3.0

Nocturnus AD – Unicursal Review

By Steel Druhm on May 16, 2024 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, 37 comments

“When Mike Browning reformed his project as Nocturnus AD and dropped 2019s Paradox, it ignited a fresh rush of possibility. Was this the long-awaited successor to The Key? Sadly, it was not, though it was a rip-roaring dose of proggy death with a grand scope. Now we get Unicursal and like its predecessor, the ambition is on full display as Browning and company strive to create a new world of unusual soundscapes. It’s an hour of wild time signatures, twisting tempo shifts, and enough technical chops to overdose on, but is it the Nocturnus album we dream about like so many electric sheep?” Nocturnal remissions.

Pallbearer – Mind Burns Alive Review

By Cherd on May 15, 2024 in Reviews, 165 comments

“It’s time to revisit a conversation that became necessary in 90s metal circles with the advantage of almost 30 years hindsight. How do we deal with beloved metal bands when they lose their interest in metal, either abruptly or over the course of several albums? Back then, it was complicated. When Paradise Lost decided they weren’t a death/doom metal band anymore, there was disappointment and confusion. Same when Ulver left black metal tied to a tree whimpering in the woods and never looked back. Some fans of their metal work remained open minded and found merit in the new directions. And the bands certainly found new fans who would never touch metal on principle. I’ve surveyed the general metal media consensus around Pallbearer’s output since 2017’s Heartless, and I’ve come to the conclusion that in the 2020s, things aren’t so complicated. Everyone’s a simp.” Simptons of the metalverse.

Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats – Nell’ Ora Blu Review

By Iceberg on May 15, 2024 in Reviews, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 45 comments

“Nell’ Ora Blu, or “the blue hour,” is a love letter to Italian cinema, particularly the Poliziotteschi (crime) and Giallo (horror) styles. While Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats are famously a four-piece fuzzy psych-rock band, the vast majority of this record was conceived, written, and performed by main brain Kevin Starrs. This is by and large an instrumental, soundtrack-adjacent album, though there are tracks on here that will remind fans it’s still Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats.” Time to pay up, Deadbeats!

Black Tusk – The Way Forward Review

By Dear Hollow on May 14, 2024 in Reviews, Sludge Metal, 18 comments

“Black Tusk is one of those bands that are eternally 3.0, and I’ve always been completely content with that. My first experience with the Savannah, Georgia veterans was 2011’s Set the Dial, a veritable riff-fest of sludge to counter the swampy slogs I had only been acquainted with. In ways, the trio stood shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Mastodon and Baroness without the lofty ambition: you come for the sludge, you stay for the riffs.” Tusk and run.

Naxen – Descending Into a Deeper Darkness Review

By Dear Hollow on May 10, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 30 comments

“Last we met Germany’s Naxen, we were deep in the swills of the pandemic lockdown here in the States. Released in June of 2020, debut full-length Towards the Tomb of Times was a solid black metal affair that I gleefully awarded a 3.5 but just never listened to again. Not that it was bad by any means, but it did not have the staying power I expected. The trio exists in the cross-section of black metal, adhering to hints of melodic black and death metal, but is pure unadulterated black metal.” Naxen, Naxoff.

From Dying Suns – Calamity Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on May 9, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 41 comments

“Before I even laid eyes once on the glorious pixel art that adorns Calamity, From Dying Suns had sold me on their debut promise of progressive death metal. Hailing from the great French north of Quebec, and pulling performers whose live credentials include heavyweights like First Fragment, Augury, and Obliveon, this side-scrolling informed album, this full-length offering stood before itself with veteran swagger.” Storming the tech-death castle.

Riot V – Mean Streets Review

By Steel Druhm on May 7, 2024 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 86 comments

“The seals have hit the beach once again and a new Riot V opus is upon us. New York’s longest-running metal act are back with their third album under the modified Riot V moniker after the death of founding guitarist Mark Reale in 2012. Following 2018s Armor of Light, Mean Streets keeps the same lineup intact and continues more or less in the same classic Riot direction with a sound walking the line between hard rock, heavy and power metal with a decidedly retro charm and sensibility undergirding much of what they do.” The Art of the Seal.

Crawl – Altar of Disgust Review

By Kenstrosity on May 2, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, Punk, 42 comments

“Crawl, to put it simply, sounds pissed off. Not one to fuck with, Crawl’s sound hearkens to those HM-2 legends we all know very well (Entombed, Dismember), but filtered through the punky swagger and unlimited ire of acts like Goregäng and Vomitheist. Knowing all three of those things—HM-2 pedals, Goregäng, and Vomitheist—found a warm bed in the death mansion that is the prolific Transcending Obscurity Records, most of our readership automatically know what to expect from Altars of Disgust.” HM-2 and YOU.

Deicide – Banished by Sin Review

By Steel Druhm on April 25, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, 104 comments

Deicide are back with more Satanic death metal and this much evil requires two reviews of Banished by Sin.

ACxDC – G.O.A.T. Review

By Dear Hollow on April 24, 2024 in Reviews, Crust Punk, Death Metal, Powerviolence, 45 comments

“If you don’t know ACxDC, then what are you doing with your life? Like listening to actually good metal? Too bad for your sorry ass. The LA natives are back in black for their own highway to hell, and it’s too good to be true. For the woefully uninformed and uncultured, don’t even think alternate or direct current and Brian Johnson, you swine. It’s Antichrist Demoncore, and the peanut butter cup moniker of divine apathy is so sweet and gummy.” Vote for G.O.A.T..