album reviews

Rainbows in the Dark: Fluisteraars – “Manifestaties van de Ontworteling”

VincentLeave a comment

If you were surprised to see the name Fluisteraars on this particular not-metal-related column, perhaps you shouldn’t have been. The black metal scene in the Netherlands is defined by a complete shrugging off of the orthodoxy that seems to define the scene worldwide, and Fluisteraars have been one of the flagship names championing this bold experimentation that has captivated audiences near and far, myself included. From 2020’s Bloem, which saw the band really begin to play with the form and function of their brand of romantic black metal, to the free-wheeling chaos of Gegrepen Door de Geest der Zielsontluiking, the trio’s descent into mania has only seen them become more and more artistically unshackled. The culmination of this is Manifestaties van de Ontworteling, a full dark ambient release that seeks to cast off what inhibitions are left in the band and strike out into brave new territory.

Continue reading →

Album Review: Six Feet Under — “Killing for Revenge”

DanLeave a comment

I’ve been a Pokémon fan for more than 25 years. I’ve followed the main game series across six different platforms, watching as its original Red and Blue versions gave way to Gold and Silver and eventually, uh… Sword and Shield… as the monster roster ballooned to more than 1,000 unique creatures. (Catch ‘em all, I regrettably never have.) The games have all started to feel a bit samey, but there’s just something there that keeps me coming back.

This, I realize, is a bit of a strange way to intro a piece that is, ostensibly, about Six Feet Under and their new album, Killing for Revenge, but… it’ll make sense shortly, I promise.

Continue reading →

Receiving the Evcharist: Dååth and Kettlehead

CoreyLeave a comment
Receiving the Evcharist 2018


My friends, it’s finally here. After 13 long years, progressive death metal collective Dååth are back. The Deceivers is officially out through Metal Blade, continuing the title theme of 2007’s The Hinderers and 2009’s The Concealers, as well as their brutal critique of the constructs around us. I adored the Atlanta-based outfit’s technicality and ferocity within all of that back then, and have been ready for the next chapter since it was first teased with the release of “No Rest No End” early last year. The only question at hand today was what, exactly, do I pair this album with? Beer felt right, but that doesn’t really narrow it down. Something on the aggressive side, for sure, but not overly dense like an imperial stout. Black IPA would have been ideal, but there was no luck in tracking down anything new on that front. So I landed on a double IPA. Those tend to have a lot going on while certainly packing a punch, and the local breweries around here can’t seem to stop making them. As a result, tonight we have Dååth’s The Deceivers and Kettlehead’s Soulfight Double IPA.

Continue reading →

Album Review: Dauþuz — “Uranium”

ColinLeave a comment

Dauþuz first came across my radar over five years ago, with their thematic focus on traditional German mining serving as a very unique point of entry — especially when coupled with a solid backbone of black metal equally atmospheric and melodic, and just enough folk elements to complement the subject matter. After skipping out on their last couple releases I’ve revisited the band with their sixth full-length Uranium; the subject matter may be more contemporary and less fantastical than what the band has covered previously, but the quality of music remains the same.

Continue reading →

Album Review: Darkthrone — “It Beckons Us All”

ChrisLeave a comment

Okay, right up front there’s stuff we need to get out of the way: of course I love It Beckons Us All, the latest slab of unadulterated, 100% pure Grade-A metal from the legendary, the colossal, the towering behemoths that are individually Fenriz and Nocturno Culto (aka Ted), and collectively known as Darkthrone. This should not come as a surprise – I love every Darkthrone album. Okay, so right off the bat you’re now warned: there’s little to no objectivity to this review. But as I’ve said over and over again during the eight years I’ve been writing for the site, when do any of these reviews have any objectivity? With the air now clear, let’s dive in and see why I love this album so much. Deal?

Continue reading →