★★☆☆ BOS take the state-of-the-art to a new level: instead of having programmed drums, it’s as if every single element on this album is produced to the level of artiface. There isn’t a guitar part that couldn’t be gated, or so it goes. Despite the machines having taken over, there are still some legitimately enjoyable parts throughout the album. See the rest here
★☆☆☆ This album can be described as having three modes: unabashed fanboy aping of prog rock classics, unabashed self-parody, and unlistenable bombastic crap. The best that this album can do, Enigma Machine, manages to escape the gravitational pull of Erotomania. Otherwise, you’re not missing much at all. See the rest here
★☆☆☆ Well, I’ll give you this much: Ulcerate has delivered a pretty disgusting piece of work. The problem is, it’s not particularly compelling or memorable. Vermis is a whole lot of grossness without anything to really say. See the rest here
☆☆☆☆ The idea of this album isn’t terrible, but its execution is so tedious that it can only be seen as a chore. See the rest here
★★☆☆ This is pretty much exactly what you’d expect: Scandinavian folk metal done impeccably well, with hardly any surprises at all. See the rest here
★★★☆ Three stars? Have I lost my mind?!
So here’s the thing: I generally douse Gwar in a shower of wound-stinging salt for being a too-long-in-the-tooth art project band. Their Scatterbrain-meets-Jello-Biafra vocals and spacey high-concept foolishness definitely inspire snobbery. But behind that, the band is just wailin’ all over the place on this album, like a more punk version of Slipknot with their tongues very firmly in their cheeks (or someone else’s). See the rest here
★☆☆☆ Not nearly as sophomoric as some earlier albums from TDWP, the band earns points for giving it a real effort. But my oh my is this an unenthusiastic album. I had to refrain from fast forwarding… not once, not twice, but 14 times during my first and only listen. See the rest here
★★★☆ An excellent return to form, with a sound that places the band somewhere between “Descanting…” and “Heartwork.” It’s far more mature than either, and mostly devoid of the crassly overt commercialilsm of the latter. Despite the rumors of trouble during production, “Surgical Steel” does not disappoint. Also, I guarantee that you’ll be wanting to learn this chant: “6! See the rest here
★★☆☆ This album is a lot of things, least of which is: loud. It’s got a lot going for it, and evokes everything from DETHKLOK to Disincarnate… but there’s also an instant forgettability to the tunes. See the rest here
★☆☆☆ This was the longest 6 hours of my young life. Good riddance. See the rest here
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