Tusmørke – Dawn of Oberon (2024) – Review

Tusmørke - Dawn of Oberon - Album Cover

I said it before. RMR seems to be forever failing on our quest to ram in a few Jethro Tull records. But it never happened (so far) and Ian Anderson only ever prominently appeared on the late Opeth album on this zine. Well, luckily, the folks over at Karisma Records seem to sport an unending supply of retro-rock bands. Mischievous goblins fond of the flute, old-style drumming, full of wonky synth sounds, oldish Hammond vibes, and screechy guitars drunk on wah-wah. Case in point, the pretty sturdy Jordsjø hit our mighty music machine some time ago with their runaway style … [...] Click to raid more!

Nile – The Underworld Awaits Us All (2024) – Review

Nile - The Underworld Awaits Us All - Album Cover

A short while ago, RMR tackled a feisty mix of mainly dissonance and tech death, served on a platform of overwrought occultism. A peculiar set of styles that somehow worked nonetheless. Oddly so, but it did. So, why not continue with yet another tech death act that waited for attention over here for a few months now? Nile‘s the name, and The Underworld Awaits Us All is the game. But man, did the overindulging fanbois and girls swoon over this record that comes with a cover art sporting a wave or vortex of something that must not be … [...] Click to raid more!

Blighted Eye – Agony’s Bespoke (2024) – Review

Blighted Eye - Agony's Bespoke - Album Cover

A good storyline will drive the quality of a record. A stereotype that is almost always true. A great storyline, however, will knock it out of the park. And that is where Blighted Eye strut onto the scene like the bright green Cookie Monster. I’m hearing, Agony’s Bespoke rides into battle on the tale of Clare, a deported convict violently abused by Australian settlers, as described in the 2018 movie ‘The Nightingale’. And to transform these brutal moving pictures into an Extreme Metal piece definitely turns this slightly nauseating tale into a damned great storyline. Thus as the lore goes, … [...] Click to raid more!

Fellowship – The Skies Above Eternity (2024) – Review

If the pinky-hued sugary cookie monster ain’t your thing, go here. All others, follow the fearless RMR crew into the realm of the Metal o’ The Light. Power Metal is on the menu again and the Brits from Fellowship are the culprits this time around.

As you may remember, the band’s 2022 record The Saberlight Chronicles left quite an impact crater over here. Their brand of sugary sweet Power Metal almost gave us a toothache. But it was also one of the best-executed such records on the roster for the year. So, Fellowship here are up against a stellar … [...] Click to raid more!