Generally Impressed With Riffs
[Album artwork by Harshanand Singh] The third album is in some ways a litmus test for a band’s longevity. Three albums is a sufficient sample size—you can generally tell where a band is headed, whether they’ll last, whether they speak …
[Pre]-historically speaking, the boys, Nocturno Culto and Fenriz, have always been influenced by the likes of Celtic Frost, Bathory, and all things ‘80s. In fact, they don’t shy away from the fact that it’s always been about that era. After …
[Cover art by Quinn Henderson] You’re familiar with the term, “unc,” right? If not, it generally refers to a washed up older feller whose personality in large part revolves around extravagantly performing confusion and/or displeasure at the mere notion of …
[Artwork by Caroline Harrison] “Nonsense” opens with a slow fade-in of distorted guitars and seismic drums — the chaos before the swarm. It’s a trick of the trade, the extreme metal equivalent of a camera operator calling out “speed” before …
[Cover Image by Guibz Zilla aka Torve] There was a time, long ago, when the earth was very different. Oceans bubbled like cauldrons full of caesium at 301.7 degrees kelvin. Mountains shot forth through the …
The central point of influence of 夢遊病者 — or at least, the root — is people, real people that once lived, or continue to live… Recently, when expressing excitement at the revelation of a new …
[Cover art by Denis Forkas Kostromitin] Bands often telegraph when significant shifts in their sound are imminent. No one who truly paid attention to Ghost Reveries and Watershed was particularly shocked by the full dive into 70’s …
I wouldn’t say I like the thought of repeating cliches or reiterating cringy anecdotes, but I must state that the notion that music is therapeutic will forever ring true. Now, in my 30s, it still …
[Cover art by Gilded Panoply Artwork] When Ayloss first started Auriferous Flame, it appeared that he would use it for more traditional black metal expression, as The Great Mist Within was emotive, melodic, atmospheric, and …
[Cover art by Harshanand Singh] The heavy metal mascot is a wonderful thing and one that few modern bands seem to have made work for them. Yoth Iria, however, has enlisted the visual assistance of …
[Cover artwork by Jon Zig] Yes, I’ll have the kangaroo soufflé, please… “FOR THE LOVE OF PETE, NOT ANOTHER METAL WRITEUP WITH FOOD ANALOGIES” ~ the sensible denizens of planet Earth I understand it’s overused, …
Brussels’ Moss Upon the Skull hit the nail pretty much right on the head with their debut full length In Vengeful Reverence in 2018. Their proggy, techy form of death metal wasn’t what you’d typically …
