You are going to have a hard time believing this, but there was a time when I was actually questioning whether I should review the latest release from Finland’s epic folk metal stalwarts Ensiferum. You see, I actually seem to have soured a bit of folk metal in 2012, (I know, I know, its like […]
Relapse Records has been in resurgent form over the last couple of years, revitalizing their roster and boosting their legendary track record and proven ability in providing exposure that some of the lesser known bands deserve. Canada’s Weapon is another fine addition to the label’s large, esteemed staple. Plucked from the grimy underground, Weapon applies […]
Shoot ‘em Up, the self-released album from Canadian death-thrashers Mortör is one of those efforts that you hear every once in a while that makes you think it could have easily been released on a metal label of some repute. It’s catchy, it’s grooving, and it’s just plain tough. With nary an ounce of fat […]
Though released much earlier this year, the debut full length album from Spain’s Mass Burial only recently found its way into my mailbox, but the wait was well worth it. Despite hailing from Spain, Mass Burial would have you believe they reside in Stockholm, Sweden… and that’s its 1990. Yup, like country mates Unconsecrated (actually […]
The guys over at Zeitgeister Music sure are creative, I’ll give ’em that. That’s the small German label responsible for avant-garde black metal act Klabautamann, the opulent and tragic Woburn House and the hoary progressive doom of Valborg, among others. It’s an incestuous collective, with the members freely circulating from one act to another, and […]
Recommended to me by a fellow teethofthedivine forum member, Mare Cognitum‘s second release, was released back in June as a mere ‘pay what you want’ bandcamp digital download. But now, An Extraconscious Lucidity is now available as a limited CD from the band’s sole member and brain child Jacob Buczarski. But whatever format you decide […]
After a demo and a few EPs, New York City-based grim black metallers Imperial Triumphant have finally released their debut full-length album. Sporting a rather primitive, crude sound to coincide with their blend of (mostly) American and (some) Scandinavian black metal, Abominamentvm is a raging slab of manic, war-torn blasphemy. In essence, Abominamentvmis a relenting […]
During their decade plus existence North Carolina’s Daylight Dies have in many ways defied the odds. Originally written off by many as a subpar clone of their European influences, Daylight Dies have steadily matured, increasingly honing their craft and sharpening their song-writing chops to a fine point. Subsequently they have carved out their own unique […]
The best possible analogy I came across as a main descriptor for Pathology is the ”press play; get your ass handed to you for 30 minutes” type of endearing imagery. I wouldn’t go to an album from these guys with any other real expectation in mind; they satisfy this craving for uncompromising violence without a […]
Pig Destroyer’s 2007 album Phantom Limb ended up on many year-end lists and was lauded as one of, if not the best, album that they have put out, so hype for this one was massive to say the least. In a genre like grindcore where it can be hard to separate from the pack, Pig […]
Unholy rotting corpses, Batman! Zombiefication‘s latest EP, Reaper’s Consecration, is about as gnarled and old-school Swedish as death metal gets…and these guys are from Mexico. Viva la muerte indeed. Reaper’s Consecration consists of five tracks of gruesome death rattling rotting flesh from bone, and the killer riffs ooze forth like hot pus from infected wounds. […]
Geist‘s 2009 album Galeere was and still is one of my very favorite albums of that year and was a darn near perfect black metal album. But then I never heard anything from the band for the next, almost 4 years. Well it turns out that the band was having some issues with a lawsuit […]
Brutal death/tech-death/grind maniacs Malignancy are back with their third full length, though they have been at it for nearly 20 years now. Their last album, Inhuman Grotesqueries, was one I remember listening to and seeing on the Willowip site, but the weak production left me wanting more as it hid the talent that was bubbling […]
Swiss act Eluveitie has been in my music collection since late 2009 when I got the bands watershed second effort, Slania. In 2010, when the band posted the music video for their (at the time) brand new song, “Thousandfold”, I immediately went to Nuclear Blast and pre-ordered Everything Remains (as it Never Was). That statement […]
Greece’s Spectral Lore rightfully (I hope) garnered some attention with Sentinel, their magnificent third release that should put them on the black metal map. But it didn’t take long for Spectral Lore brainchild Ayloss to get right back to business by way of a fucking excellent split with fellow Greeks, Locust Leaves.I’m not usually one […]
Although metal keeps splintering and evolving as we push on through the 2010s, a lot of bands keep reaching back to the early 70s for their sound and inspiration. (Do the math – that’s 40 years ago already!) All those decades later, and those groovy bonghit riffs and bone-scattered altars are as influential as they […]
A decade after the metal world saw/heard their debut full-length Meat Hook Ballet, Cobolt 60 is finally back with their follow-up. Comprised of duo Mr. Hustler (ex-Blood Red Throne, ex-Trioxin) on drums/vocals and Dǿd (Scariot, Blood Red Throne) on guitar/bass, Cobolt 60 have taken what they created in 2002 and revamped their approach, arrangements and […]
Even though I’ve always thought Rogga Johanssen was a bit of a second rate Dan Swano with all his projects, most of them sounding a little too similar, last years Revolting effort, my first exposure to the band, In Grisly Rapture pleasantly surprised me and had me locating the bands previous works and a gaining […]
The guys in BTBAM are absolutely adamant about one ultimate goal with this very singular monkey of a release; doing whatever the heck they damned well please with absolutely each and every opportunity opening they get throughout the 70+ minute-span. They also happen to seriously succeed in the art of having the music truly express […]
In last year’s review of 777: The Desantification, I noted the evolution of transcendental melody and ethereal majesty from the uglier, first part of the trilogy to the second chapter, and wondered if that arc would continue into 777: Cosmosophy. Over the past year, Blut Aus Nord (just Vindsval now) has continued to develop and […]
Atlanta, Georgia residents Royal Thunder made a strong statement with their self-titled EP in 2010; blending bluesy, southern-tinged rock ‘n’ roll with sturdy doom foundations. But perhaps their biggest drawcardwas the commanding presence of singer and bassist Miny Parsonz;a front-woman who could belt the tunes out with full-blooded urgency, or pull back into soulful restraint […]
Are you in need of a crushing sludge fix? Something obliteratingly heavy, perhaps with a touch of droning doom psychedelics? Eh? Black Shape of Nexus has your number. Continuing in the heavier direction apparent on their split with Kodiak, Negative Black is a big shift for this German crew. Microbarome Meetings, the bands previous album […]
Aussie Doomsters Myraeth were formerly known as Mona’s Lament but have released one EP and this, their debut under their new moniker and its very good stuff. Although adding to their country’s fine doom stock with the likes of Mournful Congregation, Futility, Paramecium, Inverloch, Clagg and such, Myraeth is far more rooted on the Scandinavian, […]
We get a lot of albums to review here at Teeth of the Divine. Not all of them are metal. We usually don’t cover those, but if it’s interesting or different enough, we’ll throw some words at it. So Ultra Zook is today’s lucky winner! Ultra Zook is from France. This EP, Epuz, sounds like […]
If you’re a progressive metal nerd like myself, chances are you’ve heard of Scott Mosher. On top of having a great character and sense of humour, he has four solo albums under his name. If you have heard him before, you’ll probably agree that he’s one of the best guitarists in the world of melodic […]