Metalligator, Author at The Goat Review

Madder Mortem – Old Eyes, New Heart Review

February 5, 2024February 4, 2024 Reviewed by Metalligator No comments

We’re lucky to have Norway’s Madder Mortem, as they embody the word progressive to a fault, never doing the same thing between any of their albums. You can always recognize a Madder Mortem song, yet not point to a stale formula in its construction. This is the mark of a band that writes progressively rather than chasing trends. Be the change you want to see!

Review

Caligula’s Horse – Charcoal Grace Review

February 1, 2024January 29, 2024 Reviewed by Metalligator No comments

For Caligula’s Horse, Charcoal Grace is a return to the kind of songwriting that attempts to develop a lot over their runtime of extended-length songs. This band is very adept at their vocal hooks, so it’s no surprise that they lean into the vocals for this newest album. This is NOT a horse of a different color. But it is prog!

Review

The Oldest House – A Worm Through Time

January 27, 2024January 27, 2024 Reviewed by Metalligator No comments

The promo sheet states that the sole creator of this EP, A.M. (what’s in a name?), conceived the music as one long piece that is supposed to be like a “huge wall of static that is creeping slowly towards you.” Fortunately for Metalligator, he did not do a good job of that. Wait, or did he? Guess you have to read to find out.

Review

Narzissus – Akt III: Erlösung Review

January 25, 2024January 25, 2024 Reviewed by Metalligator No comments

Metalligator had no clue what to expect when looking at the odd album cover for Akt III: Erlösung. Some kind of raw black metal produced into harsh noise? Austrian one-man act Narzissus turns out to be a neighbor of that genre: melodic black metal, but not any kind of meloblack. Anti-Nazi meloblack. Yeah, that’s right. Fuck Nazis, no disclaimer here!

Review

Cognizance – Phantazein Review

January 23, 2024January 25, 2024 Reviewed by Metalligator No comments

For us mere mortals, finding something to like in the realms of tech can be like finding a riff in a harsh noise album. Will Cognizance be music to Metalligator’s ears?

Review

Alluvial – Death Is But A Door Review

January 20, 2024January 15, 2024 Reviewed by Metalligator No comments

Alluvial sport a sound that reminds me of Dyscarnate’s With All Their Might if they would also play around with some slams. The four songs on Death Is But A Door cover some different ground in its 17 minutes. “Bog Dweller” has some very intricate drum fills that hint at the band’s past prog chops. Chop and slam!