ALBUM REVIEW: Turmion Katilot – Omen X


 

When I was young and brash and had two working knees, I used to visit the high street in Camden, London. Me and my mates would dance ourselves into oblivion at the Electric Ballroom, take the night bus home, hit a Tescos for sausage rolls, and eat them right out the package – cold, before returning to Surrey Quays just before the sun rose.

Those were the times!

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ALBUM REVIEW: Thotcrime – D1G1T4L_DR1FT


 

Sometimes as a metalhead or underground fan it is easy to forget that not everyone knows what you mean when you describe things in ever smaller concentric circles of references, sub-genres or in-jokes. It seems totally clear to me what I mean when I say that Elvenking‘s ‘Silence de Mort’ sounds like if Megadeth had colorful power melodic hooks and a singer who wasn’t such a born-again know it all douche, but some folks might stare blankly at that description and blink at oncoming traffic.

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ALBUM REVIEW: 156/Silence – Narrative


 

Where some vocalists might come off as simply going through the motions when it comes to singing (or growling, grunting, etc.), Jack Murray instead regurgitates sincere, raw, and impassioned words throughout the entire forty-four minutes of 156/Silence’s Narrative (Sharptone Records).Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Vatican – Ultra


While Georgian five-piece Vatican may name-check Meshuggah and Dillinger Escape Plan, their roots are firmly planted in (the original type of) metalcore, owing as much to Earth Crisis and Vision of Disorder (et al) as the latter-day spearheads of discordant “popular” heavy music. Ultra (UNFD) may be the band’s second full-length overall, however with a focus on the sound and style, and with the smooth integration of new vocalist Mike Sugars, it feels like a milestone moment in the definition of what Vatican is as a band, and who they are as an artist.

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EP REVIEW: Heriot – Profound Morality


With very little in the way of recorded music released prior to this release but notably a swathe of well received and high profile support slots including recently with Rolo Tomassi; UK metallic hardcore outfit Heriot have forged a scintillating reputation in a short space of time. Now with the eagerly anticipated debut EP Profound Morality (Church Road Records), the band are showing that they are truly living up to expectation by delivering a short but sharp release which reveals surprising depth.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Rammstein – Zeit


Something isn’t quite right here.

A Rammstein record a mere three years after the last one and preceded by no rumbling stories of friction between bandmates or nebulous warnings of permanent disbandment? The last time the Neue Deutsche Härte/industrial act had such a swift turnaround was when Reise Reise was followed by fun leftovers album Rosenrot a year later, so could this quick release (by their standards anyway) mean Rammstein are actually happy or could it be hinting at something more ominous?

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ALBUM REVIEW: Aeviterne – The Ailing Facade


Like all movements that promise to reinvent a genre, dissonant / experimental Death Metal collapsed into a messy trend of imitators focussing on the most obvious aspects of their influences’ sound and missing the nuance. Fortunately, it passed the test of leaving behind enough building blocks for worthwhile successors to construct something interesting – and New York four-piece Aeviterne are one of the most interesting in a while.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Author and Punisher – Krüller


Tristan Shone knows a thing or two about wacky, unorthodox percussion, thanks in large part to his expertise in mechanical engineering. With that kind of arsenal at his disposal, Shone ran with it on his latest effort for Author & Punisher, Krüller (Relapse Records), eight tracks packed with diversity, uniqueness, and precision. It’s also his ninth full-length release since 2005, and it superbly stands alone.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Employed To Serve – The Conquering


When yet another massive riff, this time during the early stages of track nine ‘World Eater’, hits – you know the sort… the type of riff that makes your face do the same involuntary wince/”oooooo” combo as sucking a lemon straight after brushing your teeth might – the smile can’t help but break out on your face: The Conquering (Spinefarm Records) isn’t just Employed To Serve upping the ante; their fourth album goes deeeep.

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