Category: Reviews
Anatomia / Undergang – Split (2022) Review
In all of heavy metal’s fifty-ish glorious years, how many conversations have been had the world around concerning some variation on the theme “Who is the heaviest of them all?” Tens of thousands, no doubt. …
Azaab – Summoning The Cataclysm Review
Surprises are relatively rare in this age of hyper-publicity. Yet every once in a while something like Azaab’s Summoning the Cataclysm falls from the sky to clock you in the noggin before landing at your …
Analepsy – Quiescence Review
[Cover art by Lordigan] To listen to and fully enjoy Analepsy requires a state of mind matching the above. The band’s wares are most effective when you’ve turned off your brain and you can be …
Heltekvad – Morgenrødens Helvedesherre Review
[Artwork: João de Sá from a 16th century anonymous Flemish painting, The King’s Fountain] With Heltekvad, Ole Pedersen Luk of Afsky sacrifices little aggression in adopting a medieval theme. And though I am still not …
Blast Rites #5: Houkago Grind Time / Archaganini – Split Review
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been listening to Agathocles and thought, “Goddamn, this raw-as-shit rudimentary grinding mayhem is awesome, but I wish it had more neoclassical sweep-picking.” And then I’d have another …
Kontusion – Kontusion Review
Boy, I sure am a big ol’ dummy. (How’s that for a lede, eh? “I sure am stupid. Now be sure to read on and totally trust my expert opinion!” But seriously, do that…) Why …
Bjørn Riis’ Everything To Everyone, And A Reminder Of The Unique Greatness Of Pink Floyd
When it comes to commonplace tropes in storytelling, the line between a blessing and a curse can get thorny pretty quick. If you’re a fan of the fantasy genre, for example, you are at risk …
Meshuggah ‒ Immutable Review
In the six years since Meshuggah released The Violent Sleep of Reason, a couple things have become clear about that album: it was their weakest effort since debut Contradictions Collapse, but was more than strong …