Le Feu
Genre: Melodic black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5French black metal with a slightly melodic and symphonic approach while retaining plenty of hostility and a cold tone.
End – Hunter
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Bleak, focused black metal of the second wave old school with a tendency towards doom.
The Evil – Seven Acts To Apocalypse
Genre: Doom/stoner metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Demonic doom metal with stoner leanings themed towards the seven deadly sins.
Gel – Only Constant
Genre: Hardcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Highly aggressive and focused hardcore that retains good energy and a real sting without having to pour on the intensity with every passing second. There are moments of crunchy, groove-infused riffing and enjoyable stompy sections that really lets you get into the music and the mindset behind it. At less than 17 minutes long, it’s over before you know it, but certainly makes its time count.
Highlights: “Dicey” and “Composure”.
Gyredleah – Spellbinder
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Morbid black metal with a malicious tone and influxes of tasteful, morose atmosphere,
Haliphron – Prey
Genre: Symphonic black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Rather catchy symphonic black metal with some death metal heft and a coherent feel,
Invicta – Triumph And Torment
Genre: Thrash/melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Heavy and forceful thrash with some tasty melodeath lead guitar work, which lacks just enough substance to enter the big leagues.
Kingsmen – Bones Don’t Lie
Genre: Industrial metal/post-grunge
Subjective rating: 1.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Straightforward riffy, hard-rocky metal with strong post grunge vibes.
Kommand – Death Age
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Husky, crypt-dwelling death metal with some old school breakdowns and a dark, threatening tone.
Lamp of Murmuur – Saturnian Bloodstorm
Genre: Progressive black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5How black metal can sound this exploratory and traditional at the same time is a bit of a head-scratcher. The instrumental work is intricate and relentless in its pursuit of new musical avenues along which to travel on the way to its fairly set-in-stone objective, which is to deliver misanthropy-tinged black metal. All the conventional elements are there, but layer upon layer of variations in tempo, melodic approach and levels of atmosphere has been added to achieve a truly impressive and surprisingly approachable package.
Lotan – Lotan
Genre: Black/death metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Raw-sounding, uncomplicated, snarly black metal with a hint of dark melodic death metal.
Mammon’s Throne – Mammon’s Throne
Genre: Black/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This feels like black metal slowed down to a doomy crawl, including some heavy, fuzz-laden riffs yet retaining all the crusty aggression,
Nervochaos – Chthonic Wrath
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Back-to-basics, fast-paced death metal that oozes aggression yet stumbles a bit in its otherwise fairly enthusiastic instrumental approach.
Netherlands – Severance
Genre: Progressive/industrial/sludge metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Playful, at times rather fun progressive metal with industrial and indie sensibilities and a sludgy tonal approach to the heavier stuff.
Of Spite – Riddle Redemption
Genre: Melodic black/death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Finnish mix of melodic black and death metal with appropriate amounts of folk melody, but lacking the variation and ambition to properly stand out.
Outlaw – Reaching Beyond Assiah
Genre: Melodic black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5This is Brazilian black metal taking a melodic approach to the subgenre that sits somewhere in between atmospheric and gothic. It sounds a bit like if Emperor decided to relax the technicality and go more the way of bands like Kampfar, upping the mystic-factor and introducing sweeping, longing melodies with a touch of folk. Refreshingly though, this doesn’t sound distinctly Scandinavian, or even European. Instead, in the nuances of it all, it carves out a small, dark realm of its own.
Rotten Sound – Apocalypse
Genre: Grindcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Kick-your-eardrums-in, crusty-toned grindcore that sounds like they’re out with a point to prove. The vocal and rhythm approach have a stompy, hardcore attitude to them, and they work in just enough groove to bring to mind bands like Endseeker and Misery Index. It’s an adrenaline ride with enough variation to make the 20-ish minute runtime feel like an experience.
Sermon – Of Golden Verse
Genre: Gothic/progressive metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5There’s something about a band that manages to go confidently in their own direction, and the result is something that sounds like it was always meant to be. Sure, you clearly hear a lot of gothic/progres influences on this one, but the combination of them all feels unique and is performed with verve and a strong underlying vision. It’s slightly doom-laden, non-show-off progressive metal that very effectively paints a clean, cohesive soundscape. There might be a bit too much atmosphere for some, but it does add to the immersion.
Spirit Possession – Of The Sign…
Genre: Black/speed metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A dizzying display of virtuose-as-if-possessed guitar work and inspired rhythm work, topped by classic black metal snarly aggression and speedy groove.
Thron – Dust
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Perfectly in line with expectations from their last release, this is rock solid, tremolo-led black metal with some riffs and rhythms borrowed from classic thrash and old school death metal. The production is just-so, and even though it’s fairly narrow-laned as far as the melodic approach goes, there’s enough happening in the nuances to stop it from going stale.
Unpure – Prophecies Ablaze
Genre: Black/speed metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A fairly straightforward, speedy, rock n’ roll-y, black metal march to war.
VileDriver – The Rest Are Prey
Genre: Technical death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A dissonant, avant-garde-like approach to technical death metal that probably sounds better on paper than in practice.
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.
-
Weekly rundown March 24 – 2023
A bit of a turbulent week with numerous ups and downs, including a handful of seriously strong peaks poking out beyond the rest.
Angerot – The Profound Recreant
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Death metal with dark, symphonic qualities. You get a real crunch to the guitars and rusty vocals that are surprisingly easy to understand. It’s still aggressive though – feels a bit like a more brutal version of Deserted Fear.
Aphotic – Abyssgazer
Genre: Doom/death/black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is indeed abyss-dwelling stuff, raging from the deep with death metal brutality and a dark, black metal tone. It gets a bit hard to distinguish individual songs, but the overall experience is solid.
August Burns Red – Death Below
Genre: Technical metalcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A precise, melodic and modestly exploratory metalcore offering from these mainstays. There’s groove, plenty of shred, and a pleasing lack of soft, emotional sections. It does come up a bit short on energy though, with the rhythms feeling a bit unengaging. Still very enjoyable.
Babymetal – the Other One
Genre: Pop metal
Subjective rating: 1.5/5
Objective rating: 2/5Mildly cosmic in tone, this is otherwise a largely by-the-numbers affair with interchangeable melodies and the odd instrumental flourish.
Blind Oath – Blind Oath
Genre: Heavy/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Perhaps slightly mismatched as far as vocal vs instrument style is concerned, this is still one to keep in mind for those who can’t get enough of dark, classic heavy metal.
Catacomb – When The Stars Are Right
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5An attempt at massive, apocalyptic death metal that suffers from a messy mix and incohesive production. There are some great riffs in there, but they largely get lost in the noise.
Category VI – Firecry
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Riff-alicious, slightly rowdy heavy metal with an Accept feel about it. The vocals don’t harmonize very well with the instruments, and the production lacks some power, but it’s still a good time.
Cruachan – The Living And The Dead
Genre: Folk metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5If optimistic-toned, Celtic-style folk is your thing, then you’re getting bucket loads here. It’s also not the silly kind, instead leaning heavily into the acoustic instrumentals and backing it up with surges of metal aggression.
Dawn Ray’d – To Know The Light
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5A refreshing take on atmosphere-tinged black metal that isn’t utterly steeped in medieval gothic mysticism and mostly sticks to 4-6 minute runtimes. Sure, there are some instrumental interludes, and sure, the tone is properly sullen, but it’s based around modern, non-Scandinavian folk with political themes, which feels like the band going their own way in expressing their message. There is still a classic, fairly low-fi black metal approach to the overall sound, which works well as the most forceful extreme of their output.
Highlights: “The Battle of Sudden Flame” and “Go as Free Companions”.
Excalion – Once Upon A Time
Genre: Power metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Finnish melodic power metal that’s about as shreddy as you’d expect, and with slight progressive tendencies and decent songwriting, it doesn’t become utterly predictable.
Forcefed Horsehead – Monoceros
Genre: Hardcore/grindcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Furious, grindcore-fueled, punk-styled hardcore that hardly lets up from start to finish. With a death metal morbidity to it, they could very well be successful in carving out a niche of their own. For now, there isn’t quite enough character to the meat of the experience to really propel it to unknown heights, but there’s potential.
Gabestok – Med Freden Kommer Hadet
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5With a taste of classic doom, this is a slightly mellow black metal offering with a punky occult kind of feel. If that makes sense at all.
Gatekeeper – From Western Shores
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5Classic heavy metal records hardly come richer sounding than this. This is all the gallop, virtuosity and bravado of the old school, flirting with the medieval-tinged playfulness of power metal, and each aspect is performed flawlessly. There is such verve and precision behind it all that even the most traditional instrumental approaches come off as fresh and brimming with life. There is also enough tempo and tonal variation to keep it engaging throughout.
Highlights: “Death on Black Wings” and “Twisted Towers”.
Hatesphere – Hatred Reborn
Genre: Groove/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Highly aggressive, yet instrumentally playful groove metal with a thrashy directness. The tone is malicious and vocals barky, making for a lot of intense moments and a fairly dark feel to it all. Great if you’re looking for a raw adrenaline rush.
Hellcrash – Demonic Assassination
Genre: Speed/black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A very Venom-like, all-out low-fi, dark speed metal experience. For a release of today it should be considered strictly for a niche audience.
The HIRS Collective – We’re Still Here
Genre: Grindcore/hardcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A frantically paced, repeating face punch of a grindcore record, loaded with political punk attitude. There is the makings of something truly outstanding on here, which gets a bit lost in instrumental repetition, but the potency shines through at frequent intervals.
Keep Of Kalessin – Katharsis
Genre: Melodic/symphonic black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Keep of Kalessin was always the band you could count on to serve up relentless drum barrages on song after song, but they seem to be taking it to a new level on this one. It commands your attention and goes well with the overwhelming nature of their epic themes, but can also get a bit repetitive, and some times drown out other, more characterful elements. It’s still a solid records that fans will absolutely enjoy.
Kuoleman Galleria – Pedon Synty
Genre: Black metal/black n’ roll
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5An album that can’t quite decide whether it wants to be doomy and sinister or rock n’ roll. When they get the balance right your get some nice blackened groove. The rest of the time it can feel a little indecisive.
Marianas Rest – Auer
Genre: Melodic death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A grand, prolonged affair not all too different from what you’d expect from Insomnium. This one has a bleakness to it, and yet some of the melodies carry the ghost of hope on wings of solemnity.
Maze Of Sothoth – Extirpated Light
Genre: Technical death metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Sinister and hostile sounding tech death that has its instrumental skills in order, but not quite the idea how to utilize them to a coherent, thematically sound effect.
Metasphæra – Metasphæra
Genre: Progressive death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Feel like some aggressive prog metal? This is melodic, moderately complex, and mostly pretty fast extreme metal that also has a mellow side to it.
No Spill Blood – Eye Of Night
Genre: Doom/sludge metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A darkly atmospheric sludge metal record where the guitar is replaced with spooky-toned synth. It feels very much like the intended effect on the sound is achieved, and it very effectively transports you to a gloomy, unfriendly place. It sounds heavy, but not particularly harsh, so definitely for those who value atmosphere over groove.
Mork – Dypet
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5A surprisingly moody and layered black metal release from a band where you’d normally expect a much more straightforward approach. You’ll find this one knocking on the door of the atmospheric niche of the subgenre, as well as dark folk. It’s less heavy in an instrumental sense, but more so thematically, with a sound weighed down by gloom and sadness, and a tempo leaning towards the slow crawl of doom. Contrasting this with raw, primitive riffing and a bit of black n’ roll groove makes for a pleasingly balanced result that brings exquisite darkness without having to pile on the rage and chaotic technicality.
Highlights: “Forført Av Kulden” and “Bortgang”.
Ne Obliviscaris – Exul
Genre: Progressive extreme metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5A richly garnished fusion of progressive, technical and melodic death metal, with some strong traditional- and folk elements. There’s something new going on about every 10 seconds, and yet they don’t go crazy with the rhythm work to the point where it all gets too busy. The contrasts are big on here, going from classic, acoustic and orchestral music to brutal riff assaults. The progression tends to float around a bit without too much of an aim, but if you don’t mind this, then you’re in for a non-stop conveyor belt of creative treats.
Highlights: “Graal” and “Equus”.
Ov Sulfur – The Burden Ov Faith
Genre: Deathcore/symphonic black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Blackened, epic deathcore that’s certainly not too shy to pull out all the bells and whistles. You find pretty much all the trademark elements of the subgenre employed on here, boosted by a massive symphonic grandeur. This does kill a bit of the instrumental rawness and gut-punch power, but adds a melodic richness as compensation.
Project 86 – OMNI, Part 1
Genre: Progressive metalcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A kind of on/off-rhythm and -intensity affair with an ominous, industrial feel. There are quite a few ambient sections and interludes, effectively building a theme but not really pushing any sort of progression. Production- and precision-wise it’s well honed though.
Purveyor Of Chaos – Purveyor Of Chaos
Genre: Heavy/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2/5This thrashy, groove-oriented heavy metal album has some ideas about rhythm shifts that probably work better on paper than in reality.
Tragedian – Master Of Illusions
Genre: Speed metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Speed metal with power-influences that doesn’t lack enthusiasm, but still comes up lacking a bit of impact.
Whore Of Bethlehem – Ritual Of Homicide
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A brutal, in-your-face death metal riff fest with a blackened touch. It’s quite reminiscent of Cannibal Corpse in a few different ways, but goes for a bigger, puncher sound with less raw aggression. It’s not particularly distinct, but a good time all around.
Woe Unto Me – Along The Meandering Ordeals, Reshape The Pivot Of Harmony
Genre: Doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Woe, indeed. This is a slow, melancholic affair that feels like a mix of gothic rock and funeral doom influences. It does end up feeling a bit divided cohesion-wise, but the mood is well set up to get yourself lost in.
Xalpen – The Curse Of Kwányep
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5An aggressive and raw black metal output that still offers up some somber, tremolo-driven atmosphere. The approach feels classic, almost a bit safe, but it’s very competently performed and hits all the right spots.
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.
-
Weekly rundown March 17 – 2023
This is a week of aggression – all out brutal, laden with attitude, dripping with venom and infectious. Pick your poison.
Aftermath – No Time To Waste
Genre: Hardcore/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Deliberately ragtag thrash metal with a hardcore-styled, street prophet kind of purpose. Ideas come slightly before musical coherency on this one, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, and you still get plenty of punishing riff sections.
Anarkhon – Obiasot Dwybat Ptnotun
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A doom-toned, deeply dark and menacing death metal album that’s content lurking in the abyss, taking the shadowy form of your deepest nightmares. The production is low -fi and grimy, which mostly work, but some heft is also lost.
Blind Oath – Blind Oath
Genre: Heavy/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Slightly amateur-level thrashy heavy metal that feels like it’s out of the early 80s and slightly influences by early black metal. With more tightness and speed and a better vocal delivery, this could absolutely be heading places.
Chelsea Grin – Suffer in Heaven
Genre: Deathcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 4/5Another insanely heavy package of rhythmic, djent-powered and horrific-toned sonic punishment from this deathcore crew. It takes a hold of your cuff and shakes you as hard as the genre constraints allow, and then some. The instrumental work, while not particularly varied, is surprisingly nuanced, and the vocal approach offers more than a few shades of furious.
Contrarian – Sage Of Shekhinah
Genre: Technical/experimental death metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5A hubbub of different tonal and rhythmic ideas that come off more messy than is probably intended. There is a freedom in the wildness of it, but at the expense of any sort of coherency.
Death Reich – Disharmony
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Bread-and-butter thrashy death metal fueled by a suitable amount of aggression but not offering up the biggest grooves, or anything really new.
Desolate Realm – Legions
Genre: Doom/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Old school doom and heavy metal meet in this mid- to low tempo, classic-sounding offering. There’s nothing much that really stands out, but if you enjoy the mix of dark tone with old school riffing, then you’ll probably have a good time.
Downfall Of Gaia – Silhouettes Of Disgust
Genre: Atmospheric black/alternative metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Bittersweet in tone, luring you in with somber, melodic atmosphere then hitting hard with harsh black metal vitriol and some sludgy harmonic distain. It’s definitely something to get lost in a dark train of though to, if that is indeed something desirable.
Embryo – A Vivid Shade on Misery
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Rather easy-to-follow melodeath with a symphonic kind of tone and some catchy riff work. It’s not the most engaging stuff you’ll hear this week, but makes for some accessible, groove and aggression.
Entropia – Total
Genre: Progressive black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Deeply immersive, modern progressive black metal with mildly dissonant, industrial tendencies, but also a surprisingly warm and dreamy atmospheric side. Don’t get me wrong, it’ all suitably somber, but you don’t feel constantly submerged in murky, misanthropic bitterness. Instead, the further you get into the songs, them more layers peel apart and the band shows its willingness to expand into further levels of nuance. It’s as dark as you want, but also very vibrant.
Highlights: “Orbit” and “Mania”
Foretoken – Triumphs
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5A very tight and shreddy melodeath experience, with a tasteful sprinkling of dramatic bombast on top. It’s energetic and rousing, but not in a cheesy way, and the tone has a symphonic black metal edge to it. The instrumentation is masterful, with the rhythms managing a very pleasing balance between familiar and exploratory. It’s a real gift to fans of adventurous metal that’s still dark and aggressive.
Highlights: “Serpent King’s Venom” and “Demon Queller”.
Gideon – More Power. More Pain.
Genre: Hardcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Melodic and expansive hardcore with meaty riffs and a big production. It’s still aggressive as hell though, and brings a bit of deathcore breakdown brutality to the party. It’s hard not to get pulled along by the current of catchy rhythms and overflowing energy, and every time you think fatigue is going to become a factor, they pull you back in with some groovy hooks or nu-metal-ish ambience.
Highlights: “MORE POWER. MORE PAIN.” and “Off the Rails”.
Harboured – Harboured
Genre: Progressive/black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A mildly anguished and pale-sounding, atmospheric progressive offering with heaviness leaning strongly into black metal. It’s a focused sound that wants to offer up melody as well as harshness, and the balance works well. It’s solid, yet doesn’t distinguish itself too much from others of its ilk.
Invent Animate – Heavener
Genre: Metalcore
Subjective rating: 1.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Melodic metalcore that leans heavily into djent, a bit of prog and sullen, silky-soft clean sections.
Kamelot – The Awakening
Genre: Power/symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5With an edge of mysticism and gothic darkness, and a production honed to near perfection, Kamelot rises above the rank and file of the symphonic power metal world. The album starts strong with some snaking rhythms and a good balance between melody, aggression and lofty atmosphere, then relies a bit too heavily on old tricks for the second part. It’s still quality though.
Kruelty – Untopia
Genre: Death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5A grimy, crusty-riffed and heavily beat-oriented return to the basics of what makes simple, engaging extreme metal. The tone is extremely focused and the rhythms designed with a very obvious purpose in mind – to make you commit to that primal feeling that gets your blood going. Beneath the rasping aggression there is the rumbling of a massive, doomy darkness, which provides some much needed depth. Combine it all, and you get a very complete and refined sound that doesn’t grow stale or overstay its welcome.
Highlights: “Burn the System” and “Untopia”.
Mordran – So Falls the Night
Genre: Atmospheric/avant-garde black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5An instrumental atmospheric black metal experience that feels like it has fused with the sound of other records stored next to it in the basement where it was found post the apocalypse. It’s only slightly disturbing, adding a tasteful layer of noise and daring to go on jazzy, progressive tangents that might not do wonders for the energy, but fits in with the tone really well.
Mystic Circle – Erzdämon
Genre: Melodic black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A big, mildly symphonic and aggressive black metal offering. There’s plenty of energy and dark folk melodies to power your way through the album, and it’s absolutely enjoyable. It’s just not particularly original.
Narnia – Ghost Town
Genre: Power metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5This is 80’s-styled, catchy-riffed and synth-boosted power metal. You get some of the sexy guitar work of glam and otherwise very straightforward stuff in terms of melody and lyrics.
Night Demon – Outsider
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A merry melding of the old school occult darkness of the likes of Black Sabbath and the galloping, exploratory instrumentation of Iron Maiden. It doesn’t sound old though, allowing the richness of a modern production, without overdoing it in any way. The vocal harmonization isn’t quite on point to my ears, and there are a few too many dips in intensity, but overall solid stuff.
Phantom Elite – Blue Blood
Genre: Symphonic/alternative metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5Catchy, modern and big with a superficial darkness to it, this is a alternative/symphonic mix with a drop of groove aggression. Aside from the very pop-oriented structure and fairly glossy finish, there is some interesting instrumental work going on.
Redemption – I Am The Storm
Genre: Progressive metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is progressive metal in its most classic, melodic form. As you might expect, the instrumental work is nothing short of outstanding, and the way the progressions wind and unwind on their wanton way towards their goal is absolutely entertaining. Just don’t expect anything that’ll push the genre forward.
Sepulcrum – Lamentation Of Immolated Souls
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Morbid, horror-grade death metal with a suitably sharpened, stalking tone. There are some standout, chugging riffs and overall it feels fairly thematically consistent. It might not keep you up at night, but it’s a good bit of creepy fun.
Søstre – Søstre
Genre: Black n’ roll
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5This one’s just a very good time. You get a feeling of the same kind of innovative, free-spirited approach as with Kvelertak. They do their thing and you are filled with confidence that the next thing out of your speakers will be enjoyable no matter what. It’s a great mix of rowdy energy, raspy black metal vocals, hard rock hooks and brilliantly varied rhythm work. It seems experimental not in a profound, genre-twisting way, but in the way that the band is exploring themes and techniques that work for them, while still crafting something that we can all get wild to together.
Highlights: “Jernskogmøy” and “Flokken”.
Stömb – Massive Disturbed Meta Art
Genre: Experimental/progressive metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5As experimental albums go, this is less of a weird one and more just something not bound to a specific genre. You could call it prog if you want, but there are elements of many other things in here. It’s instrumental, darkly melodic and uses a lot of modern, djent-y guitar and rhythm work.
Suotana – Ounas I
Genre: Melodic death/black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A very recognizably Finnish dark melodeath project. The symphonic-infused melodies are very typically folky- and the guitar work is of course adventurous and stellar in quality. If you want to dream big, yet not overly optimistic, and be treated to some controlled, rousing aggression at the same time, look no further.
Temtris – Khaos Divine
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A quite decent heavy metal offering with some thrash-ish aggression and groove to the riffs and a bit of Judas Priest-y attitude to the performances. It could have used a better production though, and the vocals don’t harmonize brilliantly with the instruments.
Úlfúð – Of Existential Distortion
Genre: Black/death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Not quite your typical blackened death metal – this feels like it started out as something closer to pure, semi-melodic black metal, then decided it needed that extra level of brutality and focus. The result, in any case, is an album that doesn’t stray far from its core sound – this being a rough, relatively slow moving, yet relentlessly unstoppable push, like a massive boulder crashing down a never-ending mountainside.
Highlights: “Mockery Theatre” and “Leviathan Dreams”.
Verminous Serpent – The Malign Covenant
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Malicious black metal sounding like the howls of a raging spirit. If all you want is black, dusty evil, then this is what you are looking for.
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.
-
Weekly rundown March 10 – 2023
With darkness and rage fueling the fire of this week, a few outsiders choosing their own path rises above the conflagration.
As Light Dies – The Laniakea Architecture, Volume II
Genre: Gothic metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5An aggressive and dissonant, but also at times melodic and atmospheric, variant of gothic metal that has traces of the dramatic nature of such bands as Fleshgod Apocalypse.
Asphagor – Pyrogenesis
Genre: Melodic black/death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5A black metal album that succeeds in bringing together some of the progressive elements of the likes of Enslaved, a taste of grandeur and brutality from melodic death metal, a bit of gothic tone, traces of a black n’ roll riff approach, and otherwise all the things that make a modern, well-produced black metal record sound good. It’s aggressive and to-the-point, but also knows how to let in some doom-laden atmosphere every now and then, eschewing the thin and chaotic style of the more “raw” side of the subgenre spectrum. All in all it’s a very complete and well put together package.
Highlights: “Nine Moons” and “The Great Erosion”.
Astriferous – Pulsations From The Black Orb
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is chaotic and mystic death metal that does not try very hard to be listener friendly. Sure, there are some nice riffs in there, but the music shape shifts as soon as you get into a semblance of a groove. It feels very deliberate though, and the instrumental work is laudable.,
Bastard Grave – Vortex of Disgust
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Grimy, brutal and horror-tinged death metal with an old school feel, but the fullness of a more modern production. It wants to take you to a bad place full of monster and laugh at you as you run around in terror. Not really unique among its peers, but solid.
Depraved Murder – Unethical Terrestrial Collapse
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5If you’re into the more over the top brutal branch of the death metal tree, then this will be pure popcorn. It’s all about the riffs, and a bit more groove might have pushed it up to something amazing. As it is, you’ll quickly forget about it after a couple of listens.
Dirge – Dirge
Genre: Doom/sludge metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Stretched-out dark and sad atmosphere with waves of heavy outrage. The production is a bit low-fi muddled, which is an understandable style choice, but also kills a lot of detail.
Excelerate – Arrival
Genre: Thrash/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A spirited meld of classic heavy metal and thrash with slightly stumbling performances and ultimately a lack of originality,
Frozen Crown – Call of the North
Genre: Power metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5A rather technical power metal album with a highly competent mix of male and female vocals and a wicked guitar tone. The tone is exactly as medieval and epic as you want, with a neoclassical approach to some of the solo guitar work. It sounds triumphant, but not silly or overly optimistic, with a symphonic grandeur to the choruses and lyrics that you actually take sort of seriously, helped by a confident and practiced vocal delivery. You enjoy melodic metal, you’ll have a blast with this one.
Highlights: “Black Heart” and “Until the End”.
Gorod – The Orb
Genre: Progressive/technical death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5A wild and energetic maelstrom of vibrant technicality that goes beyond subgenre conventions to deliver a pleasing mix of unpredictability, familiarity, insanity and awe-inspiring control. It’s not a cold lesson in advanced instrumentation nor a purely aggressive thing. The melodies are allowed to permeate the material to such a degree that the songs take on strong identities, and the shifts in tempo and mood all have enough of a purpose not to mess up the flow.
Highlights: “We Are the Sun Gods” and “Breeding Silence”.
Håndgemeng – Ultraritual
Genre: Stoner/doom metal/rock
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A hard and rowdy throw-together of old school doom, stoner fuzz and some sludgy grit. There are the same traces of Scandinavian garage rock that you get with Kvelertak all over this, so if you enjoy that attitude, here’s more of it.
The Human Race Is Filth – Cognitive Dissonance
Genre: Sludge/death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A disturbingly noisy and gutter-toned brutal sludge project. If you want your mind invaded by grimy insects, and a touch of groove, then this might be for you.
Ice Age – Waves Of Loss And Power
Genre: Progressive metal/rock
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Gentle, melodic prog metal with a hopeful tone and a storytelling kind of mood. It’s not your typical over-the-top fantasy nerd fest, rather something more focused, a bit more like Rush, but without quite the same musical chops or originality.
Isole – Anesidora
Genre: Doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5An expansive, epic-leaning doom album with lofty, yet morose vocals and melody. There are clear folk elements in here, as well as a bit of heaviness borrowed from melodeath, but it’s the slower, mildly lamenting sections that get to dominate.
Judiciary – Flesh + Blood
Genre: Hardcore/thrash/groove metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5A crushing scorcher of a groove-tinged hardcore record leaning heavily into thrash riffing. The production elevates it beyond your typical street corner stomper into something with an actual dark and threatening atmosphere. The guitars sound massive, and the whole thing feels like it has the potency to shake the walls of a skyscraper. The aggression rages on from start to finish, and there is more than enough hooks and instrumental variations to keep it interesting throughout.
Highlights: “Engulfed” and “Knife in the Dirt”.
Nanowar Of Steel – Dislike To False Metal
Genre: Power/comedy metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5This is pretty pointless without the music videos, but will deliver enough rousing riffage and enjoyable parody for fans of the light-hearted, fun end of the metal spectrum.
Noxium Ferus – Blasphemicon
Genre: Death/black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Uncomplicated blackened death metal that’s all about the riffs. In a few ways it sounds a lot like Amon Amarth, but largely lacks the heft to really measure up.
Periphery – Periphery V: Djent Is Not A Genre
Genre: Djent/metalcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5With an album title like that, I am of course left with no other choice but to change the genre description from “progressive extreme metal” into something more appropriate. In any case, this is the kind of aggressive, experimental metalcore that feels truly… free. Like the band is doing exactly what the members feel like. In that regard, it has a triumphant, and even personal touch to it, even as it sounds just as big and bold as your would expect. There are several elements, especially in the cleaner sections, that are less distinct, but it’s performed with such conviction that it takes on a flavor of its own.
Rezn – Solace
Genre: Atmospheric doom metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5Let go of your woes and troubles and take flight into an alternate world where none of that matters. Here, that which you can sense is all-consuming. Soothing, inspiring, rousing and humbling. This is doom mostly free of conventions. It’s slow, but earns it by not getting into a drone, instead moving forward and shifting moods very organically. There is more atmospheric melody than heaviness, but the darkness is ever present, as well as an awe-inspiring cinematic scope. Seriously immersive, and brilliantly executed.
Highlights: “Reversal” and “Webbed Roots”.
Sacrificium – Oblivion
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Aggressive and nihilist-toned melodic death metal with traces of thrash and groove. You get the impression that there’s an intended concept, or at least overarching theme at play here, although the compositions are a little too straightforward to really bring it to fruition.
Sönambula – Estasis Interrumpida
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Grimy, filthy death metal that utilizes a tried and tested approach to deliver mildly chaotic, mildly riff-oriented, boulder-crushing-through-stubborn-persistence stuff.
Straight Hate – Slaves Of Falseness
Genre: Grindcore/death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A relentless and wicked-sounding, though not overly repetitive or tiring, grindcore train running on crusty death tracks. There’s a little far between them, but there are definite highlights on this.
Suicide Silence – Remember… You Must Die
Genre: Deathcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Heavy, heavy, heavy. This one’s all about the piston riffs and sledgehammer percussion. Massive grooves and raw aggression blends to create something quite forceful, and there’s enough innovation along the way to separate it from the herd. Their approach has enough death metal morbidity in it to single it out from the typical modern deathcore over-produced cacophony, instead leaning on a venomous, bared-fangs tone that gets your primal blood pumping.
Highlights: “Capable of Violence (N.F.W.)” and “Full Void”.
Tribe Of Pazuzu – Blasphemous Prophecies
Genre: Death/black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Wish that all blackened death metal sounded more like Vader? This one is a pure chug-fest, with chopping drums and big, feral vocals. There’s also a lot of evil whammy-squeals and blistering solos. In other words, more the soundtrack to a demonic assault on heaven’s gates than to a secretive, unholy ritual. The performances are very tight, and everything sounds just right for the chosen approach.
Highlights: “We Serve Under No God” and “Born of a Jackal”.
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.
-
Weekly rundown March 03 – 2023
A wide-spectrum week of both light and dark, looking both to the past and the future – surprising and delighting with a potent mix of the unorthodox and familiar.
71TonMan – Of End Time
Genre: Death/sludge/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Crushingly heavy and dark, this sounds like the slow approach of doom and eternal damnation. It radiates a murky aura of gloom and suffering, an once you’re in its midst there’s no trace light to be seen. Very coherent, though also fairly predictable.
Acres – Burning Throne
Genre: Thrash metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5This one has the riffs that you want and the tone is a nice warm and full variant, although the rhythms and overall energy ends up feeling a bit lackluster.
Beneath My Feet – In Parts, Together
Genre: Metalcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Smooth and melodic metalcore that still has all the aggression you want, as well as a tight, industrial-esque rhythm approach. The clean sections tend to get a little soft and poppy, but not deterrently so.
Carma – Ossadas
Genre: Black metal/funeral doom
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5This one is gloom incarnate, like the soundtrack to a foggy, rainy day where no good things are in sight. Apropos rain, there’s a lot of it on the soundtrack, and it fits the mood. There’s not a whole lot more to say about it though,
Carrion – Morbid Nailgun Necropsy
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Uncomplicated slaughterhouse death metal that delivers on the heavy thrash-like riffage and that crisp Cannibal Corpse tone, but largely fails to stand out in any meaningful way, other than some polite nods towards old school melodeath.
Colpocleisis – Elegant Degradation
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Here we go with some nasty, squealy and slamming brutal death metal with burp-level vocals. The rhythms are remarkably tight and controlled, even with progressive tempo variations, and so o a whole this quite easy to follow. A bit formulaic, for sure, but a prime slice of genre-serving heaviness.
Cromlech – Ascent Of Kings
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Darkly toned and epic-oriented heavy metal whose ambitions are let down by a weak production, slightly messy instrumentals and vocal performances that simply aren’t up to snuff.
Disminded – The Vision
Genre: Death/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Some epic solos and banging riffs aside, this is perfectly straightforward death metal with a thrash alibi and a slightly blackened edge. Some slightly stumbling rhythms mess with its impact.
Enslaved – Heimdal
Genre: Progressive black metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5Still evolving 32 years on, Enslaved makes yet another effort in expanding the bounds of what we know as progressive black metal. To try and pin down other subgenre influences is truly folly, for there are no formulas at play here, only the music that the band truly wants to make. You could say that there is a notable presence of atmospheric doom on Heimdal, and at the same time you get some of the most energetic sections the band has delivered in a decade. Like on their last record, Utgard, the traditional black metal rhythm structures have to partly give way to experimental and classic prog rock approaches, but not in a way that alienates the listener. There is both familiar and brand new ground on here, masterfully broken down into a compact set of songs that, if anything, under-stay their welcome.
Highlights: “Forest Dweller” and “Caravans to the Outer Worlds”.
Entheos – Time Will Take Us All
Genre: Progressive death metal/deathcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is one of those heavy prog records where it feels like the musicians are going at their own individual pace, only loosely by the same general rhythm. The structure changes a lot throughout, and although we visit quite familiar death metal and deathcore territory, the presentation is always a little different to what you expect.
Full Of Hell & Primitive Man – Suffocating Hallucination
Genre: Noise/doom/sludge metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is the noise of gargantuan underground caverns collapsing, and the insistent static left behind by the broken sound equipment used to record it. It utterly crushes any hopes you might have had for a comfortable listening experience and grinds them into dust using massive, churning riffs and prolonged, infernal vocals.
.gif from god – Digital Red (EP)
Genre: Experimental grindcore/metalcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A session of repetitive stab trauma at random intervals and delivered with red-mist anger. The rhythm section gets special credit for holding the chaotic madness together in a fashion. This one is for you who wants to just be shaken and spat at to snap out of whatever rut you’re stuck in.
Haken – Fauna
Genre: Progressive metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5Haken are back and making a statement. This is still very much recognizable as their brand of vivid, classic-style progressive metal, but on Fauna they’ve taken a slightly more experimental and concept-led approach. It feels in many ways like a clear step towards the unrestrained nature of 70s prog rock, although they still retain the heavy impact and grandeur of metal. While it does feel some times that the shifting rhythms and instrumental flourishes are dictated more by genre conventions than what actually serves the musical flow, the execution is flawless, and each element chosen with such care that it charges the album to the brim with character and standout moments.
Highlights: “Nightingale” and “Elephants Never Forget”.
Kardinal Sin – S.A.L.I.G.I.A.
Genre: Power metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5This is power metal flirting with both symphonic elements and the more sober elements of traditional heavy metal. It’s far from the freshest thing you’ll hear this week, particularly considering the lyrics, but the slightly darker tone elevates it beyond the plain standard of the subgenre.
Kold – Intet Mere Er
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A young and promising, atmosphere-leaning black metal project with a very to-the-point and focused sound that still reaches some depth on the sound spectrum. They also invite in haunting, contemplative melodies that blend well with the rhythms and dragged-out vocal screams.
Lunar – The Illusionist
Genre: Progressive metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A collaborative progressive project that ticks a lot of the right boxes if you’re looking for adventurous instrumental work and that whimsical-yet-competent tone that is typical for this more classic form of the subgenre. It elevates itself above pure shred in a few key areas though, leaning eagerly into whatever special ingredient is applied to each song, be it heavy riffs and growling or pianos and strings.
Majesties – Vast Reaches Unclaimed
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5On the surface, this is so much like an unreleased late 90s In Flames or Dark Tranquillity album that it’s verging on blatant. But as you listen more, and closer, you get elements of not just other bands of the era, but other subgenres. You get some of the ferocity of old school death metal, the malevolence of early melodic black metal, as well as a hint of progressive restlessness, all the while holding firmly on to a core of Scandinavian folk. This is a full-on embrace of, not so much the classic melodeath style as all the influences that formed the basis of the style’s creation in the first place. Varied, heavy, raw and inspired, it’s one of the absolute best revivals of the Gothenburg sound that I’ve ever heard.
Highlights: “Our Gracious Captors” and “Seekers of the Ineffable”.
Necropanther – Betrayal
Genre: Thrash/melodic black/death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5A feral and vicious, yet impressively controlled and devilishly catchy foray into brutal thrash metal. The tone is dark, there’s a hardcore-like directness to it, a deathcore-like low-end punch, and it carries the expansiveness of melodic black- and death metal. It’s pure energy, and while its not the type of thing you sit down and let carry you away, it goes beyond the straight adrenaline shot with some melody and dynamic flow that’s rousing and engaging, preventing it from growing stale at any point during its runtime.
Highlights: “If You Can Count” and “Furies”.
Nemesis Sopor – Firmament
Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A solemn, yet dynamic atmospheric black metal experience that sounds like it has a story to tell. There are chapters to the progression, switching between dark moods of different intensity. It’s mostly quite aggressive or stark, never really reaching the more melancholy or mystic extremes of some of its peers.
Ocean Of Grief – Pale Existence
Genre: Doom/melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is a rather ponderous take on a doom/melodeath meld that leans heavily into dark melody and alternates between heavy doom atmosphere and chugging, brutal riffs. It’s highly competent, but the rhythm stays almost exactly the same throughout, which does not help the individual song identity.
Plague Bearer – Summoning Apocalyptic Devastation
Genre: Death/black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A release of blackened death metal that’s so blatantly unholy that’s it’s a bit comical, although you get the distinct impression that this is not the intention. The tone is pretty uniformly dark and evil, with a raw, low-fi approach and a few nods to classic melodeath.
Sortilège – Apocalypso
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Heavy metal stepping up to symphonic grandeur and sporting an industrial edge to its heaviest riffs. This is no reinvention of anything at all, but an entertaining piece of genre candy none the less.
Stoned Jesus – Father Light
Genre: Stoner/doom metal/rock
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5An album that seems very confidently crafted from a unified idea of its structure and content. This is a band that is very comfortable with its own style, and not trying to be something different, although still having the capacity for some experimentation. It’s laid back, quite heavy, and yet very approachable.
Temptress – See
Genre: Heavy/doom/psychedelic metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Heavy psychedelia that keeps the listener’s interest with engaging riff work, dynamic rhythms and a very coherent tone. It’s not what you’d call adventurous, but plenty lively for its niche, and it sounds like it’s exactly the kind of sound that the band themselves want to make.
Terveet Kädet – Kaikki kaikkia vastaan
Genre: Hardcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5How about some howling wild, Finnish metallic hardcore? It’s not the kind of thing you hear every day, although it sticks to a lot of the genre conventions you might expect. Aside from the undeniable hardcore attitude there’s some thrash technicality thrown on top, as well as a rowdy punk spirit that separates it from your typical big-city-back-alley kind of project.
Viscera – Carcinogenesis
Genre: Technical deathcore/metalcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Following up their impressive 2020 debut, Obsidian, the conglomeration of metalcore/deathcore veterans that is Viscera has released what is undeniably another feat of ear-catching, melodic and incredibly well-coordinated technicality. While lacking some of the goosebumps-inducing moments of brutal majesty of its predecessor, it feels like a fully realised continuation of the concept, and immerses the listener in vibrant, tight and powerful aggression.
Highlights: “Rats With Wings” and “Layers of Skin”.
Witch Ripper – The Flight After The Fall
Genre: Progressive sludge/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5As suggested by the album title, this feels a bit like taking flight while still attached to a world of deep, heavy roots and churning surface activity. There’s a prevailing non-naïve positivity, creative rhythm work reminiscent of Mastodon, and a sense of freedom that brings to mind certain aspects of Queen. It sounds eager and exploratory, without taking off completely and heading beyond the reach of anyone who’s not a thoroughly initiated prog enthusiast.
Witchthroat Serpent – Trove Of Oddities At The Devil’s Driveway
Genre: Doom/stoner metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is doomy, psychedelia-tinged stoner metal of the spooky variant. You get a massive front of fuzzy heaviness followed by atmosphere-inducing synth work and haunting, slightly detached vocals. Solid, although not exactly brimming with originality.
Zulu – A New Tomorrow
Genre: Hardcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5A very fresh take on a solid hardcore foundation, mixing in modern death metal and grindcore brutality and a host of sharply contrasting musical influences like reggae, hip-hop, jazz and what one would widely describe as world music. The amount of raw content and impressions they are able to shower you with in the span of 28 minutes and 45 seconds is staggering, although you don’t really end up feeling overwhelmed either. While some of the style shifts can feel a bit jarring, conceptually this feel rock solid.
Highlights: “Where I’m From” and “Who Jah Bless, No One Curse”.
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.
-
Weekly rundown February 24 – 2023
A week exploring dark and hostile realms, opening the floodgates for a surge of destructive, yet cathartic emotion to wash over the world.
Air Raid – Fatal Encounter
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Melodic, rather tame classic metal that seems mostly out to check boxes, but delivers fairly well on the points you expect.
Ascension – Under The Veil Of Madness
Genre: Power metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Dragonforce-esque, bubbly and technical power metal dipping into 8-bit video game tonal territory, but also delves into musical theater and some classical influences. It’s a guitar solo galore, and if you’re into the vibrant, game boy-sound, then you’re getting spoiled on here.
Asylence – Endanger Us All
Genre: Experimental metalcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5A darkened, atmosphere-leaning metalcore output flirting with melodeath heaviness and some deathcore technicality. It’s clearly an attempt at something that stands out tonally, and it does in a kind of blackened alternative kind of way, but the rhythms are so unengaging that the song progressions feels completely dead in their tracks.
Big|Brave – Nature Morte
Genre: Experimental doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Swimming through a pitch black forest pool, going through a spectrum of emotions and never reaching dry land. This is all atmosphere, and it is both frail and oppressive. After a while it starts to feel like just more of the same, but if you don’t mind the feeling, then it’s worth the stay.
Bodyfarm – Ultimate Abomination
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Snarling, well-defined, riff-alicious death metal with some superficial thrash- and black metal influxes. I wouldn’t go as far as calling it clean, but there’s certainly not too much murk or atmosphere going on. They do make up for it with aggression, but this is probably not for those who wants their death metal dirty and old-school.
Coffinborn – Cadaveric Retribution
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Morbid, crusty, mid-tempo and riff-oriented death metal with a husky tone. All this thing wants to do is resurrect corpses and then grind them to dust. It can get a bit un-engaging in its simplistic purpose, but if this is the kind of thing you’re craving, it’ll probably feel satisfying all the way through.
Dark Embrace – Dark Heavy Metal
Genre: Symphonic/gothic/death metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5An odd mix of symphonic and traditional metal with black metal snarls and a whiff of melodeath heaviness. It never lands firmly in one camp, although the campy lyrics certainly pushes it towards a power-metal-appreciating end of the spectrum.
Death Pill – Death Pill
Genre: Hardcore/punk
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A lively, punk-rock-y, female fronted hardcore output. This is all riiffs and fun riot-energy.
Enemy Of Reality – Where Truth May Lie
Genre: Symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Soaring, effortlessly operatic female vocals overlaying textbook, weak rhythms that strip the album of most, if not all grandeur or power it might aspire to.
FesterDecay – Reality Rotten To The Core
Genre: Goregrind
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A hateful, gut-churning mass of gnawing teeth and rolling boulders. It delivers a decent amount of variation for what it is, some really standout riff sections and enough gory atmosphere to make your skin crawl.
Hammerhedd – Nonetheless
Genre: Progressive sludge metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Rusty sludge metal leaning heavily into prog, taking some of the odd rhythms of the likes of Meshuggah and toning it down a little. The progression feels fairly staccato, oiled by some industrial -like melody and ritualistic groove in the style of early Sepultura, although it’s not quite as musically rewarding as it sounds.
Heidevolk – Wederkeer
Genre: Folk metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Dutch Norse-folk with a warm, embracing tone, lots of traditional, instrumental sections and recognizable, live-audience-friendly riffs. It’s not exactly what you’d call impressive, but if you want to get into the mood and don’t care that it sounds a bit generic, then you’ll appreciate it for its quality.
Hypno5e – Sheol
Genre: Progressive metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5At times whimsical and innocent, then tragic and contemplative, then exploding with anguish and rage. This is a close-your-eyes-while-you-listen kind of album that takes you through a spectrum of moods, although within the same tonal territory, making it sound like a story told from a specific, personal point of view. The calm parts are soothing, and the harsher parts, although accented with djenty riffs and some dissonant squeals, feel forceful but not abrasive. There might be a bit too much low-key, acoustic stuff for the more impatient listener, but it all sounds very deliberate.
Highlights: “Lava from the Sky” and “Bone Dust”.
Icestorm – The Northern Crusades
Genre: Folk/melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Brutal, rousing folk metal that’s very much in the vein of Amon Amarth. There’s a bit too many instrumental, atmosphere building sections up front, but if you persevere you’re treated to a feast of catchy, rolling riffs that’ll boost your energy for the coming moshpit battle.
Idolatrous – Sorrow On Midgard
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A slightly muddled production and hesitance to lean properly into the folk-tinged melodies, instead embracing the more low-down, brutal elements of modern death metal, steals some of the enjoyment out of this otherwise competently performed melodeath north mythology deep dive.
Insomnium – Anno 1696
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5As any who are familiar with Insomnium might expect, this is melodeath with an emphasis on the melody. Although, for the most part, the band has resisted the temptation of going on overly long instrumental tangents on this one, instead giving the impression of a purposeful and energized approach. As usual, there is a lot of folk in here, but also some classical elements, and while much of it feels recognizable in a comforting kind of way, there are some sections where the rhythm and/or lead work pulls past the bounds of conformity, which is almost always a refreshing change in this subgenre.
Highlights: “White Christ” and “Starless Paths”.
Mammoth Caravan – Ice Cold Oblivion
Genre: Doom/sludge metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5An album vibrating with the amount of crusty fuzz it outputs. While it throws some sludgy aggression at you at regular intervals, the playing is largely unengaging, and ends up feeling a bit too much of a long jam session.
Megaton Sword – Might & Power
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5A traditional, rugged heavy metal album that’s not content with sticking to any restrictive formulas. Although there’s not too much flirting with other subgenres, this feels like the band having landed in classic territory as a result of their natural style, and not the other way around, and so they bend the music in whichever direction suits them. The songwriting is very strong, resulting in a set of individually distinct tracks. There’s an argument that some energy is lost following the first two songs, and that the album could have ended on a more forceful note, but an attentive listen will still reward you with creative nuggets from start to finish.
Highlights: “Iron Plains” and “Might”.
Merlock – Onward Strides Colossus
Genre: Doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Atmospheric doom with a slightly psychedelic, grunge-like approach. The energy level varies greatly, from near-sludgy, noisy highs to tranquil ambience. The immersion is good, even though it’s the kind of record where there’s no clear way forward.
Morphetik – Proclamation Of War
Genre: Thrash metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Galloping-to-war thrash that dips in to the chaotic every now and then. It’s loud, fast and aggressive, just as it should be, but you quickly get the impression that you’re hearing the same basic idea on repeat.
Mortalus – We Are Human
Genre: Heavy/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 1.5/5
Objective rating: 2/5A fairly heavy-handed and clumsily performed, thrash-riffed heavy metal record.
No Spill Blood – Eye Of Night
Genre: Doom/sludge metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A darkly atmospheric sludge metal record where the guitar is replaced with spooky-toned synth. It feels very much like the intended effect on the sound is achieved, and it very effectively transports you to a gloomy, unfriendly place. It sounds heavy, but not particularly harsh, so definitely for those who value atmosphere over groove.
Oerheks – Landschapsanachronismen
Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5A sound that seems born from the rustling of the forest leaves during a black, stormy night. The sweeping, mournful melodies feel like echoes from past ages, that speak of nothing but the futility of existence. The production here is as low-fi as you get, sounding like something carried on the wind from some distance away. But the actual performances and atmospheric elements are both effective and highly impactful.
Omega Infinity – The Anticurrent
Genre: Progressive black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5A wave of howling cosmic black metal that is the most effective anti-space-travel message you’ll hear this month. It paints a horrifying sonic picture of forces so utterly devastating and hostile to life that it snuffs out the brightest hope like a matchstick in a hurricane. The vocal approach varies between snarling screams, brutal roars and haunting moans, and the rhythm is either a churning maelstrom or a coiled spring waiting to be released. Not a pleasant listen, but that’s most certainly not the point.
Sarcoptes – Prayers To Oblivion
Genre: Black/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Ready for some modernized, thrash-powered black metal serving up a feast of Slayer-inspired riffs like morsels to a starving crowd? The tone is confidently aggressive and darkly melodic, sounding a bit like something off Children of Bodom’s Something Wild. The playing is technical, flirting ever so slightly with tech death, but every time you think it might erupt into something flamboyant it returns to an old school riff section or some hefty blast beats. Not hugely innovative, but highly enjoyable.
Highlights: “Dead Silence” and “Massacre at My Lai”.
Satanika – Horde Of Disgust
Genre: Black/death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5This is not your typical blackened death metal, but rather a riff-driven, filthy banger with a fairly muddled production. It sounds spirited, albeit a bit undisciplined, with some of the performances some times tripping over each other, and the rhythms are less than razor sharp. But it’s excellent headbanging fuel.
Steel Panther – On The Prowl
Genre: Glam metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Reviewing a Steel Panther album for its purely musical merits seems a bit besides the point, and so the individual enjoyment of it becomes critical. If you can’t get enough of the juvenile jokes and take the odd engaging riff section as a bonus, then this’ll work just fine. But be warned that this is a ballad-heavy beast.
They Grieve – To Which I Bore Witness
Genre: Atmospheric doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A slow and bitterly lamenting sound that projects anguish and vulnerability in equal measure. There is rage and forcefulness in the heavier parts, but they dissipate into a ponderous flow of dark emotion that is at once heavy and vaporous.
To The Grave – Director’s Cuts
Genre: Deathcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 4/5This is brutal, percussive, take-no-prisoners deathcore. Little to no melody emerges from this infernal cacophony, only massive, threatening ambience, creating a suitably dark and hellish soundscape. The rhythm precision is fantastic, and the relatively varied, animalistic vocal performance is a crisp counterweight to the gut-punch, earthquake-summoning instruments.
Venomous Concept – The Good Ship Lollipop
Genre: Hardcore/punk/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5The amalgamation of different styles on this record works on many different levels. Punk attitude meets grindcore directness, and is furthermore tempered by groove-oriented traditional heavy metal rhythm sensibilities. The result feels fresh and crisp, yet retains the grittiness and old school class of a hypothetical Motörhead-hardcore fusion, It’s not the heaviest or most technically extravagant thing you’ll ever hear, but it’s obvious from the very first notes that this is not the point. Turn up the volume and rock the fuck out.
Highlights: “Timeline” and “Voices”.
Wanderer – Indulgence of the Unreal (EP)
Genre: Hardcore/death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A sometimes ominous growl-in-the-dark, sometimes brutally direct hammer blow of an EP. You get a riff- and atmosphere-oriented mix of hardcore and grind-y death metal that lands exceptionally hard, although it doesn’t try to knock you off your feet with any out-of-control rhythms or over-exaggerated joint instrumental assaults. It’s heavy, slightly sludgy bad-assery from start to finish.
Highlights: “Pure Human Despair” and “Hatred”.
Wretched Fate – Carnal Heresy
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5You know when death metal hits that perfect furious-evil tone that sounds like the very earth creaking and splitting apart like massive, dry wood being subjected to extreme punishment? If you haven’t experienced it before, then this album will do it for you. This is pure morbidity expressed through demonic rage and tempered by a wickedly seductive sense of primal rhythm and grandiose, black atmosphere. It feels raw and jagged, and yet the low-end brutality comes through as rolling thunder, and none of the crisp details are lost in the mix.
Highlights: “Umbilical Suffocation” and “Upon the Weak”.
7 H.Target – Yantra Creating
Genre: Experimental/technical death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5An insane-yet-impressive display of violent technicality serving the purpose of telling a feverishly psychedelic story of divine powers at work. It’s got all the hallmarks of modern, crushing death metal, subjected to chaotic and dissonant rhythmic sensibilities and an influx of South-East Asian melodic elements.
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.
-
Weekly rundown February 17 – 2023
A week of bands trying to overwhelm you, be it with progressive shape-shifting, dizzying technicality, a chameleonic style display or an overload of speed and aggression. Take your pick.
Avatar – Dance Devil Dance
Genre: Alternative/groove metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Even more so than last time, Avatar steps away from the conceptual approach for a more straightforward stab at their particular brand of alternative/groove/melodeath mashup. That doesn’t mean it’s gonna be predictable, which has always been one of the band’s strengths. Yet again they’ve slightly reinvented themselves while remaining instantly recognizable. This is a more aggressive and heavy Avatar than we’ve seen in a while, but just as you feel like they might have settled into a particular direction, the album shift gears and jump from dark industrial metal to rock n’ roll, to dance beats to dirty hard rock. It’s just the right level of unhinged, and while there aren’t really any massive, towering standouts on here, the level of fun and quality songwriting secures some serious replay value.
Highlights: “Valley of Disease” and “Do You Feel in Control?”
Dead Soul Alliance – Spiralling To Lunacy
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Classic violent-nightmare-toned death metal that likes it best at a high pace. It manages a fairly good balance between meaty fullness and sharp attack, with a ever-so-slightly muddled production. There are attempts at sinister melody, but most of the time it doesn’t harmonize all to well with the rest.
Dusk – Spectrums
Genre: Progressive metalcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A melodic-progressive stab at modern metalcore leaning into melodeath. It incorporates a bit of industrial, bit of electronica and nu-metal as well, which makes for a varied listen, although not the most stylistically confident. Also, the vocal harmonization isn’t exactly on point, although the instrumentals are solid enough.
Exhibition – The Last Laugh
Genre: Hardcore/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5This is in-your-face metallic hardcore that rides a suitably slack line between thrash metal ferocity and punk rock directness. Most of it feels very in-the-moment, like it was produced in a frenzy of intense inspiration. You get lyric-spitting attitude as much as catchy riff sections, and at no point does anything feel over-embellished. While not going to the wildest extremes of any of the subgenres, it’s a highly spirited and competent street-crowd pleaser.
Highlights: “Losing Control” and “Bottom Feeder”
Graphic Nature – A Mind Waiting To Die
Genre: Nu metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A highly rhythmic, djent-powered and wrongness-toned nu metal project that takes some of the punch from deathcore and slam, and the raw-throated attitude of hardcore to propel a fairly classic Korn-style approach, only with less vocal range.
Gravehuffer – Depart From So Much Evil
Genre: Death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5An ultra-raw stab at death doom that doesn’t really try to hard to be both things at once, instead dividing sinister atmosphere and chugging attack from each other. There are several stoner elements to the tone, and overall it sounds like something early White Zombie might have come up with if they suddenly decided to go very dark.
Half Me – Soma
Genre: Industrial metalcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A mega-chug mix of industrial artificiality, metalcore melody and post-hardcore sappiness. It’s big and vibrant, with catchy, simple rhythms and enough aggression to tempt fans of heavier material.
Hail The Void – Memento Mori
Genre: Doom/stoner metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Ringing out in the darkness of a small, blackened hall, this is Sabbath-toned, stoner-groovy doom with a slight gothic flair. The production is on point, with crunchy guitars, a full bass tone and clean, well-defined vocals. They do hit some slopes in the progression that doesn’t get filled with enough atmosphere to keep the experience completely afloat, but the reward for hanging in there is some excellent peaks of heavy riff goodness.
Hellripper – Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags
Genre: Black/speed metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5Full tilt ahead! The one-man-band that is Hellripper has unleashed another utterly restless, thrash-infused melodic black metal onslaught. In here are traces of early Metallica and Motörhead, with the lead guitar playfulness of speedy, classic heavy metal. Where many subgenre peers run headlong into a mire of well-worn tremolo work and single-minded rhythms, the playing on here stays hungry and evasive, never sticking with the same approach for long. While the vocal style and some of the slightly slower melodic work is certainly on the dark side, this never feels like a morose kind of affair, with the impressively in-control instrumental performances oozing with adrenaline and daring you to keep up. The inclusion of bagpipes is also a solid plus.
Highlights: “Warlocks Grim and Withered Hags” and “Goat Vomit Nightmare”.
Hexer – Abyssal
Genre: Doom/sludge metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A dark, moody and hostile doom album of excellently soul-crushing atmosphere, that is let down by a fairly one-dimensional vocal performance and overly muted instruments.
Horrible Earth – Weakened By Civilization
Genre: Grindcore/hardcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A full-throttle grinder that wooshes past your ears in less than 16 minutes, and so you think less of individual songs than the experience as a whole. There’s a very distinct hardcore element to the album, strutting right under the ferocious surface. While there approach is mostly very recognizable, there are some interesting detours and playful instrumental passages that rewards an attentive listen.
Last Legion – Metall, Blod, & Aska
Genre: Thrash/black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A mid-tempo blackened thrasher themed around human destruction and warfare. You get a bit of Scandinavian folk melody on top, which adds a nice layer of melancholy. Otherwise it’s pretty straight up semi-groove aggressive riffing.
Man Must Die – The Pain Behind It All
Genre: Technical groove/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This one’s on a very ear-catching path of technical groove metal, also incorporating some thrash directness, melodic death metal rawness and hardcore attitude. The playing is speedy and at times quite intricate, but never feels overwhelming, instead pulling you along at breakneck speed down a narrow rabbit hole of rhythmic fury. There’s plenty of catchy rhythms and just enough flexibility in the tone to make it interesting. Definitely recommended for fans of Kataklysm and Lamb of God.
Highlights: “Bring Me the Head of the King” and “Enabler”.
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Land Of Sleeper
Genre: Psychedelic/doom/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5This is one of those “How much fuzz is enough fuzz? – Yes” kind of scenarios. There’s a prevailing traditional metal eagerness to get off and running, but every now and then a heavy, doom-toned lead weight grabs a hold and pulls everything down into a pit of sinister slowness. The third factor is a psychedelic sense of experimentation, which makes sure that the songs never really end up heading in quite the direction you had expected. It sounds like the real deal – classic but not old. And each of the three aspects pulling at the overall sound feel fulfilled and purposeful.
Pelegrin – Ways Of Avicenna
Genre: Doom metal/atmospheric rock
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A mix of wistful, heavy-backed melody and a mildly psychedelic, prog-rock-y approach to vocals and overall intensity. It’s mostly a rather calm and complacent thing, but does break into some classy instrumental surges every now and then.
Scars of Oblivion – Misanthropy
Genre: Melodic/progressive death metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A bit of a mismatch between the melodic approach of such bands as Black Dahlia Murder with some modern technicality and a progressive restlessness. It lands neither here nor there, but has some competent technicality to offer a casual listener.
See You Next Tuesday – Distractions
Genre: Deathcore/mathcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A death/grind/mathcore nightmare that’s either all harsh intensity or all disturbing atmosphere. The feeling is a bit like a darkened-asylum-horror-house visit, on some experience enhancing drug. There is some genuinely solid songwriting and instrumentation behind it though, and the hoarse vocal style adds a suitably sharpened focus.
Siege Of Power – This Is Tomorrow
Genre: Thrash/death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Some brutalized and ragged thrash metal from this death-derived supergroup. Everything is as raw and direct as you might probably hope for, with an evil tone backing the war-machine riffs. While it scores well on entertainment value, there is little to no innovation on display, which lends an air of staleness.
Skinflint – Hate Spell
Genre: Heavy/thrash/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A kind of slightly choked up heavy metal approach with polite traces of thrash and black metal. A very rusty vocal style is matched up with fairly choppy-rhythmed, yet groove-rich playing. The tone is on the doomy side, but doesn’t feel sullen. Not particularly confident style-wise, perhaps, but could grow into something quite interesting.
Street Tombs – Reclusive Decay
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Classic, evil-for-the-fun-of-it death metal with simple rhythms, catchy, precise riffs and a slightly blackened tone. While it’s not the freshest stuff you’ll hear this week, it’s one you can have fun with, just basking in the more superficially attractive aspects of the subgenre.
Thod – Asklepios
Genre: Experimental hardcore/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5A selectively low-fi, doom-heavy black metal experience that goes for an interesting concept, but is too limited in its performances to get all the way.
Tithe – Inverse Rapture
Genre: Grindcore/death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5What could have been a somber, blackened death metal record amped up to something far more relentless and chaotic, There’s layers to this one, with sludgy vocals, an “unholy-ceremony”-type tone and the impatience of grindcore tugging at the momentum. There’s plenty to find if you decide to listen actively.
Tramalizer – Fumes Of Funeral Pyres
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is sinister, axe-wielding death metal with a thrash-y leaning towards meaty riffs and speedy rhythms. And so even as the tone dips into death and damnation, you get playful guitar solos, energizing drum antics and an old school melodeath vocal style. In other words, things never get too serious, and you get to appreciate creative, groove-tinged, raw-edged detours that brings to mind the likes of At the Gates.
Highlights: “The Rostov Ripper” and “Curse of the Lake Drag”.
Ulthar – Anthronomicon
Genre: Progressive death/black metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5This is one of those off-sounding death metal releases that makes you feel like maybe you should be panicking, but somehow it’s in a good way. Pulsing like a malicious force, constantly morphing into new, shocking forms appearing like parodies of nature, this is progressive extreme metal done right – with a thematic purpose. It may never really come to any sort of steady rest, but all the different rhythms it skips through are remarkably solid. Everything comes through clear and raw in the production, allowing you to savor every second of the instrumental madness. The album makes up one half of a twin release by the band, the other being the long-form, more doomy “Helionomicon”.
Highlights: “Astranumeral Octave Chants” and “Cultus Quadrivium”.
Ulthar – Helionomicon
Genre: Progressive black/death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5This album delves into a dizzying exploration of progressive, cosmic black metal, adding lots of death metal brutality and a good dose of doomy atmosphere. It consists of two, roughly 20-minute songs, but it doesn’t really feel like it. The scope of the songs aren’t trying to be epic, instead pouring on the intensity like there’s no tomorrow. And somehow that doesn’t end up feeling exhausting, which is a testament to the craftmanship. You could argue that some opportunities for big, identity-forging contrasts are lost in the frenzy, but you can’t fault the consistent quality of what pours through your speakers, or the creative eagerness behind it. The album makes up one half of a twin release by the band, the other being the more traditionally structured, progressive death-centric “Anthronomicon”.
War Orphan – Unite
Genre: Hardcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Insistent, punk-rock-y hardcore with lots of gang vocals. The production is low on meatiness, which softens the impact some, and overall the sound is a bit tame to really grab your attention.
Winds Of Tragedy – Hating Life
Genre: Melodic black/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5An aggressive, bitter-toned black metal album that feels like it’s sinking further and further into a mire of doomy hopelessness the further it goes. Admirably, the tempo remains fairly high for the duration of the record, but the forcefulness of the instrumentation, with brutality meeting cold melody, does fade a little after the first few songs, and the rest sounds largely like more of the same.
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.
-
Weekly rundown February 10 – 2023
This week seems to be about all forms of death metal save the actual core version of the subgenre. Doom, melodic, technical and progressive are all at the forefront though.
Ad Omega – Aphelic Ascent
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5An unholy cacophony of bitter riff tone, imposing rhythms and dissonant lead work. At its best it feels very on point for a conceptual approach, and deserves its serious demeanor, although part of that is inviting in a lot of non-melodic, noisy turbulence that can feel stagnant to someone not leaning deeply into the material.
Aphyxion – Ad Astra
Genre: Metalcore/alternative metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5Aggressive, yet heavily sing-along chorus-oriented modern metalcore with dissonant djent-riffs and synth-infused, radio-friendly melodies.
Big Laugh – Consume Me
Genre: Hardcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A garbage-bin-to-car-window, energetic hardcore onslaught loaded with punk attitude. There’s enough garage rock groove in there to invite some rhythmic head shaking and fist throwing as well. If you’ve got a shred of punk spirit then this will get you in a good mood.
Cadaver Shrine – Benighted Desecration
Genre: Death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Real rough-around-the-edges death doom that sounds ultra sinister. It leans more or less into an abyssal doom space, but has several dominant up-tempo death metal chug sections that are probably the highlights of the album. All in all this is the kind of thing that makes you feel like nothing will ever be right in the world ever again.
Delain – Dark Waters
Genre: Symphonic/pop metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Delain are back and offering… pretty much exactly what you’d expect, with solid pop melodies and power metal rhythms delivered with plenty of symphonic umph. This is the perfect lift-you-up if you’ve dug yourself a little too deep into a depressive funeral doom slump and just need to soak in the light of a sonic sun for a while. But I wouldn’t go as far as calling it anything special.
Distant – Heritage
Genre: Deathcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A planet-scale invasion of machines expressing their fury through a monumental sonic assault. This is deathcore stomping hard on the brutality pedal and delivering it with artificial precision. It sounds massive, but there’s a feeling that its layers are there for the sake of the force of the impact alone. For someone not completely sold on the deathcore formula, this will likely seem rather by-the-numbers.
Flub – Dream Worlds (EP)
Genre: Technical/progressive death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Who said that technical death metal has to sound like a multi-limbed automaton gone apeshit? Flub brings the neoclassical touch to the table, and it just makes everything better. It’s adventurous and melodic, while allowing in all of the aggression and furious insectoid technicality that you’ll be craving. It’s a short one this, but offers instrumental versions of all the tracks as a bonus, which turns out to actually have some value in that you can completely devote your concentration to the brilliant playing.
Highlight: “Paracosm”.
Fredlös – Fredlös
Genre: Folk/black/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A blackened folk journey along the darker parts of the Scandinavian medieval landscape. This has a mystic quality to it, and offers up pagan melody, a doom-heavy bottom tone and some black metal melancholic aggression. There is some disharmony to the vocal-instrumental meld that seems a little off, but it’s probably intentional.
Frozen Dawn – The Decline of the Enlightened Gods
Genre: Melodic black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5There’s a very up-front appeal to dark metal played with a classic heavy metal approach. The vocals and instrumental tone are all dialed in to “unholy”, and then the tempo and lead guitar work comes in and mostly ignores it. Depressive turns to peppy and icicle-to-the-eye guitar solos turn adventurous and just a tad sleazy. This one still manages to hold on to an air of black majesty, and there’s a pleasing fullness to the sound that safely lands it in the melodic black metal camp. While not particularly rich in standout moments, this is a highly enjoyable record that reaches both inwards and outwards from the purely black metal sphere.
Highlight: “Wanderer of Times”.
In Flames – Foregone
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5Is this the day that we finally declare In Flames to be back on form? The day that most old school fans had given up hope on? Well, as always, it depends. If you just want more of Clayman-and-earlier-era In Flames, then the answer is about as much no as yes, but if all you care about is the band turning back to actual melodic death metal, then we might very well be on to something. And that’s probably where I’ll leave the expectations part of this review behind. Foregone sees the band not only darkening the tone and upping the aggression, but genuinely leaning into old school Gothenburg influences and that sprinkling of Scandinavian folk melody that helped define them. But there’s never any doubt that the guys have moved on. There’s a mildness and catchy groove that at this point seems ingrained in their musical approach, and the result is that this is still, to a certain point, death metal for the masses. Bottom line though, the material on here feels purposeful, rock solid, and made with both old and new fans in mind. Personally, as a long time fan, I’m delighted to say that the wait has been worth it.
Highlights: “State of Slow Decay” and “Foregone, Pt. 1”.
Negative Blast – Echo Planet
Genre: Hardcore/garage rock
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Major Kvelertak vibes with this one. Although you don’t get as much of a conceptual feel, there’s a strong identity that’s mostly tied to the somewhat bluesy, kind of black n’ roll tone. It certainly helps elevate what is otherwise mostly spirited garage rock to a sort of hardcore equivalent of Witchery area, and ain’t nothing wrong with that.
Oak – Disintegrate
Genre: Doom/death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Yes, this is a single 45-minute sullen-toned doom track, so you can see the Bell Witch comparison coming a mile away. This is much more in the realm of death doom, however, and so you never really find the funeral doom label fitting too well. That means, to put it plainly, “more” content, higher tempo and a whole other level of blatant aggression. The melodies tremble with sorrow and misery, but it’s not a slowly grinding millstone of world-ending proportions, as it relies more on the flow of intensity in the instrumental and vocal performances than simply atmosphere. The production hasn’t left as much a feeling of grandeur as might have been fitting for a song of such epic proportions, but on the flipside you get a more directly engaging listening experience.
Terrestrial Hospice – Caviary To The General
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Some bile-spitting black metal for you. With the incessant drum attack and straightforward format of the songs, you get a feeling that they’re in a hurry to get to the finish line. They do pull out a few tricks along the way though, with some haunting backing-tremolo that sounds like a ceremonious pledge towards the stars of the night sky. Mostly though, they seem content to roam inferno.
Thin – Dusk
Genre: Mathgrind
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5Sheeez, this is some fiendish stuff to try to get into. It’s like an on/off torture method with semi-regular intervals. Everything is either sharp, shrieking, dissonant or harsh, and completely out of control. An then the roughly 14-minute runtime comes to an end and you wonder what the hell you just heard. A trip, for sure.
Veilcaste – Precipice
Genre: Sludge/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A slow-running, viscous thing that’s also full of gravel. It’s sludge brought down to a doom tempo, which puts the heavy groove into the spotlight, along with the dissonant elements that are trying to compete with the cosmic atmosphere.
View From The Soyuz – Immaculate (EP)
Genre: Hardcore/metalcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Metallic hardcore with some strong early As I Lay Dying and Machine Head vibes. It’s aggressive and direct, yet visits a series of moods and influences during the span of its limited runtime. Apart from metalcore and groove, there’s some thrash and a good bit of old school melodeath. There are seriously catchy breakdowns and engaging melodic details. But the best part is that they never see the need to go soft. A clenched-fist approach seem to fit the band beautifully, and they pour that energy out into their clearly emphatic performances.
Highlights: “Caligula” and “Sky Burial”.
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.
-
Weekly rundown February 03 – 2023
We kickstart February with a compact delivery of seriously high quality content. Doom dominates at the top, showing off the full extent of its versatility, each record pulling you into a separate, vast universe to explore it at a haste-free pace.
All Out War – Celestial Rot
Genre: Hardcore/death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5This is the kind of aggression where you start to wonder where they find the time to breathe. Once this starts, it goes full tilt until the point where someone probably cut the recording studio power and hauled the guys back to their padded cells. It’s got the classic spiked-bat hardcore mentality pulsing manically throughout, and so no matter if they dip into death metal, black metal or old school metalcore, there’s that let-the-world-burn energy overloading everything with chaotic exuberance. It’s unrefined, and probably not for those who prefer groove to raw energy, but it’s wake you up, that’s for sure.
Carathis – The Moonstone Temple (EP)
Genre: Black/gothic metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Black metal bands messing with the formula tend to be a lot of fun, or at least quite charming. This one falls somewhere in between, with what feels like a carefully cultivated “fun fair of the damned” flair to the tone, which invites you in to a world of endless trails of candle wax and spider webs. While it’s certainly not a dead serious kind of album, there are some genuinely solid melodies casting a tragic majesty upon the proceedings. The production is suitably low-fi, and the instrumental work focused rather than flamboyant.
Highlight: “The Prayer”.
Clouds Taste Satanic – Tales of Demonic Possession
Genre: Doom metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5A 4-song double disc album clocking in at 1 hour and 19 minutes playtime. Yes, it’s doom, and yes, it’s instrumental. If none of those things are deal breakers, then I see no reason why you won’t thoroughly enjoy this. It’s certainly long-form, but it’s not trying to be slow for slow’s sake. It’s not trying to depress you with an overwhelmingly gloomy tone or hypnotize you with a droning, repetitive rhythm. This is like a laid back journey atop the back of some massive beast plodding along at its own pace, taking you through shifting landscapes and events both monumental and insignificant, solely as an observer, with the perfect doomy guitar tone as your trusty companion.
Highlight: “Spirits of the Green Desert”
Elderseer – Drown In The Shallowness
Genre: Doom/melodic black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5This feels a bit like an old Dark Tranquillity album slowed way down. There’s the heavy riffs, the melancholic, sweeping melodies and the rasping growls. Add to that a slightly husky production finish and you’re most of the way there. The tone is great, although the style of playing on here doesn’t quite suit the tempo.
Endorphins Lost – Night People
Genre: Hardcore/grindcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A bloodshot, hoarse-throated gale of thrashing guitars and wild drumming. It certainly delivers on energy, and if you just want some music to stomp on you, you’ve got your thing right here.
Fvnerals – Let The Earth Be Silent
Genre: Ambient/cinematic doom metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5Welcome to the horror of pitch black, unfathomable eternity closing in on you. There’s no escape from this cavernous soundscape that is created around you. At some points of the experience that feels fine, and at others it feels suffocating. It’s both subtle and grand, with a ritualistic, threatening tone that stretches out into uncaring endlessness, and then collapses on top of you with the crash of heavy riffs. If you’re fine with this being the prevailing idea for the whole album, you’ll probably love the immersion on here.
Highlights: “Ashen Era” and “Barren”
Memoriam – Rise To Power
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Saw-toothed death metal that isn’t afraid to ride the thrash train for a bonus speed boost. It’s what you’ve come to expect from Memoriam, with war-themed lyrics, characteristic hoarse vocals and a slightly sanded-down finish. At some points it feels like they slightly overestimate the groove that they’re able to conjure up on here, adding the odd guitar squeal to otherwise fairly flat riff sections. But for a grinder of a old school death metal record with medium low focus on melody it certainly feels like it’s earning it’s place on the contemporary scene.
Mithridatum – Harrowing
Genre: Progressive black/death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5If dissonance is your thing then you’re getting seriously indulged with this one. It’s certainly not at the level where it’s just chaotic noise, but it constantly chooses to stay outside of reach of harmony, like it’s mocking your desire for a moment of clean melody. The rhythms swell and fade as they see fit, giving the flow of the album a life of its own. And it does move, never leaving you feeling stuck, although there doesn’t seem to be any obvious destination in mind.
Osiah – Chronos
Genre: Deathcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5It gets clear pretty quickly that the band is just out to rip and tear on this one. They throw themselves headlong into breakneck rhythm sections, punctuated by thundering bass and topped by eerie guitar work. There’s not a ton you won’t have heard before, but there’s still lots of goodies for fans of heavy technicality.
Rexoria – Imperial Dawn
Genre: Power/folk metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Sparkly, shouting-from-the-top-of-the-crystal-tower power metal with some folky tendencies. The lyrics and melodies are predictably cheesy, and the rhythms about as straightforward as you get, but the band’s performances are top notch.
Sanguisugabogg – Homicidal Ecstasy
Genre: Death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5Having evolved slightly from their last album, the band now appears to have some purpose beyond grabbing a hold of your brain through your ears and shaking it violently. Don’t worry though, this is still fucking heavy, and still in it for the shits and giggles, but there’s a whole level of attention devoted to rhythm, and very suitably expanded range of gurgly vocals. All in all, the same half-ironic, mallet-swinging savagery as before, but now coming at you from slightly unexpected angles.
WuW – L’Orchaostre
Genre: Avant-garde doom metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is doom that takes on a slow, unpredictable stagger, only occasionally broken up by rushes of impatient movement. It feels mostly rather unassuming, but builds up to these moments of forceful expression, and the way it moves along between its different states is a bit like a free-form dance. Given the bleak tone, this is not a soundscape to get comfortable in, but rather an invitation to a different perspective on life.
Highlights: “Orchaostre 1” and “Orchaostre 5”.
Xandria – The Wonders Still Awaiting
Genre: Symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This sounds confident, vibrant and exceptionally clean, without coming off as overpolished. The sound reaches far, carried on impressive vocal talent and solidly crafted melodies sprinkled with folk tunes. The album is quite front heavy as far as quality goes, which makes it harder to defend the massive runtime, but the epic scope is prevalent within each song from start to finish.
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.
-
Weekly rundown January 27 – 2023
A landslide of a week where death and black metal goes toe to toe with prog, fielding some worthy contenders that easily stand out of the masses.
Anachronism – Meanders
Genre: Progressive/technical death metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Dissonance all the way on this one. It brings to mind some sort of artificial life blindly and randomly striking out. Even though there has been set aside a little room for contemplative atmosphere, there is little to no melody to go with it, and so this insistent feeling of wrongness prevails. The precision is fantastic, although the approach will probably get repetitive fairly quickly for those less interested in this level of technicality.
…And Oceans – As In Gardens, So In Tombs
Genre: Symphonic black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5A mighty symphonic black metal record that moves simultaneously with the speed of a glacier and an avalanche, with the rhythm section racing away while the overarching melodies glide patiently forward. This is not your average tongue-in-cheek, dark fantasy-themed theatrical approach, rather taking the mood of the atmospheric niche of the subgenre and upping the grandeur to mountainous levels. It lends the experience an air of legitimacy that allows you to fully lean into and embrace the cold, sweeping, folk-tinged themes. An excellently balanced influx of aggression keeps the energy levels up as well.
Highlights: “The Collector and His Construct” and “Cloud Heads”.
Anzillu – Ex Nihilo
Genre: Thrash metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5A dark-ish thrash record with traces of Kreator, as well as some death metal tone and a hardcore bark to the vocals. Speaking of which, the vocals don’t always harmonize all that well with the instrumentation, and overall this feels a bit unimaginative.
Ashen Horde – Antimony
Genre: Progressive black/gothic metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5This is black metal that exists in a kind of limbo in between progressive death and dissonant gothic rock. The instrumentation is absolutely competent, but the sonic image feels ever so slightly confused, never landing fully in one camp or another. That in itself is of course fine, but some times it can feel like a slightly directionless exploration of what works collectively for the musicians.
Bizarrekult – Den Tapte Krigen
Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A pale, unfriendly deep dive into a wandering, yet limited tonal territory, where abrasive black metal competes with subtle, bleak atmosphere. There is sorrow and aggression, but also sections where you are allowed to just enjoy some uncomplicated, cold riffing. The intensity level varies greatly, although there’s a lack of standout moments to fully realize the band as something unique and distinct.
Cancervo – II
Genre: Doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Slow, doomy tones to create a soft, unholy atmosphere that feels mostly warm and inviting, as long as you are fine enjoying them in the dark.
Cerbere – Cendre
Genre: Doom/sludge metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A dark and hostile experience that feels like crawling through a claustrophobic cave system on your hands and knees while the shadows snarl softly at you. The riffs allow for a touch of stoner groove when they decide to hit, so it’s not all abrasive blackness, but considering the tempo it’s certainly not for the impatient.
Conjureth – The Parasitic Chambers
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5An intense death metal landslide that doesn’t shy away from the chaotic, overwhelming approach. But if you can survive past the pummeling, you’re rewarded with some monster thrash-inspired riffs and quite a bit of doom melody. The intensity lever really lets up until the very last song, which is more of a slow creeper, so for the most part this is a wild onslaught with a bit of a blackened, old-school tone.
Dust Prophet – One Last Look Upon The Sky
Genre: Stoner metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5A dry, exploratory kind of stoner record with quite a bit of atmosphere and a slightly stunted, low-fi sound. As expected, there is tons of fuzz and a good bit of mid-tempo groove. Even though a lot of the familiar elements are there, it doesn’t feel run of the mill, opting for slightly odd melodies and experimenting with different rhythms.
Flidais – Pathogen
Genre: Progressive metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5A slice of a slightly different kind of progressive metal, in that it’s not trying to overwhelm you with its technical accomplishments. It sounds traditional, but a bit darker and more industrial than your run of the mill classic prog.
Grief Symposium – …In The Absence Of Light
Genre: Death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A gritty, mid-tempo album where the groove-influenced death metal takes the driver’s seat over the slow, earthy doom. It’s like it’s a bit too impatient to slow all the way down, instead opting for chugging, medium heavy riffs with a touch of sinister disharmony. There’s not all that much melody or atmosphere, apart from the last , 18 min + song , which is mostly ambiance.
Iron Void – IV
Genre: Doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5This is doom with a traditional metal backbone. It strikes a good balance between graveyard tone and old school feelgood, and while the rhythms can be a little unengaging at times, this is definitely enjoyable, with laid back, crunchy guitar work and tasteful vocal work.
Liv Sin – KaliYuga
Genre: Heavy/melodic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Highly headbang-able, melody-focused stuff with some alt metal anger and catchy, hard rock groove. There’s enough kick and attitude to attract those outside the melodic metal sphere, but don’t expect too much in terms of imaginative songwriting or innovative playing.
Malice Divine – Everlasting Ascendancy
Genre: Thrash/death/black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Here’s some tasty aggro-thrash with a black metal-ish tone and just the right amount of death metal heft to keep it light on it’s feet, yet delivering savage blows. The tempo is high and the enthusiasm behind it measurable. At one point it does get a little predictable, but if you like pairing of playfulness, aggression and a touch of theater, all the while staying true to the core subgenres, then you’ll enjoy this.
Malleus – The Fires Of Heaven
Genre: Black/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is the sound of focus. There is nothing superfluous or extravagant about this sound at all. Neither is it clean or understated. Just chopping block ruthless efficiency and an expertly honed fusion of black metal chill and thrash metal zeal. The tone is dry and slightly flat, which allows the sharp guitar wails and snarling vocals pierce through the mix with ease. Not the most adventurous stuff you’ll ever hear, but it’s quality, and feels pretty timeless.
Highlights: “Beyond the Pale” and “Prophetess”.
Mask of Prospero – Hiraeth
Genre: Progressive metalcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5A barebones kind of progressive metalcore setup, where each separate contribution manages a very expansive sound. The drums and bass thunder and the guitars reach all the way to the floor. The vocals are extremely well defined and does a pleasing mix of clean and harsh that isn’t excessively far apart. The intensity varies greatly, and the calm that settles after a section of screams and instrumental outbursts feels serene. There isn’t all too much to the progressive element other than some unorthodox rhythms, but the pacing and timing of the performances are all quite pleasing in their flawlessness.
Methane – Kill It With Fire
Genre: Groove/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Like a controlled stampede, this thing keeps kicking at you in a predictably aggressive manner from start to finish, fueled by rowdy groove and some thrash attitude. The sound is a bit simple, and there are no real surprises, but it’s a good energy boost.
Nephilim’s Noose – Blood Chants Of Impiety
Genre: Death/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5This is earth encrusted, boulder heavy and all-lights-out death doom that’s part chaotic and part oppressive atmosphere, with limited sections of thundering, coordinated riffs. There’s a lot of dissonance that comes along with the wilder parts, and you feel like they’re an attempt at creating a distinct soundspace, but it will take some active willingness from the listener to be transported there.
Obelyskkh – Ultimate Grace Of God
Genre: Experimental doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5This is one of those that you could easily imagine being the soundtrack to madness. Not wild, spinning, uncontrollable lunacy, but a slow descent into a dark delirium. The dark, fuzzy riffs make out the bottom of the sound, creating this threatening base that casts the elements on top in an unsettling light. There’s no clear direction, and so it’s easy to feel lost, or even stuck depending on your inclination.
Ominous Scriptures – Rituals Of Mass Self-Ignition
Genre: Brutal death metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5Noise. Incessant, unfriendly and devoid of melody. The chugging riffs, clicking drums and rolling bass pushes you forward rather than drags you along. There’s a demonic tinge to the tone, but for the most part it gets a bit lost in the mix.
Oozing Wound – We Cater To Cowards
Genre: Experimental hardcore/thrash metal
Subjective rating:3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5A grab-you-by-the-cuff, gleefully unhinged noise project that will appeal to your devil-may-care, destructive side. There are grounding rhythms throughout, which will trick you with a sense of stability while your perception of the world is being fucked with by the lyrical content and the harsh wrongness of the tone.
Raum Kingdom – Monarch
Genre: Progressive sludge metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5If you feel like the depressive tone of grunge, the jaggedness of sludge and unorthodoxy of prog would make a killer combo, then this is for you. This is cerebral, gloomy and at times quite hostile. It feels refined and purposeful, with a unifying tone that makes it both stylistically confident and a bit monotone.
Ronnie Romero – Raised On Heavy Radio
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5Sleaze-tinged, chrome-flaunting heavy metal that sounds like a mix (or ripoff) of all the greatest hits of the 80s.
Schavot – Kronieken Uit De Nevel
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5The sonic equivalent of an ice pick in the night, this is arctic black metal with a dark medieval flair. It’s a thin, direct sound with little to no embellishment, and a spot-on guitar tone that takes you to lands of gothic castles on jagged, snow covered mountains, where the light of burning torches are smothered by deathly mist. The intent of the musicians is crystal clear throughout, with a tight rhythm and razor sharp tremolo leading the way and covering the path in frost as you go. While the general feel is quite similar from song to song, you never get bogged down in unnecessary atmosphere, and so the overall impression is one of efficiency.
Highlights: “Zwart Water” and “De Laatste Dans Gedanst”.
Seer Of The Void – Mantra Monolith
Genre: Doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Dark, cult-y doom with plenty of crisp stoner groove. This leads you into a black, candle lit cellar and makes you enjoy your stay with alluring guitar work and a pleasing, warm bass tone. The rhythm can get a bit staccato at times, and there’s not amazing progression, but as a non-binding dip into the doom ool this does the job quite well.
Sorrowful Land – Faded Anchors Of The Past
Genre: Doom metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5Sullen, momentous doom that’s on the way to funeral tempo, but doesn’t quite go there. This feels like haunting sorrow all the way, wallowing in a thick mist of abyssal melancholy, even in the parts where the riffs swell. While the slowness is competently managed by nuanced rhythm work, the melodic parts can feel kind of nondescript, and doesn’t add too much other than a feeling of misery.
Superterrestrial – The Fathomless Decay
Genre: Black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5Cosmic black metal that, in line with its theme, is on the hostile, unfeeling side. There are moments of melancholy and even fiery anger, but they have a tendency to get sucked into the void of bleakness.
The World Is Quiet Here – Zon
Genre: Progressive/technical death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5A wide-reaching progressive album that at first listen checks off a lot of the classic prog boxes, then introduces you to its dark twin personality without ever really slipping completely out of the first. In here is quite a bit of tech death, that will play the part of Hyde on and off for longer and shorter sections. It never really overwhelms with its technicality, instead adding an aggressive and forceful peak to the underlying beat and melody work. The vocals range demonstrated on here is expansive to say the least, with a large palate of harsh and clean to suit the prevailing mood.
Highlights: “Heliacal Vessels Part 1: The Mothers of No Kin” and “Moonlighter”.
Zombie Riot – World Epitaph
Genre: Death/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5No-nonsense death metal with the urgency and naked riff love of thrash. It’s not the most refined stuff you’ll ever hear, nor is it actively trying to sound any rougher than it really is. It’s a raw, guitar-led, evil-toned scorcher, that only just misses out on the big, catchy hooks that could have made it a true headbanging gem.
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.
