Progressive Metal

Hemotoxin – When Time Becomes Loss Review

Hemotoxin – When Time Becomes Loss Review

By El Cuervo on May 17, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Thrash Metal, 35 comments

“Over the course of two prior releases I’ve reviewed, Pittsburgh’s Hemotoxin has failed to truly wow me. Their idiosyncratic brand of deathy, thrashy metal stretches slightly towards progressive ground, but they also demonstrate an admirable willingness to eschew any bloat across their tight releases. Despite these strengths, frantic songwriting and an arguable lack of focus have hamstrung their memorability and consigned them to “probably cool live but no point to return” territory. 2024 sees their return and I was cautiously optimistic to hear whether When Time Becomes Loss would be the record to elevate their discography.” Blood and soilwork.

Nocturnus AD – Unicursal Review

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.

SYK – eartHFlesh Review

SYK – eartHFlesh Review

By Thus Spoke on May 13, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 21 comments

“Bereft of a lyric sheet or any promotional explanation, I’m unsure why SYK chose to spell the title of their fourth album like they have. eartHFlesh draws attention with more than its unusual spelling though, with a dark, provocative cover, and the fact that it marks the band’s signing with Season of Mist. The Italian collective have been steadily building on a groovy, quirky brand of progressive death metal, distinguished largely by the cleans of now ex-vocalist Dalila Kayros. With her gone, and the group pivoting to primarily unclean growls, and a further turn, if slight, towards the more extreme corners of the genre, a new form of SYK emerges for the first time. eartHFlesh is a critical turning point.” New flesh, new friends?

Wheel – Charismatic Leaders Review

Wheel – Charismatic Leaders Review

By GardensTale on May 7, 2024 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, 53 comments

“Never one to shy away from political themes, Wheel has taken to a theme rather than a full-blown concept with Charismatic Leaders, decrying populism and the cult of personality across 6 tracks and an interlude. In the band’s own words, this is intended as their metal album, the heavier, angrier version of the predecessors.” The Wheel of idealogy.

Dvne – Voidkind Review

Dvne – Voidkind Review

By GardensTale on April 27, 2024 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, Sludge, 91 comments

“In terms of quality, if not international recognition, Dvne has undergone what one could describe as a meteoric rise. Debut Asheran barged onto my list that year on the heels of my glowing TYMHM article. Sophomore Etemen Ænka went bigger, more expansive, and did so successfully, showcasing an astonishing array of performances and songwriting prowess. All this praise from yours truly hasn’t gone unnoticed, either, as Dvne has quickly become a fan favorite in this corner of the internet, and the band’s hanging with the big boys over at Metal Blade. The hype for Voidkind has been understandably unreal, but is the third time still the charm when both prior times were full-blown knock-outs?” Void unkind?

Inter Arma – New Heaven Review

Inter Arma – New Heaven Review

By Cherd on April 26, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Sludge, 103 comments

“It’s been almost exactly five years since Inter Arma’s last full-length, not counting their album of cover songs, Garbers Days Revisited. Not that the vicious take on Neil Young’s “Southern Man” wasn’t a welcome addition to their catalogue, but after the gut-churning aural ruination that was 2019’s Sulfur English, you could hardly blame fans for hoping the band would follow it up in short order. A global pandemic and personnel turmoil intervened, so here we are in 2024 just getting our ears around the band’s fifth LP, New Heaven.” Large things arrive late.

OU – 蘇醒 II: Frailty Review

OU – 蘇醒 II: Frailty Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on April 26, 2024 in Reviews, Ambient, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 95 comments

“Beijing isn’t known for being a hotbed of metal, and what bands do exist (documented) don’t really present many ways to listen on a global scale. But, being comprised of human beings, music persists in that region whether we realize it or not. And of that perseverance OU blossomed. Triumphant and glistening, their 2022 debut one wasted no time infecting and warping my listening consciousness with its unique blend of progressive metal, power pop, and dream-like ambient fusion.” OU81NOU.

Balance of Power – Fresh from the Abyss Review

Balance of Power – Fresh from the Abyss Review

By Steel Druhm on April 18, 2024 in Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 18 comments

“It’s strange when a band you like goes into an extended period of inactivity. You miss them for the first few years and get impatient for new material. After 4-5 years though, you move on and eventually give up on hearing more from them. Stranger still is when a band that put you through all that abruptly returns some 20 years later with a very different sound. This is the experience I’ve had with the U.K.s Balance of Power.” Out of balance.