Stylistic shifts present issues for bands and can be great when they work. Unfortunately, some bands miss the mark entirely. Ulcerate is one such band who had a drastic style change. But you know what they say, if you’ve tempted the Gods with change, all you gotta do is cut their throats.
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Mythologik – Blood in the Sky Review
Texan duo Mythologik proclaim that Blood in the Sky features a mix of melodic blackened death metal musical tendencies with aggressive/soaring vocals like 80s thrash metal. And you know what, these Texans have some of those 80s thrash metal tendencies in the music too. We reckon, anyway. Grab the thrash bull by the horns!
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Malignancy – Discontinued Review
Mid comes in different shades and within mid, different permutations of a basic 5/10 can be found. Some albums have great ideas, but squander their potential elsewhere. Others are extremely by the numbers, containing no surprises and only catering to hardcore fans of their chosen style. Nevertheless, the world can’t discontinue the mid. In mid we trust!
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Matrass – Cathedrals Review
Believe me when I say that I approached Matrass initially with trepidation as the promo text declared that oft tricky “modern” goal. But Matrass then also declared that with this full-length debut, Cathedrals, they aimed to shed groove from their sound and lean heavier into post waters. So which direction are they bedding down after all?
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Árstíðir Lífsins – Aldrlok Review
Aldrlok, by epic pagan black metal band Árstíðir Lífsins, is a true gem, and I have not been gripped by anything this hard in a long time. After last year’s substantial 44 minute “EP” Hermalausaz (intended as a precursor) the band are serving us the real monolith they’ve been crafting since 2021 – Aldrlok. With both releases being recorded, mixed, and mastered at around the same time it was only natural that we would see Aldrlok sooner or later, and it could not have come at a better time.
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Hyperdontia – Harvest of Malevolence Review
There’s a bear on the loose in Goat Review HQ, and we tried to tease him out by tossing Hyperdontia’s newest record out toward the woods. It worked, but he came back with a review. Guess it didn’t sink its teeth in…
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Botanist – Paleobotany Review
Hey look, it’s Botanist, the band with the hammered dulcimer! A consequence of a world filled brimful of good metal bands is that bands become known by their unique thing. Paleobotany, though, is a concept album dedicated to the marvels of the gigantic plants that existed before the Chicxulub asteroid so rudely interrupted their existence. Come on in and see if this release is as big a hit as that!
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Incipient Chaos – Incipient Chaos Review
Playing a no-frills approach to black metal, Incipient Chaos has the potential to become a refreshing, venerable force in the scene beset by cheap, middling melodic black metal and bad raw black metal that people attempt to convince others is good. And, thankfully, their eponymous debut delivers the goods and brings a fresh batch of fast, mean black metal. Well, so says the Cosmo anyway…
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Inconcessus Lux Lucis – Temples Colliding In Fire Review
Inconcessus Lux Lucis play a concoction of new wave of British heavy metal tropes with black metal and maybe the thinnest possible goth sheen. The combination of a boomer musical style with more current metal reminded me of my mixed feelings on Chapel of Disease. Luckily, Temples in Colliding in Fire doesn’t hit me in such a complicated way. Carry on reading and witness the blazing glory.
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Crypts of the Unknown: Lorn – Arrayed Claws
