Salome – Terminal
Salome’s second full-length is definitely worth the patience and the introspection, and a very strong contender to be on the top of many “Best Album” lists this year
Reviews – Audio
War From A Harlots Mouth – MMX
It seems to me that there are two possibilities here. Either MMX was done with a lot of thought and they over analyzed it or they were as fucking high as Hunter S Thompson.
Dimmu Borgir – Abrahadabra
Abrahadabra is an incredibly cultured listen showing audible evidence of effort contributed, yet making you feel as though the work was generated on the spot.
Unearthly Trance – V
There isn’t much in the way of standout tracks on this one, but rather a continuous, pummelling, ear-pounding assault that only seems to get slower as the album nears its conclusion.
Star One – Victims of The Modern Age
The album feels dark, but overall it leaves you with a positive feeling, positive that Lucassen is a fantastic musician/writer/lyricist and he knows exactly how to put together an amazing album and get incredible results from his guests.
Escape The Fate: s/t
Some listeners will be incensed by the combinations that Escape The Fate are making here, some will call it a mockery – but many will see the resulting pop-metal as a gateway; what Escape The Fate has done on their new album is create a bridge connecting the continents of pop and metal that makes it possible for listeners to call it either because it incorporates an equal amount of both.
Torche – Songs For Singles
As far as the Torche sound goes, Songs For Singles is a breakthrough; there have been hints of veering off in this direction from the beginning, but Torche have really nailed it down here. Though I’d have been just as happy to wait for a full-length, at 21 minutes, this feels like more a tease than anything.
Therion – Sitra Ahra
Even with turnover amongst the ranks of its members over the years, Therion has the foundation of Johnsson and (unofficial) Karlsson and continue to write and record some of the most creative albums in the symphonic metal genre. The epic album Sitra Ahra ranks among their very best works.
Agalloch – Marrow of the Spirit
Marrow of the Spirit is not, personally, the musical paradigm shift that was Ashes Against The Grain. It is instead a welcome development of and contribution to Agalloch’s catalogue, an album that is a sure contender for the inevitable “best of” lists coming up.
The Ocean – Anthropocentric
I will say that while past albums from The Ocean excluding Heliocentric have had a lot of groove heavy riffs this album doesn’t really lock in a riff for too long. It is quite varied and I think that’s why it threw me at first. I was expecting the same type of formula as previous efforts but Anthropocentric has really stepped it up a notch in terms of an evolved sound.