While most of the band seems to just deliver about the bare minimum, George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher’s minimum is still higher than what most vocalists deliver. Fisher is not the flashiest vocalist and has a certain tone he sticks with, but it is his delivery and phrasing as a kind of master of ceremony that elevates some songs. Enjoyment horrific?
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Putrascension – Forever Below Review
The real highlight on this album is easily Michael Gonçalves (Replicant, Windfaerer). His vocals are absolutely unhinged, giving him a demonic edge that works so well in this style of music. His rabid shrieks, howls, and moans are reasons why it’s easy to come back to the album time and again. A few shrieks to cure the mid-week blues.
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Ashbringer – We Came Here to Grieve Review
Ashbringer sound like they come from this lineage of music, a Pitchfork-approved style of Post-Black Metal made popular by bands like Deafheaven. But the material on We Came Here to Grieve features a harsher edge than the scrapbooking album cover entails, mainly carried by the vocals. Still not kvlt enough for sunscreen.
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Moonlight Sorcery – Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle Review
Like straight out of a time capsule from the late 1990s or early 2000s, Moonlight Sorcery come bursting onto the scene with their debut album Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle. This could be the band that fans of early Children of Bodom or Wintersun have been looking for over the past 20 years. September keeps on giving *eggplant emoji*.
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Hexvessel – Polar Veil Review
Polar Veil caught my attention simply by breaking the ice with distorted guitar in its first preview track. Hexvessel has used this before (and its members are no strangers to Metal), but Blackened Doom Metal was really not something I expected to hear from these guys. Not just another Black Metal Monday.
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This Week in Metal, 2023 Week 38
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 Fabricant, Courtney Gains, Alkaloid, Terra Builder, Uada and Blood Oath, you can do that too!
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Blood Oath – Lost in an Eternal Silence Review
Opening with a trippy, almost psychedelic intro, Blood Oath admittedly take their time in getting the listener hooked. With what is essentially an intro track, “Beyond the Dimensional Gates” does a good job in setting up the stage for the rest of the album rather than impress with technical prowess that the remaining tracks do. Can Cosmo be saved from a dry-pants-September?
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Courtney Gains – Safe Haven Review
Gains claim to fame is mainly being a child or teen actor in the 80s, starring in noteworthy supporting roles in films such as Children of the Corn or Back to the Future. Music is, however, more of a footnote in Gains’ career as his biggest musical claim to fame is that he once played live with Jam outfit Phish. What does Gains’ have to offer and how does it connect to his prior work as an actor? Some Gains, some lose?
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Uada – Crepuscule Natura Review
The songs on here are for the most part quite fun, with “The Dark (Winter)” and “Retraversing the Void” being standouts. Each of these tracks showcase Uada’s strengths: tight riffs, strong vocals, and a captivating atmosphere. But is it enough to evoke high praise from Cosmo?
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Crypts of the Unknown: 2024 Vol. 1
