Do you need a palate cleanser after listening to all that Vortexectomy, Parasitic Ejaculation and Cattle Decapitation? Then I present to you, Laurel Halo, the musician behind Atlas, one of the best ambient records of 2023. “Ugh, ambient” you might say, but don’t be so quick to dismiss this beautiful and apprehensive kaleidoscope of sounds. Take a walk on the mild side.
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Embrace Your Punishment – Made of Stone Review
Slam might be hard to understand for the casual listener, the poseur and the weenie, but it is undeniable that, while the technique on how to Slam is a pretty narrow and well defined spot, there are many roads to Rome. But are those roads made of stone? Embrace Your Punishment!
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This Week In Metal, 2023 Week 46
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 Perky Macabre / SPÖoÖoKY STEVE, Mourn the Light, High Priest, Ice Howl, Archdruid, Ragana, SOL, Exulansis, and Midnight Odyssey, you can do that too!
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Midnight Odyssey – Biolume III: A Fullmoon Madness Review
The final part of the Biolume trilogy is nigh, and A Fullmoon Madness is a maddeningly exhaustive venture totalling just over two hours. Is this significant length worth your time to soak in the astral laments and cosmic invocations, or is this an ouroboric cycle of exhaustion? Madness would be not reading more before hitting play.
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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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SOL – Promethean Sessions Review
The album oscillates between droney soundscapes that come across as somewhat improvised, and more focused gothic-leaning classic Doom. I am not aware of the methodology of improvisation used here, whether there were rules or guidelines, but the droney sections of the album are pleasant and even provide a sense of mental relief. But is this all enough to set Goat’s charts ablaze?
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Ragana – Desolation’s Flower Review
Creating music as a duo can present a paradoxical dynamic. It can be both easier, as there is only one other person to get in tune with, and more challenging when conflicts do arise, as the intricate interplay between two artistic visions will require a fine balance of compromise and creative synergy. Maria and Coley, the two members of Ragana, take turns on guitar, drums, and vocals, and since 2012 this approach has allowed them to maintain interest with their hybrid of unrefined Black/Doom Metal. Two hearts blast beat as one.
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Mourn the Light / High Priest / Ice Howl / Archdruid – Split Review
Ah, the split. The underappreciated release that can highlight potential up-and-comers, or showcase multiple bands that don’t bring anything interesting to the table. Sometimes, a split gets released and reveals the best of a band’s material. So where does this four-way split land? Pick your player.
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Perky Macabre / SPÖoÖoKY STEVE – Halloween Kills Review
Perky Macabre never changes and has seemingly no desire to. If his music is supposed to be a joke, the literal zero supporters on most of his EP’s suggest that no one finds it particularly funny, either. Maybe that is why I can’t get him out of my head. Perky man, get out of my room!
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Crypts of the Unknown: Lorn – Arrayed Claws
