Arch Enemy

Blackwater Drowning – Obscure Sorrows Review

Blackwater Drowning – Obscure Sorrows Review

By Lavender Larcenist on March 4, 2026 in Reviews, Groove Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 80 comments

“I’m going to come out and say it. Arch Enemy has done untold damage to female-fronted metal bands. While their influence is undeniable, every iteration of the band has featured monotone vocals, cringe-inducing lyrics, and leather-clad frontwomen. As a woman, I have no issue with these things in a vacuum, but in the larger music sphere, they created simultaneously high and absurdly low standards. Requiring frontwomen to be stereotypically hot, thin, and sport bright hair, while also plummeting standards on the musical side with their milquetoast melodeath slop. This is an ill omen for North Carolina’s Blackwater Drowning.” Enemies and expectations.

Soulfly – Chama Review

Soulfly – Chama Review

By Grin Reaper on October 24, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 39 comments

“Max Cavalera casts one hell of a shadow in metal, with a wide swath of bands he’s either founded or played alongside. Though Cavalera’s mightiest legacy will be his time with Sepultura, he’s been with Soulfly over twice as long. In that time, Max and company have written and recorded thirteen albums. On latest offering Chama, the elder Cavalera relinquished producing credits and creative focus to his son and Soulfly’s drummer, Zyon, providing an opportunity for a fresh direction.” Fly in the flames of time.

Eluveitie – Ànv Review

Eluveitie – Ànv Review

By Twelve on April 23, 2025 in Reviews, Folk Metal, 66 comments

“Unlike a certain Angry Metal Overlord, I really liked Origins. Up to 2014, I had only a dim awareness of Eluveitie, save that they were a Swiss group that did not believe in keyboards. Origins was my gateway into folk metal, an album I found exciting and refreshing, and Eluveitie’s live show in support of it is still one of my top concert experiences. For over twenty years, Eluveitie has been a force in folk metal. Armed with many instruments and a metal core, they are now on their ninth full-length album, Ànv. What have these giants of the genre cooked up for us this time?” Folk in a hard place.

Buried Realm – The Dormant Darkness Review

Buried Realm – The Dormant Darkness Review

By Owlswald on April 4, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Death, Progressive Metal, Space Metal, Symphonic Metal, Technical Death Metal, 87 comments

“Colorado’s Buried Realm, the technical melodic death metal project of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Josh Dummer, has built a steady following since 2017’s The Ichor Carcinoma. This is largely because— alongside his role as the primary writer and producer of Buried Realm’s music— Dummer is one hell of a guitarist. Additionally, he enlists a prominent cast of guest musicians for each album, adding another layer of proficiency to his progressive soundscape.” Shred with the dead.

Arch Enemy – Blood Dynasty Review

Arch Enemy – Blood Dynasty Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on March 28, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 116 comments

“Incepted as an offshoot of Carcassian lineage, early breakout albums Wages of Sin (2001) and Doomsday Machine (2005) spread like wildfire in the emerging world of digital accessibility. In particular, clips from the 2006 DVD Live Apocalypse, popped around early YouTube further quenching the thirst for the powerful live performances that the once ravenous act possessed—at least that’s my memory of how the melodeath-leaning Swedes came to be a global powerhouse. Arch Enemy’s current incarnation does not lack stage-ready talent, of course—professionals thrive on the tour.” Enemies everywhere.

Aversed – Erasure of Color Review

Aversed – Erasure of Color Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on March 20, 2025 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 80 comments

“Melodeath is an old, reliable friend for many a metalhead. Ever since the In Flames and Arch Enemies of the World took an anthemic and accessible version of the Gothenburg sound to the masses throughout the ’90s and ’00s, countless acts and other regional sounds have emerged from rollicking riff and less-than-deathly vocal inclusions. But combined with the right personal flair—a modern melding of blackened, jazzned, and altned influences much like contemporary wildcards Dawn of Ouroboros or Vintersea—melodic extreme metal forms have a growing presence in the hands of those who came of age with this musical history as their guide. Imitation breeds iteration, and, combined with adoration, the heart hopes to find a path alongside its infatuations, not just in shadow. Aversed walks the walk and Erasure of Color talks the talk.” Color theory.

Witherfall – Sounds of the Forgotten Review

Witherfall – Sounds of the Forgotten Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on May 31, 2024 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, 63 comments

“Nocturnes & Requiems packed both a nostalgic blaze and modern sorrow that jolted me in a way I absolutely needed. Combined with the surprising revelation that bassist Anthony Crawford was indeed the Anthony Crawford I had seen noodling around with Virgil Donati (Planet X, ex-Ring of Fire) and other jazzy ventures far removed from metal—including popping up on CHON records—Witherfall had my attention secured. History has its ups and downs, though.” Free falling.

Vintersea – Woven into Ashes Review

Vintersea – Woven into Ashes Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on May 10, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 69 comments

“In the past 20 years that bands like Wolves in the Throne Room and Agalloch have been pioneering a shade of the American black metal sound, a few interesting things have happened: black metal got cool and, as such, has continued to add new notches into its total allowable expressions. Youthful bands, who likely grew up finding out about these bigger names alongside other 00s music trends, have erupted with melodic and even fairly accessible atmospheres defining their modern vision of what black metal can be. These visions can feel a little kitchen sink at times, but that doesn’t stop acts like Vintersea from continuing to try and find that special melodic thread that binds their wide-ranging influences together.” New blood, old blackness.