Tag Archives: Century Media Records

Mental Cruelty – Zwielicht (2023) – Review

Posted on by — Leave a reply
Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
Mental Cruelty - Zwielicht - Album Cover

Already a glance at the album cover piqued our interest to explore this one further. A wispy white figure on a black horse painted in pseudo-impressionist undertones and a band logo emerging straight from the woods. Meaning, if I would not know what it says, I’d never guess. That metal joke never gets old, doesn’t it? And then they called their band Mental Cruelty, which – come to think of it – may well be indicative of their metal style.

Zwielicht (twilight in German)1 slams its razor-sharp metal down your throat with wanton abandon. To the point that … [...] Click to raid more!

Insomnium – Anno 1696 (2023) – Review

Posted on by — Leave a reply
Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
Insomnium - Anno 1696 - Album Cover

Since the RMR webzine saw the light of day, Insomnium always was a sure value. Their slightly melancholic yet stately brand of Melodic Death Metal gorging on Niilo Sevänen‘s gruff croaks, a smattering of clears, and stellar weeping guitar work always got on our good side. And I daresay, this band probably was instrumental in getting yours truly’s ass in gear to hunt for more melodeath than is good for metal health.1

The most impressive records that crossed the RMR Review committee’s desk definitely were Shadows of the Dying Sun and the excellent Winter’s Gate. But after … [...] Click to raid more!

Wilderun – Epigone (2022) – Review

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

If there’s one band out there that surprised us every time they issued a record, it’s Wilderun. At first, it is always that slightly nauseating feeling of indifference. Yet another metal record that gets sent way back into the review pipe, to wait for another chance. Only to find that after the fifth listen or so, the record will finally reveal some multi-layered goodness that will prove irresistible. A fil-rouge that’s very apparent in both Sleep1 and Veil2, both of which found highest praise in the end.

Now, Epigone here pushes this concept to the limit. … [...] Click to raid more!

Bewitcher – Cursed Be Thy Kingdom (2021) – Review

Posted on by — Leave a reply
Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
RockmusicRaider - Bewitcher - Cursed Be Thy Kingdom - Album Cover

Oh boy. It looks like The Beast finally possessed a band and made them play some metal. In other words, Iron Maiden chanted it for a few decades and Bewitcher here got the bug. Big time. But we’ll never know, of course, if it is really The Daemon at work or only Eddie with a cosmic joke.

And already the band’s slogan that I found on one of their sites – “Heavy Metal at the speed of Satan” – got on my good side real fast. So, I admit, that play button got pushed somewhat gleefully. Because I didn’t quite … [...] Click to raid more!