Category: Reviews
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Downfall of Gaia – Aeon Unveils the Thrones of Decay
Aeon Unveils the Thrones of Decay is in many ways similar to Suffocating in the Swarm of Cranes, the last album from Germany’s Downfall of Gaia. It’s also heavier in sound and less immediately accessible. Thus, the record is less memorable and cohesive-sounding as a whole but as equally rewarding with repeated listens. The slight…
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Sleep of Monsters – Produces Reason
Previously only available in Finland, and now unleashed on the world by Svart Records. The songs are well crafted, and while diverse, have a dark majesty all of their own. It owes something to vocalist Vil’s previous band, the splendidly named Babylon Whores, though I have to say Sleep of Monsters is a great name, and…
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Dune – Aurora Majesty
There’s some mighty good shit coming out of Scotland. At least in so far as this review is concerned. The shit (with horns up of course) of note is Aurora Majesty, the two-song EP by Edinburgh’s Dune on newly minted Scottish label Sea of Corruption. Dune’s previous effort, Progenitor sounded to this writer like aggressive…
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Full of Hell – Full of Hell & Merzbow
Over the past four years we have seen Full of Hell release many full lengths and eps but now, with the edition of Masami Akita (aka Merzbow) legendary Japanese noise master, they clearly want to make a bolder, more focused statement in the world of noise music. The band consists of Dylan Walker (vocals, electronics and…
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Wizard Rifle – Here in the Deadlights
Can I just say I’ve partaken in a few too many Facebook discussions about how there are far too many doom bands nowadays with Wizard in their moniker? Wizard Rifle is a pretty blatant example; do wizards actually carry guns in Portland, or something? Alas, their silly name combined with some, erm, creative song titles and…
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Exodus – Blood In Blood Out
Blood In Blood Out… The title could refer to the changing of the guard in the Exodus vocalist department – Paul Dukes has been dismissed, replaced by Steve Sousa, who Dukes had replaced himself. Such is the ruthless world of metal, characterised by such games of musical chairs. But at least in the case of…
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At The Gates – At War With Reality
Comeback hype, buoyed by hazy, revisionist memory (and no little vain optimism) rarely bears fruit. That’s the well-established, seemingly legit, conventional wisdom in popular music. However, recent comeback stints from Autopsy and Obituary, alongside the relentless, entropy-defying longevity of acts like Vader that are only just now reaching full potential, have defiantly pushed the bloody…
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Autopsy – Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves
Autopsy is remarkably consistent. For the fourth time in as many years since reuniting, the Oakland band has released another full-length, the awkwardly titled Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves. Autopsy has now reached a point where post-reunion output nearly matches the initial catalogue in size, and it’s easy to forget they were absent for fourteen years.…
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Karkaos – Empire
I had not heard of the intriguingly named Karkaos before and this is a shame as they are a pretty decent band. Musically, the band are very adroit; they sound like a cross between Arch Enemy and Dimmu Borgir but with a twist of their own. What really gives them a strong identity of their…
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The Body / Sandworm split
I still have fond memories of the one and only time I’ve seen The Body live. The local promoter had a hard time finding a venue that would accommodate their awesome amplitude, and they ended up being double-booked with some indie-rock band at The Shop, a pre-fabricated Parkdale punk-rock dive. After the respective local openers…