ALBUM REVIEW: Copse – MMXXIV


Much like an anthology of a renowned author’s most acclaimed works, MMXXIV (Church Road Records) is a collection of the first two EPs released by Copse.

And there’s good reason to have the Post-Black Metal band’s five songs in one physical form: they are undoubtedly the gold standard for how the genre should sound.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Ellende – Todbringerin


If Taylor Swift can do it, so can Ellende.

The longtime Austrian Atmospheric Black Metal outfit have re-recorded their 2016 record Todbringer for purposes of acquiring ownership. That new effort, entitled Todbringerin (AOP Records), is a shining example of Ellende’s innate ability to produce music that is precise and approached with care and balance.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Fohn – Condescending


The worst that can happen by pairing two contrasting ideas is it doesn’t sound or feel pleasing or appropriate.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Alleviate – DMNS


The two (not entirely insignificant) selling points for Alleviate and their new album, DMNS (Arising Empire) are that the musicians all have credits from other bands and the music is Metalcore, but it’s also technical, has Deathcore influences, and is able to blend all of this together into a forceful display.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Dark Tranquillity – Endtime Signals


Swedish Melodic Death Metal starts and stops with Dark Tranquillity.

Their thirteenth full-length, Endtime Signals (Century Media Records), captures how and why the band has had such staying power for two decades. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Monument Of Misanthropy – Vile Postmortem Irrumatio


Shining light on a deranged serial killer isn’t exactly the most taboo concept, especially in Extreme Metal. And really, what better vehicle to use for that purpose?Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Mamaleek – Vida Blue


If a single band were to personify avant-garde, Mamaleek have made as valiant a case as any for that honor. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Carnophage – Matter Of A Darker Nature


In thirty-three minutes, Carnophage balance some of the most fetid vocals with cheeky technical bluster, leaving a mark on Matter Of A Darker Nature (Transcending Obscurity Records) which leaves an enthusiastic Brutal/Tech-Death impression.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Laceration – I Erode


See-sawing from old-school Death Metal to ferocious Thrash Metal, Laceration pack nine tracks into I Erode (20 Buck Spin), showcasing both proficient musicianship and in-sync performances.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Uprising – III


The artist known simply as W. may not reveal much in the way of an identity, but their musty Black Metal outfit Uprising hits the mark on so many different occasions on III (AOP Records). The strong synergy results in songs that sound like they’re performed by an entire band.Continue reading