Häxkapell leans into a sound that is unmistakably Scandinavian. But Om jordens blod och urgravens grepp is also a black metal album that pays attention to making most of the trek through this earthy forest path memorable. Can its sadboi chords cast a spell on you?
Read moreAshen Tomb – Ecstatic Death Reign
Some albums grab you by the throat from the first note and refuse to let go until the very end. From the very first moments of Ecstatic Death Reign, Finnish death metal band Ashen Tomb unleash a massive sound that demands attention. And this Bear was ready to study it from the comfort of his forest den.
Read moreIniquitous Savagery – Edifice of Vicissitudes Review
“The vibes are right” is not a sufficient review. Unless Scuttlegoat has his way and proves indeed that with enough words, “The vibes are right” is a sufficient review. Come found out if this slab of brutal death metal hits that sweet spot.
Read moreKalandra – A Frame of Mind Review
What is metal? Is it about heaviness? An ethos? Similarity to other metal bands? On A Frame of Mind, Kalandra produce something alienated and questioning, something balanced between heavy and frail.
Read moreBlighted Eye – Agony’s Bespoke Review
One of the joys of reviewing is forcing yourself to distill how you truly feel about a piece of art. The more complicated your initial feelings, the more fun the review is. As such, I should note the first words I spoke about Blighted Eye’s full length debut, Agony’s Bespoke, were that it was “all foreplay no climax”. So, did it eventually hit the right note for Peat?
Read moreVomitrot – Emetic Imprecations Review
This 6 track primitive death metal is everything a death metal bear could wish for. Filled with prehistoric, down-tuned riffs, bass with a heavy presence and quick decisions from the drummer — Emetic Imprecations never holds back and will mercilessly beat you into submission until you vomit and excrete bodily fluids from every hole.
Read moreFeind – Ambulante Hirnamputation Review
Ever met an Icelandic black metal fan? You know the kind that insists that the origin of a band, despite the advancements in communication technology, fully informs their sound — transforming music into something akin to a champagne than an artistic discipline that can be studied, imitated, and paid homage to. No, of course you haven’t. That’s why you’re hear, ready to read a deathgrind review. Good taste comes to those who grind.
Read moreAseitas – Eden Trough Review
Experimentation is abundant in the extreme bounds of metal today. While a lot of bands look for something worthwhile by trying odd techniques, it’s easy to lose sight of working on a defining sound, something that makes a band have that special pull divorced from just pure technique. Aseitas had that from the start. But it’s been a long, trough road for them.
Read moreMonument of Misanthropy – Vile Postmortem Irrumatio Review
I don’t know where my fascination with serial killer themed metal comes from. Sure, I had a phase where I was reading up on them obsessively as a teen, before serial killers became an interest of primarily middle aged moms and I became ashamed admitting it. Join Scuttlegoat as he reignites his titillation for Monument of Middle Aged Mom’s!
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