Death metal often walks a narrow tightrope. The lyrical themes can sometimes be too didactically political or, on the other hand, too cartoonish to take seriously. Musically, there is also a balancing act. Some bands who try so hard to sound relentlessly punishing can at times end up sounding monotonous and uninteresting. Phylogenesis, the latest… Continue reading Album Review: Phylogenesis by ABYSMAL DAWN (Season of Mist)
Tag: death metal
AltCtrlToob Video Premiere: “The Lord Conspirator” by MONOLITH ZA
Ever wonder what local death metal sounds like in… South Africa?? Welp, check out this brand new lyric video from Port Elizabeth outfit Monolith ZA, for their song “The Lord Conspirator.” Melding the stylings of Death and Opeth, the band is looking forward to releasing a full-length on April 28th via MMD Records. The band… Continue reading AltCtrlToob Video Premiere: “The Lord Conspirator” by MONOLITH ZA
Quarantine Music, Part 1: Eryka Fir, Undercliff, Army of Karens, and Turkey Vulture
If you’re not an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re probably finding yourself with a lot more time on your hands — and even if you are working in healthcare or essential retail, your social life is shot. All this “extra” time at home is giving birth to some unique projects…. First up is… Continue reading Quarantine Music, Part 1: Eryka Fir, Undercliff, Army of Karens, and Turkey Vulture
Album Review: Odious Mortem’s Synesthesia
By Nikita Alekseyevich Khrenov It seems more and more that as years go on, we have bands and artists seemingly coming out of exile to grace us with new material. Last year was full of these releases and it seems 2020 isn’t going to stop this trend anytime soon, with California tech death gems Odious Mortem… Continue reading Album Review: Odious Mortem’s Synesthesia
Album Review: Planet Chaos by Carcariass
By Nikita Alekseyevich Khrenov There are two trends that I’ve noticed come up this year: bands releasing albums after a long period of silence, and the overwhelming use of space as a lyrical theme. French melodic death metal outfit Carcariass checks off both of these boxes. Back with their first album in a decade, they released… Continue reading Album Review: Planet Chaos by Carcariass
Rodey’s Heavy 20 for 2020
The 2010s were an interesting decade for music with the rise of YouTube sensations, the birth of streaming services, and the resurgence of albums on vinyl. In the metal world, there was also the shifting of subgenre popularity as metalcore evolved into djent, deathcore explored new grounds, and prog-metal was increasingly married to tech-death. Indeed,… Continue reading Rodey’s Heavy 20 for 2020
Album Review: Tartarus Horde (s/t)
By The Necrosexual The Horde is coming! You hear a rumble in a distance. Then, a hissing choir of fallen angels on the horizon. The dusts swirls around you. Run if you can, but it’s too late. The rabid legions from the last bastion of hell are here. Philadelphia’s Tartarus Horde is a maelstrom of high magic delivered with the most brutal… Continue reading Album Review: Tartarus Horde (s/t)