Overall, I was not really sold on their debut, but Funeral for a King sees Stygian Crown return with significantly improved writing and performances, as they seem to lean into their death doom influence stronger than before. The amalgamation of death and epic doom tropes leads to a uniquely feeling album. But will it reign supreme in our Goat’s estimation?
Read moreFathomless Ritual – Hymns for the Lesser Gods Review
The Goat once waxed poetically about the challenges of wearing your influences on your sleeve a little too much. One potential offender, Fabricant, overcame this issue by adjusting for the time that had passed, imagining a Demilich that never stopped making music and took in new ideas without ever losing track of who they were. Fathomless Ritual is a Demilich worship band as well and similarly don’t feel like a total ripoff. Even still, do they do more than just play riffs like lesser gods?
Read moreCrypts of the Unknown: Loss – Horizonless
Have you ever come across an album that you enjoy, but seemingly no other human in existence knows about it? Or maybe an album that ticks all the boxes in a style that doesn’t get a lot of love? Oh, and of course, you’ve found this album long after it would have mattered to help the band spread the word… or perhaps it’s just your dirty little secret… Join us as Metalligator reminisces on Loss’s 2017 release Horizonless. It may not be perfect, but how would you know?
Read moreGolden Core – Kosmos Brenner Review
Golden Core have shoved a lot of black metal influence into their work here. At their very best they use it as a violent cathartic contrast to follow up passages of head-nodding, rumbling stoner fare. Cosmos Tremmer makes a Kosmos Brenner!
Read moreGriffon – De Republica Review
Taking a decidedly anti-authoritarian and perhaps even antifascist perspective, each song here is about a different time period in history, with the prime focus being French history. Every track takes on a melancholic tinge, and can be considered laments, because nothing feels triumphant. What a Monday pick-me-up!
Read moreThis Week In Metal, 2024 Week 8
Another week, another round of metal reviews in the bag. Words are tough, so we assembled the highlights. And if you want to read the latest reviews for the new offerings from Hulder, Chelsea Wolfe, and Secret you can do that too!
Read moreSecrets – Towards the Nightside Review
There is probably a limit to how much love can be shown to a band that is so obviously reminiscent of those that came before but Secrets push at that limit. So what is the secret to Secrets’ success?
Read moreCrypts of the Unknown: Lorn – Arrayed Claws
Have you ever come across an album that you enjoy, but seemingly no other human in existence knows about it? Or maybe an album that ticks all the boxes in a style that doesn’t get a lot of love? Oh, and of course, you’ve found this album long after it would have mattered to help the band spread the word… or perhaps it’s just your dirty little secret… Join us as Metalligator reminisces on Lorn’s 2017 release Arrayed Claws. It may not be perfect, but how would you know?
Read moreChelsea Wolfe – She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She Review
As variety is the name of the game, you never know what sonic territory Wolfe explores on a new album until you press play. Will the direction of She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She (no this isn’t a typo) strike Croque’s fancy?
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