Captain’s Best Of 2013: WERE TEH HELL IS CARGUTS?
TEN QUICK ODES TO MY GENERAL TERRIBLENESS: • 2013 was a banner year for death metal, yet none of it made my top ten. I am a terrible human being for not allowing Vastum‘s excellent …
Vaura – The Missing Review
I am occasionally hyper-critical of bands that fiddle with the primeval black metal formula, particularly when the fiddling is rooted in an over-sentimentalization that clouds the genre’s core nihilism. This awareness is to blame for …
Solstice – Death’s Crown Is Victory Review
Anyone who believes being in a long-established metal band is in any way glamorous should probably have his or her head examined. As if the current state of the industry and its paltry payouts aren’t …
Running Wild – Resilient Review
No pirate jokes. No pirate jokes. No pirate jokes. NO PIRATE JOKES. Rock ‘n’ Rolf Kasparek is the Stephen King of the metal world: he cranks ’em out like a bloody machine, and long-time fans …
Jumalhamara – Resitaali Review
That right there is a piece entitled White Painting [Three Panel], done in 1951 by the world renowned artist, Robert Rauschenberg. (Latex paint on canvas, 72″ x 108″ – Collection SFMOMA.) This piece, along with …
Ihsahn – Das Seelenbrechen Review
2012’s Eremita did a fine job of pushing the experimental envelope that Ihsahn so dearly loves to push, but Das Seelenbrechen bulldozes the poor bugger down an escalator and lords over it with a pointed …
Twilight Of The Gods – Fire On The Mountain Review
What, Ice Dale and ICS Vortex couldn’t make it to the mountain in time? It’s not difficult to comprehend why a sizable portion of today’s metal fans are pissing their pantaloons over the anticipation of …
In Solitude – Sister Review
I first stumbled across Sweden’s In Solitude much the same way I’ve managed to stumble upon a slew of new bands over the last handful of years: early Mercyful Fate references get thrown around and curiosity …