Admitted. We don’t do those all that much anymore. I mean, RMR policy pretty much directs its unpaid and overstretched wordsmiths to focus on the current year and not lose time on smelly old items of different couleur. But sometimes we can’t resist and have a go at some dusty old record that quietly wastes away in a swampy corner somewhere. So, here’s to a short list of olde records that made us break the rules.
Cheeky shenanigans fueled by fury and nostalgia.
Xaon – The Lethean
Release year: 2022
Hells bells! This one should have garnered its spot on any of those snazzy listings 2022 produced. But it was not to be. The merciless gawds of music management and logistical breakdowns prevented a timely butchering of yet another of Xaon‘s feisty records. But, through some magick, the RMR crew finally got its greedy little hands on this piece of vinyl – in 2023. And we weren’t disappointed. Xaon are on a roll, and long may it continue.
Anaal Nathrakh – Hell is Empty and all the Devils are Here
Release year: 2007
Now, what about some trve seething fury that any devil would flee from? The adepts of the ole snake breath always deliver a cathartic aural experience. Crazed screams, wild riffing, mad drumming brought about by a – machine. Two dudes from the UK going strong with unspeakable things. And this all started in earnest with this here record. Thus, it behooves us to finally have a go at the foothold that started all that craziness apparent in the widow. One should describe it as weak tea, but – in truth – this one here is already bedlam incarnate. Startling beginning to unhinged madness to come later. Start softly, then show some progression – from hell. Indeed so, but no one does it quite like Anaal Nathrakh.
Anaal Nathrakh – The Whole of the Law
Release year: 2016
Holy moly, 2023 must have been a desperate year. And indeed it was. So, AN was again called to active duty. Now, this here record is way more settled than its predecessors were. In other words, better structure, less frantic, and less demented screaming all around. But I guess, that judgment is in the ears of the beholder. Still, the law here is one of the best records they made along the way. And we’re sad we missed this feisty object back in 2016. A blast from the past, indeed.
Wintersun – Time I
Release year: 2012
We’re still waiting for it, right? You know, the new record, the follow-on allegedly called – Time II. Well, it hasn’t arrived in ten years and the RMR reviewers don’t think it ever will. But then, we could all be proven wrong, right? Well, this detail apart, this here record is a true gem of Symphonic and Melodic Death Metal. You often seem to find yourself in the soundtrack of some fantasy film. A very colorful one, akin to the pinkish album cover on display. A nicely executed piece of cheese-filled, bombastic fun and a pleasure to return to from time to time.
Wintersun – The Forest Seasons
Release year: 2017
2023’s blasts from the past seem to come in pairs. So, here’s to Wintersun yet again. Forest Metal laced with Power Metal to the point of having Hansi Kürsch1 traipse around backstage. But boy, this is – yet again – an impressive record speaking about the four seasons. A theme used and abused by many over time. Melodic Death Metal with benefits, from a seasoned band that managed to capture our attention twice in the same year. Now, this 2017 piece was also their latest. So, where’s that new album, folks?
Arch Enemy – Deceivers
Release year: 2022
For some reason, the upper echelon of RMR management decided to cover the latest and best of Arch Enemy. And in hindsight, we shouldn’t have. True, you’ll find a ton of energy on display and some pretty neat ideas. And finally, the singer’s impressive clear voice came on full display – which is a great move. But somehow, this wasn’t next-level stuff and nothing to write home about. Thus, it barely made it on our good side. And that’s not good enough for a band of the caliber of Arch Enemy.
Ren – Ren Says Hi!
Release year: 2022
And now the RMR crew wishes to impart its views on you for a video by Ren called – Hi Ren. Not much there, you might think. And so did we, at first. Uninspired we found it and got ready to flush this stinky morsel noisily down the toilet ov hell. Maybe the master of this device can roar at it a little, so it gains – something. Well, that was until we found ourselves in the midst of the clip. The reel contains one of the most astonishing performances run on a frugal scene of a barebone cinematography. In other words, the focus is solely on the artist – and the performance of a story of split personalities, mental problems, and no end in sight is simply astounding. This video would have rocketed to the top of the top 3 ranking of 2022. Would. Because it did not make it on time into our review pipe. Damn.
And that’s it for now. Stay tuned for more blasts from the past in the 2024 edition.
The Olde Footnote!- The guy from Blind Guardian.-↩