I did have the goated honour to review Milking The Goatmachine’s former releases Back From The Goats, Seven… A Dinner For One, and Clockwork Udder (see this wonderful site’s archive section in case you do goatly care), and now our pretty website’s boss grants me with this crazy combo’s newest play, Stallzeit. Time to go to bed, dear goats, but not without those sweet lullabies during bedtime-porridge!
I have to admit: I’ve never been a ‘fan’ of this Dutch band. Holland is known for its huge so-called ‘female fronted’ scene, i.e. Gothic, Symphonic or Epic oriented (Heavy) Metal with a female singer, and more than once this country exceeds the international colleagues / competitors easily. In many cases, the Netherlands indeed are spectacular country (I won’t start enlist a selection of bands, because whatever…), but La-Ventura did never please my ear drums or grey cells at all (cf. a full length and an EP during the first decennium of this century).
Now that they have found their way to Relapse Records, Inter Arma’s unique music will be available to a much larger crowd. From black to doom to post and to sludge metal Sky Burial is comprised of innovative, inventive and incredible crushing metal The band's versatility shines through on every track and the band is able to pull each song off without sounding like any. I was totally captivated by this band from the beginning. These guys can mangle your intestines just as easily as they mangle genres.
The Italian quartet Heretic’s Dream did record this full length at Apex House Studio (production, engineering and mix) with assistance of e.g. Steve Russell, whom I do know from his studio assistance with Metalcore-oriented acts specifically.
His contribution led to a clean, rather polished and modern sound for sure, which fits to the musical approach of Heretic’s Dream. Translated: modern, poppy material…
Denied was formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 2003 by Andreas Carlsson. Devoted to heavy and melodic metal he wanted to expand his vision. The band recorded their first demo album in 2005, titled "Seven Times Your Sin" which ended up to be a local success and got them on TV/radio and got them some gigs.
Not sure if they're a sludge, crust or grindcore band, Call of the Void decides to be all three at once with their 2013 release Dragged Down A Dead End Path. Musically the disc is complex full. The guitars chop, thrash and wail. The bass and drums lay down an amazing blast beat with the vocals providing a backwash of anger. Call Of the Void sounds as if they carry the weight of the world on their shoulders and must create angry bulldozing music for catharsis.
Only recently received, even though originating from the end of last year (so are many releases, so WTF…).
Objective info: Alms And Avarice was recorded at Black Coffee Sound by Clay Neely (Elder, Black Pyramid, Killslug) during last year’s summer.
Half-and-half, subjective versus objective info: Doom stuff with a chilly atmosphere and powerful sound, balancing in between tradition and experimentalism.
Beissert is one of the many German metal bands that seem to exist to put out angry sounding records that show a lot of brainless stomping furious energy. What holds me back on this album is that there is a sense of exhaustion that builds as the album wears on. The hoarse, screamo-throated metalcore vocals rumble tales of war and destruction, politics and religious sects are delivered sans emotion or melody. It's all pretty standard stuff that's been done before, and done better.
For those who shouldn't know, AYS stands for Against Your Society and with the release of their new mini-album Suburban Haze, it's quite clear that they really take society by storm.
While our world’s feverish impatience has been the undoing of many hopeful rock band, Psychopunch are among its most consistent and stalwart quantities. During the 14 years of their career to date, this Swedisch punkrock act has wowed countless clubs and festivals.
Since 1999, Psychopunch have brought out nine regular albums, as well as a number of EP’s, singles, split releases and videos. Their tenth studio album ‘Smakk Valey’ has again that typical sound of full throttle and diversity, toughness and melodies. Simplicity and complexity.
