Staff picks
After 26 years and ten albums whose titles all start with the letter "i," Dew-Scented have decided to make the world a nicer, calmer, gentler, and overall suckier place by taking themselves out of it. This was one of the bands that first acclimatized me to harsh vocals and more extreme forms of metal, and what a band to start with; to this day, Inwards is one of my go-to albums whenever I need something that is loud, fast, brutal, angry, unsubtle, and wicked sick in equal measure. I hate to see them go, but we've still got in "Bitter Conflict" one of the finest metal songs ever written.
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ScreamingSteelUS |
Is you a hot head bent on giving bad people good ideas? Or just some trash trying to ring a bell with some Houdini magic tricks? Eh, it don't really matter I suppose. But if you're looking to avoid the warping spikes in the bottomless pit and the BB poison in the bubbles buried in this jungle, please dial 80808 to find the three bedrooms in a good neighborhood.
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Apothecary Mr. Doctor |
Eryn Non Dae. continue their chaotic sonic journey, exploring some more ambient territories this time.
While the first contact will probably be disappointing after the beast that is Meliora, don't be fooled: this is another exceptional release. Mellower, but probably more difficult to tame (hint: use headphones
)...Read review ››
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Darkside Momo |
If you want post metal done right, Long Distance Calling should be your first pick this year. Boundless is an album full of absolutely breathtaking music true to its name. With an excellent production to match it soars freely in the sky and you'll enjoy every moment of freedom of imagination it brings.
Try the first two tracks of the album: "Out There" and "Ascending".
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Ivor BloodTears |
Today marks the death of the last original Motorhead member.
Just reminding you to raise a beer and blast these immortal riffs in honor of Fast Eddie and the boys.
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Doc Godin Daniell, Mr. Doctor, ScreamingSteelUS, BloodTears, Darkside Momo, BitterCOld |
Rest In Peace, Warrel Dane. Thanks for everything!
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Darkside Momo BloodTears, Daniell, Mr. Doctor, Demonic Tutor, Deadsoulman, ScreamingSteelUS, Redel |
So yesterday yours truly celebrated two big events: My not-so-young ass turned 25 and one of the modern classics in black metal turned a full decade!
With its' massive riffs, tasteful drumming, and let's not even start with the unique and thundering vocals of Mr. Nemtheanga... To The Nameless Dead is an album you cannot miss.
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Mr. Doctor Daniell, Darkside Momo, ScreamingSteelUS, Starvynth, nikarg, Redel |
Seems I was about to miss one of this year's greatest albums, but thanks to their tour with Igorrr that won't be the case.
So guess what? That's Pryapisme at their best: Cat-worshipping electro / zheul / jazz / avant-garde / metal, still as wacky as usual, but a bit more, er, progressive as far as song structures are concerned. Purrr-fect!
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Darkside Momo ScreamingSteelUS, BloodTears |
"So man, what's new for music today?"
"Eh, not much. Pylar, that Spanish band, they just dropped a new album that takes the drone genre to incredible heights once again, incorporating chanting, string instruments, horns, native percussion, and intricate, jazz-like drumming into a massive, doomy core. All with artwork and lyrics that allude to ancient shamanism and druidism as well."
"Meh, drone is so boring. When's that new Morbid Angel coming out?"
Immerse thyself.
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Apothecary BloodTears |
Black Earth is a great opening salvo for what promises to be an awesome last 100 days of 2017 for \m/. An unrelentingly heavy assault that is a fine tuning of their approach which sounds like an organic Streetcleaner. Process Of Godflesh anyone?
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BitterCOld Daniell, Paz, BloodTears, Troy Killjoy, Mr. Doctor |
Those who know me know I have had a perfectly wretched July. This was the perfect soundtrack for it. Check it out when you have a miserable day/week/month going on and spread the feel bads.
This One Time, At FuneralCamp
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BitterCOld Mr. Doctor |
Remember the amazing Pure Reason Revolution which split up about half a decade ago? Well, Bullet Height is the spiritual successor put together by the former PRR guitarist Jon Courtney, joined by Sammi Doll on vocals. It's a bit darker, a bit heavier, and somewhat more electronic, yet it unmistakably retains the vocal harmonies and songwriting hooks that made PRR so good. It is recognisable as a follow up to PRR's "Hammer and Anvil" and, if anything, advice to follow the musician has never been more apt.
Try "Bastion," "Hold Together," or "Wild Words."
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Ivor BloodTears |
Time waits for no man, but Time Lurker have waited a long timing waiting on this man to mash out a review. Désolé. Their s/t debut is 7 tracks of post-infused black metal with some great tremolo riffing, harmonies offset against posty-moments, tikatikatika drums and howling into the vortex vocals buried a bit in the mix to make everything sound even better.
BANDCAMP, Muthatruckas!
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BitterCOld Paz |
Anton Kabanen left the band, the last album failed to move me at all, and I thought I had grown tired of Battle Beast. When I learned that they were playing seven of these ten songs on tour, I knew that something had to be up. Turns out they had every reason to be that confident in Bringer Of Pain, which is in my eyes the most consistent and natural-sounding album Battle Beast has ever released.
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ScreamingSteelUS |