Beneath Oblivion – “From Man To Dust” (2011)

Beneath Oblivion, From Man to Dust (2011)

Intentionally ugly, yes?

My review of the second album from Ohio’s sludge-botherers Beneath Oblivion is up now at MetalReview.  From Man to Dust is a massive document of punishing doom that could sorely use some editing, but still succeeds despite (or perhaps because of) its flaws.  From Man to Dust is out later in September on the Mylene Sheath.

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Caïna – “Hands That Pluck” (2011)

Caïna, Hands That Pluck (2011)

A cosmic distance

My review of Caïna’s final album is up now at MetalReview.  Hands That Pluck is dense, frequently off-putting, and also excellent.  Give it some time and you’ll find yourself rewarded.  Hands That Pluck is out now on Profound Lore Records.

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Avichi – “The Devil’s Fractal” (2011)

Avichi, The Devil’s Fractal (2011)

A bit Weapon-ish, yes, but sufficiently fractal

My review of the second album from Illinois’s Avichi is up now at MetalReview.  The album prompts me to spin out all sorts of nonsense about whether or not black metal has to be ugly and dangerous to be effective, and whether so-called orthodox black metal is self-defeating in its attempts to be seductive.  Anyway, regardless of my bullshit, The Devil’s Fractal is out now on Profound Lore Records.

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Midnight Priest – “Midnight Priest” (2011)

Midnight Priest, Midnight Priest (2011)

An album cover incomparably more interesting than the music within

My review of the debut full-length from Portugal’s Midnight Priest is up now at MetalReview.  Perhaps I’m a bit harsh on their raw, Mercyful Fate-ish NWOBHM style, but I found the album tiresome, grating, and almost wholly unoriginal.  Plus, despite their drummer’s insistence to the contrary, I remain at least halfway convinced that “Sábado Negro” means black sabbath.  I mean, Google Translator says it means ‘black Saturday’, which is completely understandable, but translating ‘sabbath’ from English back to Portuguese yields ‘sábado’, so…  Either way, Midnight Priest is out now on Stormspell Records.

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Saviours – “Death’s Procession” (2011)

Saviours, Death’s Procession (2011)

This is the biggest image I could find? Thanks for nothing, Internet.

My review of the upcoming record from Oakland’s Saviours is up now at MetalReview.  I have some harsh(ish) words for the album, even though I think it works more often than it doesn’t, because most of the time I just want them to lock into a smooth rhythm and let the guitarists shred sweetly all over the damn place.  Death’s Procession will be out in a few weeks on Kemado Records.

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Helheim – “Heiðindómr Ok Mótgangr” (2011)

Helheim, Heiðindómr Ok Mótgangr (2011)

Funky-ass ravens

My review of the latest stormer from consistent (and consistently underrated) Viking metal stalwarts Helheim is up now at MetalReview.  Heiðindómr Ok Mótgangr is the band’s strongest album in years, and helps reclaim for Viking metal a stoicism and ass-kicking grit that has been lacking in recent years.  Unpronounceable Title With Weird Accents is out now on Dark Essence Records.

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Seidr – “For Winter Fire” (2011)

Seidr, For Winter Fire (2011)

A haunting woodland chapel

My review of the fantastic debut album from Louisville, Kentucky’s Seidr (a project affiliated with the excellent black metal project Panopticon) is up now at MetalReview.  For Winter Fire is both towering and delicate, and is out now on The Flenser.

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Sonne Adam – “Transformation” (2011)

Sonne Adam, Transformation (2011)

A gorgeously dark vista

My review of the debut album from Israel’s Sonne Adam is up now at MetalReview.  Popular (underground) consensus seems to be with Necros Christos, but I’ll take Sonne Adam’s more compact and infinitely less dull take on the style any day.  Transformation is out now on Century Media Records.

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The Konsortium – “The Konsortium” (2011)

The Konsortium, The Konsortium (2011)

Spooky, no?

My review of the self-titled debut from new Norwegian black metal weirdos The Konsortium is up now at MetalReview.  The Konsortium is out now on Agonia Records.

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Satan’s Host – “By The Hands Of The Devil” (2011)

Satan’s Host, By The Hands Of The Devil (2011)

All ass-kicking, every day of the damn week

My review of the latest (and truly scorching) album from Satan’s Host is up now over at MetalReview.  Slightly dodgy cover of “Norwegian Wood” aside, this is a fierce and furiously fun record.  By The Hands Of The Devil is out now on Moribund Records.

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