Black Space Riders — D:REI
★☆☆☆ I imagine that this is what Monster Magnet or Queens Of The Stone Age would sound like if they ever full-on committed to being a sludge-metal band. See the rest here
Category: First Listens
Artificial Brain — Labyrinth Constellation
★★★☆ A fairly uneven, but wildly entertaining collection of post-death songs. During the moments that really work (which are at least half of the album), you’re treated to a Gorguts-style grossfest, but with Glassjaw-like deconstructionism. Definitely worth at least one listen, all the way through. See the rest here
Culted — Oblique To All Paths
★☆☆☆ I don’t always listen to sludge, but when I do, I at least require it to have more sonic depth than “By-Tor & The Snow Dog.” See the rest here
Cynic — Kindly Bent to Free Us
★★☆☆ This is very interesting and enjoyable. This is also about as hardcore as Mahavishnu Orchestra. It actually sounds a lot like UK in places. So I give it enthusiastic praise for modern jazz fusion, but it’s a complete waste from a metal perspective. See the rest here
Mayan — Antagonise
★★☆☆ This sophomore album from Epica-by-another-name is chock full of the hallmarks of any good symphonic death metal recording: lush arrangements, over the top drama, and quietly excellent guitarwork. However, this album has a bit of an identity crisis on its hands, at times evoking Soilwork, Ludovico Einaudi, and prog rock. See the rest here
IXXI — Skulls N Dust
★☆☆☆ A very boring album, even by black metal’s standards of relentlessness. See the rest here
Ancient Ascendant — Echoes And Cinders
★★★☆ A wide-ranging, ambitious, and dark bit of work. This album has touches of Lamb Of God, Opeth, Bolt Thrower, and a lot of other bands that I can’t quite put my finger on. At the same time, it manages to sound wholly original and fresh. A must-listen, at least once. See the rest here
Apostolum — Winds Of Disillusion
★☆☆☆ I give these guys some props for earnest ambition, taking a decidedly proggy approach to otherwise traditional black metal. But the end result is far from harmonious, and is never more sloppy than the awkward moments of spoken word in a very thick Italian accent (which reminds me a bit of the priest from the baptism scene in The Godfather). See the rest here
Axel Rudi Pell — Into The Storm
☆☆☆☆ This is power metal at its most tired, trite, and insipid. The album isn’t even particularly well-mixed. Not worth a single listen. See the rest here
Animals As Leaders — The Joy Of Motion
★★★☆ This third AAL album loses a star because of its overall subdued vibe. That said, it’s otherwise wall-to-wall excellence, and everything you’d expect from Messrs Abasi et al. While this album was always going to be a Must Listen, it rewards the effort. See the rest here
