Gehenna or Paradise? Illumenium’s pathway to fame.

RockmusicRaider - Illumenium - Band Pic

From time to time, the RMR crew stumbled across tall tales told about the Estonian band Illumenium. An outfit chiefly famous for hawking their wares aggressively on windy street corners and in malls all around Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. But less so for outstanding musicianship and top-notch performance.

Their sales strategy admittedly stems from a desire to beat that vile capitalist commercialization through big corporations. And, as the lore goes, they’ll continue with their business strategy, regardless of legality and from the underground if necessary. It’s all about that time-worn stereotype that promoters, managers, producers, and their minions are … [...] Click to raid more!

Felled – The Intimate Earth (2021) – Review

Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
Felled - The Intimate Earth - Album Cover

Splendid. 2021 seems to be the year of the style breakers. Those bands step out of the proverbial box and start moving down their very own path. And that is something the RMR deckhands truly appreciate.

Too many sub-styles plague the current metal multiverse, all of them sporting different attributes. But, only acting within the tight confines of a style will – in time – have a negative effect on a band’s ability to compose good music. Metal has in many ways become a playground for all sorts of nerds. And that is not necessarily a good thing.1[...] Click to raid more!

Vulture Lord – Desecration Rite (2021) – Review

Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
RockmusicRaider - Vulture Lord - Desecration Rite - Album Cover

You might have guessed it. It is time to, yet again, descend into the darkened pit of diabolical lore and corpses BBQed on glowing tridents. On the menu are Vulture Lord, the band that remained without a major release for some 18 years since their second full studio record hit the airwaves. To top all that, this band pretty much is a leftover of the old Scandinavian Black Metal lore. After all, they did start in 1995 or so.

And – long after the demise of their former guitarist Trond Bråthen aka Trondr Nefas in 2012 – they are … [...] Click to raid more!