The factor that sets Varathron apart from other bands playing a similar style is the catchy, fun sound they give the listener. It’s hard not to pump your fist at “Immortalis Regnum Diaboli”. The Crimson Temple has opened its doors for the faithful. It’s up to you if you choose to worship at this altar or not. The Varathron Witnesses are knocking at your door.
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Dead Times – Dead Times Review
This self titled release is decidedly mood based, as it makes use of droning beats and looping synths that sound like calm organ-led melodies to evoke a facsimile of Devotional music. Industrialized devotion.
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Exulansis – Overtures of Uprising Review
Doom isn’t for everyone. Nor is Doom that includes copious amount of chamber-influenced violin, rough ‘n’ tumble Blackened sprints, and sadperson, melodic crooning. But that’s exactly the overflowing platter of existential exploration that Oregon’s Exulansis deliver with Overtures of Uprising. Rise and eat up.
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Neurectomy – Overwrought Review
Tech Death used to be an arms race of dishing out what some might consider too many notes in too little time. Nowadays a lot of Tech Death has lost that aspect in what I suspect is a pursuit of greener (read: more profitable) pastures and a style of Tech that is basically a heightened form of melodic Death Metal seems to be the norm. Neurectomy make an attempt at reviving this classic style of Tech Death. Overwrought or overwritten?
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Autarkh – Emergent Review
Emergent turns inward and outward at the same time. The beats and glitches take on an Industrial character and serve the story more than before. I am no longer disappointed but genuinely intrigued. Emergent quality.
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Autopsy – Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts Review
Autopsy have a new album and it is time for The Goat to, yet again, praise the band for doing the things he would criticize other acts for. Autopsy sticks to what they know, but with Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts coming out barely a year after their last, should The Goat be concerned? Well there are guts in his teeth…
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Wayfarer – American Gothic Review
Atmosphere in Wayfarer’s world is a consequence of understanding the history of the genres they decided to meld, rather than relying on samples or insisting on flavor where there is none, like so many Black Metal artists tend to do. Take a sip of American Gothic.
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Cirith Ungol – Dark Parade Review
The Dark Parade has the ideal kind of throwback production. The album feels organic, warm but natural. The worst tendencies of retro producers – too much reverb and artificially roughing up the production – are mostly eschewed. RAISE YOUR SWORD!
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Afterbirth – In But Not Of Review
The Post-Metal influence is dialed up a bit and the band again reaches into what I would call Relaxing Death Metal territory (RXDM is a term me and a colleague have made up to describe Death Metal that plays around with relaxing atmospheres and major key playing at the same time as being heavy, think bands like Sweven, Gold Spire and in part, this year’s Tomb Mold). But is In But Not Of in?
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