doom

Second Circle: Of Wolves and IRN

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Second Circle

In Dante’s Inferno, the second circle begins the proper punishment of Hell, a place where “no thing gleams.” It is reserved for those overcome with Lust, where carnal appetites hold sway over reason. In Nine Circles, it’s where we do shorter reviews of new (ish) albums that share a common theme.

It’s been a while since we put one of these out, huh?  I always like to use Second Circles to check out artists I’ve never heard of before, or explore genres or styles that are relatively unfamiliar to me.  In this case I took a look at the promo list and picked two bands I had no exposure to that carried in their promo the label of sludge, since I’ve been so gung-ho over the latest from -(16)-.

Do these bands help scratch that sludge itch?  This edition of Second Circle aims to find out with new releases from Of Wolves and IRN… Continue reading →

Album Review: Stygian Crown — “Stygian Crown”

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stygian crown - stygian crown

Traditional metal continues to forge a path that is refreshing to these old ears.  Toss “extremity” out the window and ride hard and steady on a riff, nail that groove with the eye of a sharpshooter and carry that melody to the end of whatever metaphor I lost a few words back.  Point being, this debut self-titled full length from Stygian Crown is good.  Damn good. Continue reading →

Album Review: Vile Creature — “Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm!”

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vile creature - glory, glory!

Were you afraid that by signing to a larger record label Vile Creature was going to soften its edges? That the music would fall into more generic genre trappings?  I would venture a single glance at the cover to Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! would quash any and all of those concerns.  After two full lengths and an EP of crushing sludge doom that I could appreciate from a distance, here is the album that refuses to be held at arm’s length, that forces your eyes open to gaze upon its exquisite, grotesque beauty. Continue reading →

Album Review: Sorcerer — “Lamenting Of The Innocent”

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Sorcerer - Lamenting of the Innocent

With Lamenting of the Innocent you can now make it a streak of three that Sorcerer have been holding the torch aloft for the pinnacle of epic, melodic doom metal in the vein of…yeah, Candlemass.  But that’s the one and only time I want to call that tired comparison, because after three albums of this caliber, Sorcerer deserve to stand on their own as masters of the form. Continue reading →

Receiving the Evcharist: Many Blessings and Popfuji Pilsners

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Receiving the Evcharist 2018

Receiving the Evcharist is our weekly feature where we pair choice albums with our favorite libations. Drink from the cup of heresy. This week’s offering: Many Blessings’ Emanation Body and Brouwerij West’s Popfuji Pilsner.  
Continue reading →