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Post by paparay on Mar 12, 2023 12:45:06 GMT -5
Enslaved - Heimdal Enslaved - Below the Lights Enslaved - RIITIIR Hellripper - Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags
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Post by reigninbloodygore on Apr 16, 2023 1:49:55 GMT -5
I really need to get in some reviews at some point. I listen to music here and there, and have a few great ones I want to finish reviews for, but with this new job I hardly have time. Those records aside, here are a few things I've been listening to in transit and in the free moments I've got (which are sadly so few now):
Overkill- Scorched Wow, I really needed this new record from Overkill because it is a strong reminder that Overkill are still killing it out there in the thrash subgenre, and this is definitely one of their best late-career albums. Plenty of diversity here without losing the Overkill sound they've established. Bobby Blitz still sounds awesome, although he does sound the tiniest bit aged compared to before, which should be expected anyway, Great songs, and only time will tell if I like it more than the Grinding Wheel, which is my personal favorite late-career Overkill album. Bobby Blitz himself considers this new album to be more of a continuation of the directions they took on Grinding Wheel.
Mansion- Second Death I hardly listened to anything else over the last month due to how engaged I was in this Mansion record. I'll be writing up a review eventually for this one. A unique doom record which doesn't sound like other doom bands and really demands close attention to the vocals/lyrics to get the full value. Truly eerie and haunting, I've listened through this album more times than any other all year so far.
Afsky- Om Hundrede Ar Honestly, I like the band and their sound, but for some reason I also find it extremely unforgettable. This new album is no different for me. Beautiful and well polished, but where are the peaks and points of interest along the way? I feel like I'm driving on the interstate in New Mexico. Naturally beautiful but nothing stands out.
Lucifer's Fall- Graveyard Rising (2022 single release) Had no idea the band had disbanded recently until I pondered the other day if they were about to release anything. They just recently disbanded, but it seems it was a pre-planned disbanding and not born out of conflicts or anything. Sad news for me regardless, as this band's final full-length was my album of the year and also the album that inspired me to buy a guitar and start playing during the pandemic. This small release is great, just like the album that inspired me to play the guitar.
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Post by xardob on May 20, 2023 6:14:52 GMT -5
Sacred Outcry - Towers of Gold
Fantastic album. The debut was good, but this one blows it out of water, and Heiman gives a flawless performance.
But man, it's weird that this is the second Greek band that gets Heiman to replace Yannis. What's up with that?
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Post by metalxxx on Jun 9, 2023 3:37:29 GMT -5
Lucifuge - Monoliths of Wrath
Anyone notice how some songs have implemented classic black metal riffs? Dissolving into God uses the exact same melody line as on Dissection - At the Fathomless Depths and The Path to Perdition has Mayhem's Freezing Moon riff. There are probably more?
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Post by metalcrypt on Jun 9, 2023 7:57:08 GMT -5
I knew some stuff sounded familiar.
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Post by remotestcipher on Jul 18, 2023 0:54:49 GMT -5
Bull of Apis Bull of Bronze - Suffocate O Earthen Lungs; They Now Lungs of Ash AVOWD - Vol. 1 Viacrucis - Les Tragiques Ekrom - The black flames of Seth Surghiun - Les parois oubliées deafkids - configuração do lamento
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metalmike
Staff
We need it as a liquid in our veins instead of blood
Posts: 298
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Post by metalmike on Jul 18, 2023 20:17:11 GMT -5
Sacred Outcry - Towers of Gold Fantastic album. The debut was good, but this one blows it out of water, and Heiman gives a flawless performance. But man, it's weird that this is the second Greek band that gets Heiman to replace Yannis. What's up with that? Just finished my review for Towers of Gold and it does indeed beat the debut. Very good stuff.
OT - Finsterforst - Jenseits
A 40 minute "single" but it sounds pretty cool
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Post by reigninbloodygore on Aug 13, 2023 1:38:51 GMT -5
Been a hot minute since I logged in with all the craziness that is life. And went damn near a whole month without listening to music while I took a trip home to the States. Now that I'm back in China and back to work, I'm falling back into my listening habits and finding good stuff along the way. Some stuff I've been listening to a lot lately:
Antioch- Antioch VI: Molten Rainbow Just started a review for this one that I may finish soon. I don't think it's personal taste to call this their best record yet. Great stuff in the vein of Traveler and Riot City among others. Vocalist really found a perfect balance for how to use his wide range of tricks this time around, and the songs are more concise and pared down to a much better result, especially when compared to V, the EP from last year or the year before.
Outer Heaven- Infinite Psychic Depths Was not a fan of their previous work, but this one is solid! Feels more like old school death and has less of the hardcore stench I felt they kinda operated with in the past. Haven't listened to this one a ton yet, but it impressed me.
Profeci- Ubostwo May have to get a review going for this one as well. Great, Polish Black Metal project. Almost avant-garde at times, but still very digestible and overall just really well-thought out.
Blood Ceremony- The Old Ways Remain May not qualify as Metal, but it's Metal-adjacent at the least and just really damn good tunes here.
Blaze of Sorrow- Vultus Fati Another absolutely killer Black Metal record this year. Enough said.
Cromlech- Ascent of Kings I found this one after having seen a review for it here on our site. I fully agreed with Sargon's assessment of the album. It's hopelessly extra, but that's a big part of the charm, especially with reference to how epic this album it. May not find its way into a lot of year-end lists, but it might make mine if only for its youthful extra-ness. haha!
And currently at this moment I'm listening to Judas Priest's- Painkiller. Always need to come back to this from time to time, especially as I'm reviewing similar modern albums like the new Antioch. I think Painkiller is among the gold-standard traditional heavy metal releases out there. Funny how I didn't get the appeal of the album at first but how much my perception changed over the years.
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Post by metalxxx on Sept 8, 2023 18:15:03 GMT -5
Finsterforst - Jenseits.
God fucking damnit these guys. Some of the arrangements on this EP are so unbelievably epic. The vocals to start and end this monster song makes me fucking shiver. Moonsorrow is probably in my top 3 list of favorite bands, but this and Zerfall is def better than Jumalten Aika. Maybe cause they are a little more accessible.
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luxi
Staff
"What does not kill you, makes you more pissed off..."
Posts: 320
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Post by luxi on Oct 29, 2023 12:49:09 GMT -5
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Post by reigninbloodygore on Jan 28, 2024 5:45:17 GMT -5
Got a big surprise by a few sudden releases. I'm excited about some of them, especially the new Inquisition record with which I just finished my first playthrough.
Inquisition- Veneration of Medieval Mysticism and Cosmological Violence (2024) Listening to this band just really isn't like anything else. I absolutely loved the last three or so records...you put them on and you fall into a trance that is both intense and mellow at the same time. This record is no different. I'm not quite sure this one is up on the same level with the previous couple releases, but I've also only listened through all of it once at this time, and mostly I feel Inquisition's albums are growers, not showers. Time will tell on this one.
Mourning Dawn- The Foam of Despair (Blackened Doom, 2024) I did not know what to expect with this one but this album is rich with hard-hitting moments of melody, mood, and textures. Can't wait to find a chance to get back to this one when I'm done checking out a bunch of other new releases.
Svdestada- Candela (Black/Crust, 2024) I don't care for crust, but this is a pretty cool album from Spain. The drumming is wildly satisfying to me, as it is quite musical and busy without being all blast-beats. Quite worth a listen.
Domination Campaign- A Storm of Steel (Death Metal, 2024) I was listening to this one a lot preparing for a review and somehow I forgot about it. It's a lot like a tribute to Bolt Thrower, but also not quite as interesting as a Bolt Thrower album. A nice attempt, but overall not much to really write home about, especially as I can't remember anything from it except for a lyric/rhythm from "The Iron Beast." Musically flat, but there's a lot of potential here.
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Post by metalcrypt on Jan 28, 2024 9:01:41 GMT -5
I checked out that new Inquisition album yesterday. Good stuff.
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Post by reigninbloodygore on Feb 15, 2024 4:26:07 GMT -5
Having a difficult time finding time to listen lately to music, especially due to the Chinese New Year holiday being very busy with family time. However, been able to get a few quick listens in on stuff:
Morbid Saint- Swallowed by Hell (2024) Feels good while it’s on but also extremely unmemorable. Also just doesn’t carry the identity I expect from the band who stunned the world with their early material.
Morghuul- Domination of the Beast (2024) Like Morbid Saint, fun to listen to, but forgettable.
Spectral Voice- Sparagmos (2024) I didn’t listen to this one in a clean sound space (mostly on a long subway ride here in Shanghai, with noise cancelling but not quite enough), but I was quite underwhelmed, despite glowing reviews already surfacing for this. Spectral Voice may possibly just not be my thing or maybe multiple listens will change my mind. This felt slow and uneventful on first listen, but I can tell it has a lot of potential.
Slower- Slower (2024) Crazy idea here. Just a stoner/doom tribute to Slayer, easily evidenced by the song titles. Musically it is just Slayer ideas under a very slow and doomy lens. It’s not going to get a lot of listening time from me overall but it’s a very cool idea.
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Post by reigninbloodygore on Feb 15, 2024 21:12:05 GMT -5
Spectral Voice may possibly just not be my thing or maybe multiple listens will change my mind. This felt slow and uneventful on first listen, but I can tell it has a lot of potential. I’m only on my second listen of Spectral Voice’s new record and it’s hilarious how differently I feel about it. A perfect example why I always give an album at least two or three listens before I decide to abandon it. It feels like I just didn’t know what to listen for on the first listen. On the second listen, I’m picking up the brilliance in the drumming, especially given how much open space exists for the drums to shape. The different timbres of the drums especially give the music a lot of color. The vocals are also a big standout, and the guitar work is full of subtle songwriting elements that hit harder with more listens. Definitely an album to listen to in full or at least with minimal interruptions.
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Post by metalxxx on Apr 26, 2024 14:25:12 GMT -5
Draugnim - Verum Malum
This is different to the excellent Moonsorrow-esque Vulturine in many ways, but it is a fucking monster. Closer to Havukruunu in sound and some of the more melodic stuff, but the riffing on songs liike Traitor’s Crown is really aggressive.
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