For those in the know, Baton Rouge’s Thou are a special act. Truly an underground cult, Thou have captured hearts with their intense and emotive brand of sludgy post-metal that isn’t afraid to usher in new dynamics, forms or influence throughout. After pivotal highs of Heathen (Gilead Media) and collaborative efforts with The Body, it would be several years before they emerged again as a recording band, only to offer an unprecedented four new releases this year. First of all were three EP releases that represented a different thread to their sound, leading to the full-length effort Magus (Sacred Bones), an album which could well be their pinnacle.Continue reading
Tag Archives: Chris Tippell
Foscor – Les Irreals Versions
As the evolution of black metal has seen it move from a primarily raw and aggressive form (albeit with plenty of variation and multiple characters even in its infancy) to the sprawling and multifaceted beast it is today, Catalonian’s Foscor have to undergo significant transformation across their duration. Where their earliest works were arguably considered more archetypal, by the release of last year’s Les Irreals Visions (Season Of Mist) the band had fully morphed to a more blackgaze sound, complete with gloomy atmosphere and the balance between heavy and serene.Continue reading
Crossfaith – Ex Machina
Only a few years ago, and on the back of their well-received Zion EP (Sony), Crossfaith were heralded as the next big thing, armed with a formidable live reputation and an electronica/dance heavy brand of metalcore that oozed crossover appeal. Fast forward to 2018 and the Osaka troupe haven’t quite risen to such promised heights, to the extent that a brand new album seems to have almost fallen under the radar to some – not that they have lost any edge, as Ex Machina (UNFD) is not only their most creative release to date, but their strongest since Zion.Continue reading
Talons – We All Know
At this stage, it is pretty common knowledge that Holy Roar is absolutely killing it this year with their releases. So far in 2018, they have showcased many of the best young, vital and innovative bands across a spectrum of genres, making their infamous logo an undoubted stamp of quality. With this in mind, Talons may not prove the trendiest of bands on the label to many, but their latest effort We All Know (Holy Roar) deserves as much recognition.Continue reading
Fine Creatures- Electric La La Land
Describing one’s self as “The Dirty Beatles”, however tongue in cheek is pretty self-evidently a bold statement of intent. When it’s a claim made by a group in such an early stage about to release their debut EP release its definitely going to raise some eyebrows. At first glance/listen Electric La La Land (Symptom) may feel like a fairly generic but fun, sunshine ready release; but upon closer inspection Fine Creatures have provided an unexpected level of depth.Continue reading
Mutilation Rites – Chasm
Brooklyn, New York, based black metallers Mutilation Rites are a name that have been making somewhat of a buzz in some extreme metal and underground circles. Far from being a necessarily revolutionary band, Mutilation Rites’ sound has been predominantly old school based; being raw, frantic and evil sounding; but they have always felt genuine and backed up with quality.Continue reading
Wolves In The Throne Room – Wode: Live At The Garage
Only a couple of years ago it seemed like the presence of American Black Metal legends Wolves In The Throne Room on UK shores would become a fleeting experience, if indeed it occurred again. Following a UK tour in 2011 and then an All The Party’s appearance the following year, it would then be five years until the band would eventually return in support of latest album Thrice Woven (Artemisia) with a much anticipated UK tour. With this in mind, a second UK tour in 2 years on the back of Thrice Woven seemed a surprise, but a very much welcome one.Continue reading
Between The Buried & Me – Automata II
Forever moving to the beat of their own drum, progressive metallers Between The Buried & Me have very rarely done anything in a conventional manner. Always renowned for their madcap blend of contrasting styles and structures, a previous announcement this year saw them choose to release their latest effort, Automata (Sumerian) as a double, split album individually released throughout the year. With Automata I seeing the light of day back in March, it was expected to have set the tone for its companion piece, Automata II; but once again, BTBAM do things their own way.Continue reading
Raw In Sect- Kitro
The use of cultural elements in heavy music is, by now, a pretty familiar concept with a plethora of bands, ethnicities, and nations bringing such into their sound, whether conceptually or through unique instrumentation, techniques or structures. Very few bands do so quite so vividly and entirely as Greek progressive metallers Raw In Sect have done, however. With a starkly ever-changing sound across previous releases, latest effort Kitro (self-released) sees a bold direction which fully embraces Greece in both terms of lyrical content and the nations more traditional music.Continue reading
Al Ard – Al Ard
Despite what many people might believe, Black metal as a genre was always about experimentation, evolution and about finding an identity, even amongst peers. Right from its roots, Black Metal was an ever-changing force with its famous ‘second wave’ icons consciously taking vastly different directions and styles.