If there’s one style of extreme metal that I vibe hard with, it’s what I like to call “hell sounds”. At its roots black metal, death metal, or a combination, this soundscape also is also heavily infused with ambience to craft a nightmarish atmosphere. Brand new band Sacrificial Vein are fine purveyors of this blend of haunting music on their debut album Black Terror Genesis. It seems this spine chilling genesis has really enraptured our Cosmo, but by which trickery?
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Wounds – Ruin Review
Fast runs, hairpin turns and extended harmonies, Wounds does it rather competently, making my head nod during select moments and my foot tap throughout. But some albums are harder to review than others.
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Crypts of the Unknown: Animosity – Animal
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 Scuttlegoat reminisces on Animosity’s 2007 release Animal. It may not be perfect, but how would you know?
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Second Shooter – Fury Made Flesh Review
Nowadays, when the progressive descriptor is added to melodic death metal, this means that the songs are longer without any good reason. You would be hard pressed to find a modern melodic death metal band that is creative or that looks outside its own box. Second Shooter are a band that look back instead. Are they shooting for the stars, or looking back in fury?
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Ministry – HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES Review
Fast forward 12 years and Ministry have put out five albums after their supposed death, digging deeper and deeper into the shit. Before Relapse you were always in on the joke, but now, Ministry are content to be the joke instead. Masses beware: this hopium might leave you high on disappointment.
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Cyberaktif – eNdgame Review
Sophomore Cyberaktif album eNdgame arrives with a ton of history resting on its shoulders, with some of its songs beginning life as a Skinny Puppy album that never saw release. Industrial history lesson from Metalligator to get this weekend started!
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Stygian Crown – Funeral for a King Review
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?
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Crypts 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?
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Chelsea 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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Crypts of the Unknown: Bergraven – Det Framlidna Minnet
