★★☆☆ Imbecilic, but really great fun nonetheless. If you’re expecting Nile-like death metal, you’ll get the speed but not exactly the darkness. That’s okay, though; this album stands on its own. Also, the riffs here are really kinda novel and unusual, so that’s worth a couple of listens already. See the rest here
★★☆☆ This is some seriously old-school shit right here. Think Rage-For-Order-era Queensrÿche or Maiden. It’s enjoyable, for what it is, but it’s also got the palpable feel of stale bread to it. The war’s over, Johnny. See the rest here
★★☆☆ This is an interesting conundrum. On the one hand, this album is rockin’ a very alternate-universe-Slayer vibe. On the other hand, it’s kinda forgettable. Worth a second listen, but there’s something very humdrum about it all. See the rest here
★★☆☆ A djenty symphonic blend of Fear Factory, the Inception soundtrack, and the gothic sensibilities of the movie “Prometheus” (without all the shitty lack of logic). It drags at times from its own meandering aimlessness, but it’s got a smattering of good and heavy ideas. See the rest here
★★☆☆ There’s a lot to commend this album: it’s djenty but with more fury than technicality (which is a good thing), and it’s high energy and eminently listenable. At the same time… there’s a vague whiff of Korn or crabcore about the whole thing that’s hard to shake. I think I’d feel better about it if I wasn’t so allergic to popped collars, bro. See the rest here
★★☆☆ To call this simple sludge would be to miss the deconstructivism at work here. Throughout this challenging album, you can hear hints of Catch 33, Suffocation, and other modern metal landmarks… all shat through a meat grinder repeatedly. Definitely something to listen to at least once… although calling this “metal” requires a degree in ethnometallurgy or something. See the rest here
★★☆☆ A nicely full-bodied hardcore album that has tasty bits throughout, but doesn’t really coalesce into a strong, cohesive whole. Worth a listen, but it doesn’t have a lot of staying power. See the rest here
★★☆☆ Oh sure, it’s heavy and interesting and whatnot… but it’s so slippery. Definitely from the kitchen-sink school of polyglot metal. You like djent? Death metal? Melody? Check check check. An interesting ride, but I defy you to describe a specific moment from it when it’s all done. See the rest here
★★☆☆ A high two-star on First Listen, although I’ll admit that I gave it a second listen (after which I liked it even more). It’s uneven as fuck, but that’s part of its charm. The vocals are the weak link here, but a small price to pay for really interesting post-core metal. See the rest here
★★☆☆ Surprisingly good, if overlong. This album has an air of self-parody vibe to it: all the things you’d expect from a Deicide album are here, but there’s a staleness to the whole thing. I will say that the solo work is very tasty, though.
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