El Cuervo

I'm not deliberately contrary.

Décryptal – Simulacre Review

By El Cuervo on July 7, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, 28 comments

“Québec has long been a region synonymous with uncompromising death metal, with stacks of excellent bands bleeding from its fertile cemetery grounds. Débutants Décryptal emerge from said land, unveiling their first full-length entitled Simulacre after just one prior demo. This release arrives with the promise of a sound steeped in French Canada’s murky traditions, plundering tombs and raiding caverns alike. But in a scene so replete with bands treading the same territory, is Simulacre able to carve out its own grave?” Spelurking.

Nad Sylvan – Monumentata Review

By El Cuervo on July 4, 2025 in Reviews, Progressive Rock, 21 comments

“Nad Sylvan has enjoyed a decade-long stint in my music library and rambling writings at Angry Metal Guy. His “vampire” trilogy (Courting the Widow, The Bride Said No and The Regal Bastard) offers a charming platter of 70s-influenced progressive rock, but I immediately found the twee successor entitled Spiritus Mundi irritating; so I promptly handed off the review to someone else. But the passage of four years – and the exit of the intervening reviewer – sees my return to the musical realms of this bold Swede.” Nads to spare.

Morbyda – Under the Spell Review

By El Cuervo on June 16, 2025 in Reviews, Speed Metal, 23 comments

“I always enjoy reviewing and exposing bands on their debut. A debut offers a cornucopia of possibilities: will it be innovative? Exciting? Shit? Picking up an album deep into a discography often results in something that’s like what came before, but with a debut, there’s an element of the unknown. Under the Spell by Germany’s Morbyda is one such example, with just one demo and live release under their belt previously. Promising a NWoBHM-inflected release of blackened speed metal, there are few things more heartening than a young band making heavy metal. Do I remain heartened after spending hours with Morbyda?” Are you Morbyda?

Crystal Spiders – Metanoia Review

By El Cuervo on May 27, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Stoner Metal, 29 comments

“Out of the fertile grounds of North Carolina comes Crystal Spiders, spinning their latest auditory web entitled Metanoia. Metanoia follows two prior full-length albums and a musical tradition of gritty sounds from the American South. It’s steeped in this culture, hinting at a chewy blend of classic metal and the weightier grooves of stoner rock. Does it succeed in harmonizing these elements into a meaty whole?” Bugs AND features.

Ominous Ruin – Requiem Review

By El Cuervo on May 5, 2025 in Reviews, Technical Death Metal, 28 comments

“I’ll be the first to admit that technical death metal is not my forte nor favorite. As much as I love death metal in its many stripes, I disapprove of how tech death often relies on blistering speed and technical showmanship rather than focusing on songwriting. But a nod from the immortal Willowtip Records and nine tracks across just 40 minutes makes for what should be a tidy slice of metal on Requiem by San Francisco’s Ominous Ruin.” The ruin of technicality.

Coffin Feeder – Big Trouble Review

By El Cuervo on April 22, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, Deathcore, Hardcore, 56 comments

“Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover. The intellectual property rights-busting album artwork of Big Trouble by Coffin Feeder pays tribute to the silliest action movies of the 80s and 90s, just like the music within. This album represents the band’s full-length debut after a pair of EPs that tickled our very own Kenstrosity. Though the core members may be Belgian, the bands through which these guys ordinarily peddle their wares (Aborted, Leng Tch’e) are fused with a steaming smorgasbord of high-profile guest spots (Benighted, Cattle Decapitation, Archspire). The result is an energetic fusion of various cores, from death to grind to hard.” Get to the chugga!

Lik – Necro Review

By El Cuervo on April 17, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, 26 comments

“Lik have become a low-key favorite among the old school death metal nerds of Angry Metal Guy. Mass Funeral Evocation is one of stronger debuts from the last decade, while Carnage doubled down on its strengths. While I personally found Misanthrophic Breed less compelling, it had fans among other writers. It was therefore with high expectations that I embarked on this review.” Liking the dismembered entombed.

Nydvind – Telluria Review

By El Cuervo on April 2, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, 3 comments

“There are many heavy metal bands in the world. Intense genre stratification led to lots of musical hopefuls attempting to carve their own path. Despite their best efforts, it’s incredibly rare for a band to do something that hasn’t been done before. Citing a journey through the “raw energy of black metal,” “profound melancholy of doom,” and “organic vitality of folk,” France’s Nydvind are making another such attempt with their fourth album entitled Telluria. This unusual medley and a 20-year history ensured that I didn’t instinctively reject the one sheet’s notion that the group may be pioneering; there aren’t many bands operating in this genre that split 3 sounds.” Triple threat?

Caballero – Caballero Review

By El Cuervo on March 11, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 25 comments

“Album concepts can be tricky territory. Especially those based on historical events where accuracy is a pre-requisite. Especially debut albums, where a band is also figuring out their sound. And especially those produced by guys from Finland about the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. The self-titled Caballero by Caballero is just such an album, representing an enthusiast’s exploration of warfare, death, and cult heavy metal bands from the 80s. Is it a match made in the thirteen heavens or in the Nine Hells?” Of empires sacked and bagged.

Arion – The Light that Burns the Sky Review

By El Cuervo on March 1, 2025 in Reviews, 22 comments

“One of the multitude of European power metal bands flying relatively low to the ground, Finland’s Arion (pronounced like Orion or carrion?) have seen coverage just once previously at AngryMetalGuy.com. The late, great Huck n’ Roll opined that their third record was competent but generic, seeking hits rather than their own sound. 2025 has arrived, and with it comes a successor release entitled The Light that Burns the Sky. Pitched as a “highly anticipated symphonic masterpiece,” and with a growing well of experience underpinning the band, I set appropriate expectations as I hit play.” Expectations kill.