Industrial Metal

Mütterlein – Amidst the Flames, May Our Organs Resound Review

By Dear Hollow on May 7, 2025 in Reviews, Ambient Metal, Electronic, Electronica Metal, Industrial Metal, Post-Metal, 17 comments

“I’ve always unfairly ranked Rorcal above Overmars. What can I say? I got into Heliogabalus and Born Again around the same time, enamored by both single epic song interpretations of hardcore vigor, pained dissonance, and pitch-black sludge. Still, Heliogabalus took the cake when it came to bottom-scraping hellish riffs, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Themes differ, as Rorcal’s elegant storytelling added further majesty to their colossal attack, while Overmars’ scrappy commentary on injustice and religious trauma owed a more anti-establishment aura. Rorcal remains one of my favorite acts, while Overmars broke up in 2011. Out of sight, out of mind, but it wasn’t until now that Overmars has come back to haunt me in the form of Mütterlein.” Mütter in the middle.

Bong-Ra – Black Noise Review

By Thus Spoke on February 19, 2025 in Reviews, Electronic Metal, Experimental Metal, Industrial Metal, Noise, 35 comments

“When I reviewed Bong-Ra’s last album, Meditations, I commented on the about-turn the project made moving into doom. I should have known that the individual behind Bong-Ra, Jason Köhnen, likes to keep the listener guessing. So it is that Black Noise, their ninth official full-length, sees yet another mutation. In a whiplash change, Meditations’ successor is not dreamy, sax-infused, instrumental doom, but uncanny blackened, industrial, electronic metal; synthetic elements are used now to splice in unsettling samples and twist the guitar sound rather than dominate the melodies.” Bong show.

Master Boot Record – Hardwarez Review

By Mystikus Hugebeard on October 12, 2024 in Reviews, Electronic Metal, Industrial Metal, Synthwave, 53 comments

“Anno Domini 2024. In the early months, the code-whisperer Victor Love donned his Omnissiah robes and preached the score-counter-ruining sermon Nel Nome Del Codice within the Keygen Church. Now, the world’s premier practitioner of digital blasphemy has returned in his true, glorious form: Master Boot Record. There is no digi-christ here, only The Code. MBR is poised to release update 11.0 to your pathetic operating systems. Update name: Hardwarez.” Dos Boot!

Killing Spree – Camouflage! Review

By Dear Hollow on September 10, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, Industrial Metal, 31 comments

“As the old ball bounces, I guess I’m becoming the jazz guy around here. Hey, did you know that the phrase “jazz” probably comes from the word “jasm,” which is an archaic American phrase that means “drive” or “energy?” Now you do. Either way, when the inimitable GardensTale claimed this one, he was like “what the hell” and asked – no, demanded – that I take it after seeing my work with Mamaleek, that whack-ass La Suspendida project, and Bunsenburner’s redemption arc. But Killing Spree is here to kick ass and take names, like down in NOLA or some shit. Does it jazz? That’s the question.” Blue notes in a deadly space.

Skinwalker – Man Walks Backwards into the Ocean Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on August 19, 2024 in Reviews, Hardcore, Industrial Metal, Metalcore, Noise, 23 comments

“Alaska bears the honor of being the largest landmass of freedom—larger than even Texas—and also the most sparsely populated space in the union. Separated both geographically from the country and communally within its borders, living in the frozen frontiers can create a profound sense of isolation. Hailing from Anchorage, the industrial hardcore two-man assault of Skinwalker seems to find inspiration (or rather spite) in the kind of loneliness and frustration that a great, open land can bring.” Frozen skin…walking.

Mushroomhead – Call the Devil Review

By Dear Hollow on August 9, 2024 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Industrial Metal, Nu Metal, Symphonic Metal, 73 comments

“The problem with nu-metal is that the aesthetics overpower the music. Taking the machismo of rap and combining it with metal’s most knuckle-dragging moments, its “hard as fuck” image has combined with adrenaline and testosterone in some sort of raging divorced dad Frankenstein’s monster with Red Bull in hand. While the likes of Powerman 5000 or Static-X have toyed with its mania in a silly vibe, others have embraced the style’s over-the-top aesthetic. Cleveland’s Mushroomhead, in line with the “dark” theatrics and special effects of Slipknot, Mudvayne, or Insane Clown Posse, has juiced this style dry with even more over-the-top themes and costumes, amplified by industrial, symphonic, and more straightforward hip-hop influences.” Fungus is back among us.

Soulbound – obsYdian Review

By Kenstrosity on July 24, 2024 in Reviews, Electronic Metal, Gothic Metal, Industrial Metal, Pop Metal, Synthwave, 48 comments

“Long time readers understand that I like damn near any kind of metal. If it’s got heavily distorted guitars and big, bloodied hooks, I’m on board. My eclecticism inside the metalverse affords me a rare kind of versatility when it comes to review duties, too. Anything that falls into my lap has a chance to get a proper sponge bath. However, sometimes a band does a bunch of stuff that I normally enjoy and yet, my enthusiasm falters. Most of the time, that’s a simple conflict. I just don’t like the songs, even if I like the format. That, dear readers, is precisely the case for German “wedon’tgiveafuckmetal”outfit Soulbound and their fourth LP, obsYdian.” Soul killers.

Svneatr – Never Return Review

By Dear Hollow on May 28, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Industrial Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 20 comments

“2021’s Chinook was an impressive feat. While Vancouver’s Svneatr is undeniably second-wave, the album showcased and established a formidable blend of melody and riffage in a package wrapped in the tightly wound razor-wire frigidity you expect from black metal – reminiscent of Master’s Hammer or Vredehammer. Tracks like “Lavender,” “The Wind Stirs,” and “The Veins of the Earth” were some of the best tracks in the style that year with this dueling style, benefited by a rougher DIY aesthetic, even if some movements were lost in the fold. After three years, we are graced with Chinook,’s follow-up, Never Return.” Sunbathing, Svneating, just leave the Sun alone!

Arthouse Fatso – Sycophantic Seizures: A Double Feature Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on March 5, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, Industrial Metal, 24 comments

“First, 2024 gave us NASCAR-themed heavy metal, then shortly thereafter Mortal Kombat-themed heavy metal. In this world of extreme tunes and extreme niches, artists look even more granularly into their fascinations for artistic inspiration. In turn, Arthouse Fatso, chooses Orson Welles—acclaimed and controversial American filmmaker—as its hammering theme for an industrial deathgrind adventure. It’s not often that such a grimy genre finds a muse in a figure that’s not a serial killer or something fictional and equally macabre. But Fatso seems ready to revive Welles as an industry outsider fit for patch-vested punk fixation .” Citizen Pain.

Northern Genocide – The Point of No Return Review

By GardensTale on March 4, 2024 in Reviews, Industrial Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Metal, 14 comments

“Just like a sommelier can (allegedly) sense and describe the minutest differences between wines that may seem identical to the less learned, so can the seasoned metalhead identify regional differences and genre influences that laypersons may question with the tried and true adage: “It’s all just noise, isn’t it?” Melodic death metal has many offshoots and flavors, but the Finnish variety tends to be instantly recognizable anyway, often thanks to a melodic core that draws from neoclassical- and power metal. Northern Genocide wears this hat with pride but then proceeds to layer a bunch of other hats on top until defenestrated by the owner of the hatshop.” Hats and mass murder.