The Reticent – On the Eve of a Goodbye (2016) – Review

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I love Progressive Metal. This is where metal meets the grey unknown. Far, far away from the ‘established’ legions of bands. Those that seemingly always want to produce more of the same. 

Of course, Progressive Metal covers lots of sins and it takes a lot of musical skills to produce good content. On the other hand, the style is usually also an indicator of much creative energy at work. Of that urge to go the extra mile.

Now, a large crowd out there professes that their forte lies in the progressive nirvana of the metal universe. Many of them strum a few djents, madly hit the percussion, howl weirdly around the stage and call this … [...] Click to raid more!

Paradise Lost – The Plague Within (2015) – Review

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One thing is clear: The 14th studio album The Plague Within of the long-standing band Paradise Lost has its moments. Total, stellar Doom Metal moments like Beneath Broken Earth for instance. Offering a meatier Black Sabbath-style tune that is actually pretty good with a (very limited) solo to boot.

And there are other moments, like Cry Out, which give you hope that this is actually getting somewhere. Only to find out that this track is actually at the end, instead of somewhere else. Even if this piece of work feels like some ’80s Hard Rock or early Heavy Metal production gone Death Metal [...] Click to raid more!

Moonspell – Night Eternal (2008) – Review!

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By Loki, the 9th studio album Night Eternal of the Portuguese band Moonspell is hard chow. You really need to listen to this jumble of tracks a few times and apply some goodwill at first. And I mean really go for it!

To take it all in IS tough – blackened, darkly ominous Gothic Metal sounds emerging from my earphones. Brutal, technically very demanding, riffs and harsh vocals assaulting your eardrums and virtually marching through your brain. If it is not burned away – that is – after listening to this record repeatedly. 

But then the vampire or the thing that dwells in the darkness inside [...] Click to raid more!

Insomnium – Across the Dark (2009) – Review

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When the cold dark wind is howling through the countryside with a bleak moon illuminating the wolves looking for sorry beasts to hunt down, then this feels like the mood the 2009 album Across the Dark from the Finnish metallers Insomnium projects. 

This record reminds me of dreary landscapes. Places where one – in a desperate way – really wants to be depressed and look for some consolation. Across the Dark is the music you would listen to on the South Pole. Whilst your buggy races along the cold plains of unknown Kadath, looking for untold horrors.1

Brutal and … [...] Click to raid more!