Our This Week in Metal post collects our thoughts on music released in or around this week in the music world. We cover mostly metal, but we consider other genres to allow our writers poseur flexibility. Follow us on Instagram too!
Scuttlegoat's Curmudgeonly Critique
Goat hates the concept of giving the “benefit of the doubt” when it comes to music reviews. Too often, reviewers claim an album needs several listens to be rated properly. Whatever happened to trusting instincts? In our Goat’s view, this search for redeeming qualities often leads to softening critiques. But with Grendel’s Sÿster’s Katabasis into the Abaton / Abstieg in die Traumkammer, he knew immediately—no doubt about it.
Metalligator's Chomping Commentary
How would a painter handle sound? Pretty damn well, it turns out. Mondestunken’s most defining feature is Alex Weber’s bass, a dynamic center-point which leads the songs on a drunken stroll, calling to mind the style of Aseitas or perhaps even the jazzy all out war of Sarmat’s debut album with its technical dissonance. But for all its flash, does it have its own style?
Cosmo's Chaotic Curveball
There will always be a special place in Cosmo’s heart for Fleshgod Apocalypse, since it was one of the first bands that he fell in love with in his formative years. But will their latest aria bridge the gap between fanbat and metal connoisseur?
Anti-Peat's Perplexing Position
No band has meant more to me than Dark Tranquillity. Yet somehow I’d have missed the release date of Endtime Signals if friends hadn’t reminded me. Part of that is me living a more complicated life now I’ve grown up. The other part though is that age has simultaneously fractured Dark Tranquillity’s line-up while also ushering in a calmer sound with less wild album to album evolution. They’re not releasing bad albums, but they’re not punishing heavens any more either.
