"A misleading genre tag can be a blessing or a curse for a humble reviewer such as myself. To go in expecting one thing, but receive quite another throws one for a loop either way. But in the case of Modern Rites, and their sophomore Endless, the surprise was definitely a nice one. Marked as 'industrial' in the pit, what lies within is in fact a modern, delicately atmospheric strain of meloblack; one that audibly carries the influence of their guitarist's other project, Aara. But rather than mimicry and filler, Modern Rites are in fact demonstrating their ability to evolve into somet ..read more

"ColdCell don't fix what isn't broken, their black metal remains imbued with layers of drawling melancholic melodies that pleasingly blunt the serrated edge of harsh vocals and vitriolic tremolo. Having the drummer of Schammasch in their midst, it's perhaps no coincidence that they have historically sounded a little like a less long-winded iteration of that band, while in terms of delivery coming close to Dymna Lotva. Make no mistake, however, they are a unique force all of their own." No sleeping cell. The post ColdCell – Age of Unreason Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy ..read more

I love it when a rando intrigues my old bones and half-deaf ears. Especially after so many years at AMG and so many damn reviews. But even with all my years of metal knowledge and undeniable musical taste,1 even I can be surprised by something that floats to the top of the pit. After seeing nothing of interest for a July 12th release date, I summoned Leviathan to tread the waters and bring forth something that would possess me and give my arthritic hands the strength to write. What that majestic creature brought up to the shore was the third full-length album from Vanessa Funke. This one-perso ..read more

In describing his project, and personal philosophy that guides it, Guillaume Galaup—the individual behind Limbes, as well as Blurr Thrower—speaks of the power that forms between opposites. The one, limbo (Limbes in French), light, ethereal, and weightless; the other, nothingness (adem), total blackness, spaceless, silent. Both, however, are equally transcendent, and for Limbes, form the essential, beautiful, and sometimes terrifying space in which existence plays out. This abstract, metaphysical approach to existential thought could hardly be better expressed than by the medium he chooses. Noi ..read more

It’s nice when an old friend comes to visit. You know, that friend who you don’t sit down with very often but, when you do, it’s easy and fun, and you remember why you were friends in the first place. Sure, they’ll have some news, they’ll be a little bit older (so will you, buddy boy!) and, who knows, they might have even matured a bit. But fundamentally it’s going to be a low-effort, really good time. That’s how I felt when I saw that British Columbia’s Liminal Shroud were dropping third record, Visions of Collapse. The trio’s debut, Through the False Narrows, caught my attention with its cru ..read more

Fellwarden is the solo atmospheric black metal project of The Watcher, the vocalist and co-founder of Fen. Fen has enjoyed a solid chunk of praise over the years from the AMG council, and I myself have always regarded Carrion Skies as an exemplar of quality atmoblack. But it was not this promising pedigree that inspired me to claim Fellwarden, for I wasn’t aware of it on first contact. I was lead by my simple love for the gentler, atmospheric side of metal—a quality I’m told I share with Fellwarden’s previous reviewer, Emya. Emya did not look favorably on Wreathed in Mourncloud, Fellwarden’s p ..read more

Ah, my old friend. We look upon our very first reviews fondly, as opportunities for meditation and embarrassment alike as we grow older and just plain old. Six years ago, for my first assignment as a meek n00b (10), I was assigned to Chilean post-black act Lascar and its third full-length Wildlife. It was, uh, not a good experience. The biggest gripe was its obvious paper-thin Deafheaven worship, pretty ambient post-rock passages copied and pasted atop milquetoast blastbeats and shrieks, which gave it an ultimately disingenuous feel that undermined the post-black necessity for emotional connec ..read more

In the preface of Herman Hesse’s Faust-inspired novel Steppenwolf, an unnamed narrator (simply called the Nephew) details a series of encounters with main character Harry Haller. Haller is described as extremely intellectual and arrogant, but ultimately alienated by and disillusioned with the bourgeois-dominated society of twentieth-century Germany. Hesse’s narrative culminates in a scene in which the narrator and Haller, now friends, attend a lecture from a philosopher, one of Europe’s brightest minds. Haller gives a fleeting glance at the narrator: his expression is described as cutting thro ..read more

Last Rites | Dire Omens. Interesting album title, that. Last rites signify mourning and gentle acceptance, while dire omens suggest malevolence, a promise of death yet to come. Likely by design, these contrasting themes directly apply to the kind of neofolk and atmospheric black metal that Canadian duo Ulvik peddles, as the sad beauty of their folk music inevitably succumbs to a more pronounced black metal malevolence. Hailing from the endless pine trees of Canada’s westernmost territory British Columbia, Ulvik invites you to immerse yourself in their rural melancholy with their fourth opus, L ..read more

While it was cold and gloomy just a couple weeks before writing, now it’s blisteringly hot and humid. Such is the transition from February to April in the land of Ken. It’s May now, of course, so we are once again traveling back in time to when our Filter was brimming with scabs and scaled plucked from the Hides of March. As is my prerogative, I sent my minions, which are legion, into the thick of it to retrieve those lost gems which would otherwise be damned for musty eternity. So, without further ado, my I interest you in our March Filter wares? The answer is always yes (or else)! Kenstrosi ..read more