★★☆☆ An oddly compelling bit of beerhall folk metal, with a huge and awkwardly self-conscious emphasis on the band’s Helvetian roots. The Celtic fusion works pretty well, but overall the album still has a ho-hum pallor to it. See the rest here
★☆☆☆ This comes across more as a collection of concepts or outtakes from the Assassins or Addicts albums, than a wholehearted effort in its own right. Tired, uninspired, and chronically overlong. And don’t get me started on the muddier-than-usual production, even for Nachtmystium. See the rest here
★★☆☆ This album is a challenge to get into, largely because of the weird production values. Now, I’m real big on the idea of getting away from the Toontrackification of metal, but tell me it doesn’t sound like these guitars were recorded through Pignose amps, and with the internal microphone on a Macbook Pro. See the rest here
★☆☆☆ Amateurish doom sludge at best, and not very interesting to boot. I can tell that it’s lovingly made, for all its lo-fi pretentions, but beyond that it’s certainly not my cup of tea. See the rest here
★★☆☆ The debut album from a group of very talented veterans, making very anonymous clean-vocaled metalcore. See the rest here
★★☆☆ This album is equal parts Isis and A Perfect Circle. It’s a lovely blend, but as one might imagine given that kind of formula, the final result suffers from a lack of energy. See the rest here
★★★☆ Goddamn, but this album is fun. Our favorite Scottish pirate metal band do good on this one, with a perfect blend of frivolousness and serious riffs. It’s really hard note to smirk and imagine sloshing a frothy mug of beer to each tune. Even the Taio Cruz cover feels good to hear. See the rest here
★★★☆ My very first impression was that, while there’s nothing new or fancy here, that familiarity comes across as classic more than tired. Beneath the surface of this short and sweet deathy brutality, however, these guys are experimenting a little with mood and dynamics, in a way that reminds me of a more Euro version of The Black Dahlia Murder. See the rest here
☆☆☆☆ “Wow.” “WOW.” “Jesus no.” These were my first reactions to this album. This is Godsmack’s St. Anger. Zero fucking stars. See the rest here
★★★☆ This album starts out with some a fierceness that never completely dissipates, even as the music transitions from ballsy detuned death to a more traditional metalcore. Even at their most derivative, Darkest Hour have an undeniable energy pumping right into your face. Scowlworthy from beginning to end, and that’s a good thing. See the rest here
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