Category Archives: Reviews M – Z

Xaon – Solipsis (2019) – Review

Posted on by — Leave a reply
Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
RockmusicRaider - Xaon - Solipsis - Album Cover

Cinematic Metal. The dream of shaving off a tasty slice of Hollywood without being there. And – by definition – only in sound and never in deed. Clad in metal that somehow and apparently must sound epic and be smothered in sweetish cheese.

Bands like AfterTime or – again – Illuminata come to mind. And for a while, it is nice to listen to those compositions that all kinda sound alike. But then suddenly this deluge of fondue does get to you. And you start to yearn for something a bit rougher.

So, luckily we finally stumbled across the newest … [...] Click to raid more!

Totengeflüster – The Faceless Divine (2019) – Review

Posted on by — Leave a reply
Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
RockmusicRaider - Totengeflüster - The Faceless Divine - Album Cover

Who works most in a band?

That’s right, the drummer. Especially metal drummers have a tough time keeping track of those often convoluted melodies. This leads to episodes like the misadventure of one Jukka Nevalainen, formerly of Nightwish. The man who lost all of his sleep over his mighty boom bins.

But worst off are the stick wielders of Black and Extreme Metal bands. That’s where folks often try to kill their bandmates with complicated drum patterns. It is of course also true that he or she works sitting down. But – boy – their job feels like being … [...] Click to raid more!

Rotting Christ – Sanctus Diavolos (2004) – Review

Posted on by — Leave a reply
Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
RockmusicRaider - Rotting Christ - Sanctus Diavolos - Album Cover

Rotting Christ. Some already hate their admittedly contentious band name. Others continually take issue with their ever-evolving metal style. On top, they’re often labeled Satanists, and shunned by fellow musicians and states alike.

Fancy an example or two?

In 2005 Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine forced Rotting Christ off a gig in Athens, stating personal religious beliefs. Or more recently, in 2018, Sakis and Themis Tolis were arrested in Georgia after stepping off a plane. On grounds of satanism and – hold on to something – terrorism.

Yep, you heard that right. But then, it is also true that Sakis Tolis… [...] Click to raid more!

Batushka – Panihida (2019) – Review

Posted on by — Leave a reply
Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
Batushka - Panihida - Album Cover

2019 is the year of the Batushka controversy, one that will write Black Metal history. The genre is not devoid of its past troubles, and this one here just sounds like a fitting continuation. Albeit a bit less fiery, or deadly – come to think of it.

Yet we still got ourselves one major metallic earthquake that hit our metal shores like a steely tsunami at the beginning of the year. And which never ceased with its aftershocks since.

But it is also true enough that without all that drama, we would never find ourselves with two brand-new records … [...] Click to raid more!