Suffering so you don't have to!
You might be wondering why I’m writing a review for Aquilus‘s newest release, Bellum II, at this late stage. It’s not typical behavior for the catto. But you see, forming an opinion about Bellum II isn’t as straightforward as just listening to it once. There are layers to this mammoth of an album. My real question was whether it could even hold a candle to Griseus, the subgenre standard. Let’s find out!
As we grow older, it becomes harder and harder to leave our comfort zone; our melting brains become less open to new experiences. It’s not just my opinion; it’s what science says. In Ascending in Synergy, Elvellon offers me the opportunity to defy my cognitive decay and totally break out of that comfort zone made out of incomprehensible gargling and dissonant riffs. It can’t get more Power/Symphonic than Elvellon, but we’ll see how it holds up.
Slovakian Metal might seem alien to you, just as it would to me if I hadn’t visited Slovakia. There isn’t much to say about the country—great food, impressive castles, but the customer service can be terrible. This deadly combination almost begs for the creation of interesting heavy music. So, you might wonder if I’m writing this review in advance to gain a competitive edge. Well, yes and no. Ceremony of Silence is my kind of band, and just a glimpse of the cover art of Hálios makes me salivate more than free food at a boring conference.
What were you thinking about a few hours ago? Maybe, like me, you found yourself pondering how things might have unfolded differently if you hadn’t eaten that extra meal, or if you had managed to squeeze in an extra hour of sleep. Were you, perhaps, reflecting on your life choices? Because, with the imminent release of Trails of Anguish‘s new album, Scathed Gaping Misery, it seems to vividly capture the essence of things that could have been, but never quite materialized.
You’ve lost count of your therapy sessions. Nothing seems to ease your anger issues. You’re on the brink of snapping at that coworker who cracks fart jokes all day. Well, let me tell you, I might not have any constructive solutions for you, but maybe The Last of Lucy does. This band has been delivering potent doses of compressed violence for years now. Moksha was definitely a step in the right direction, but does Godform continue this brutal onslaught?
The year is 2004, and Power Metal has reached its peak as an art form. Bands like Sonata Arctica, Kamelot, and Blind Guardian have released their best work to date, and the future looks bright. You were either young and happy back then or just not born yet. Fast forward to 2024, and Power Metal has become the laughing stock of the Metal community. You either hate yourself or hate your job. However, amidst this decline, Unleash The Archers stands as one of the few Power/Prog Metal bands that still has something fresh to offer. With epic albums like Apex or Abyss, it keeps the flame alive. The real question is, can Phantoma beat these modern classics?
Crawl has been busy lately. Following a lively split with Feral, it’s clear that they’re riding the wave of the new generation of old-school Swedish Death Metal bands emerging from (surprise!) Sweden. So yes, this is an extended version of the retro Metal that many have been enjoying lately. However, instead of more Immolation, you get more Entombed in your mix. But we’re not here to talk about Crawl; we’re here to discuss Altar of Disgust and determine if it has something new to offer or if it ends up being a derivative endeavor.
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