Felagund

Blackevil – Praise the Communion Fire for the Unhallowed Sacrament Review

Blackevil – Praise the Communion Fire for the Unhallowed Sacrament Review

By Felagund on November 15, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Speed Metal, 25 comments

“I’ve long been a fan of blackened speed metal, with some of my favorite releases over the past few years falling into this most ferocious of subgenres. Bavaria’s own Blackevil scratched that specific itch with their sophomore effort Forever Baptised in Eternal Fire back in 2020. Thankfully, the mighty Holdeneye’s flowery prose perfectly captured my feelings about that record, and I’ve spent many an hour since then spinning that blasphemous little bundle of joy.” And now it falls to Tolkien’s wayward Mary Sue to assess whether Blackevil has delivered yet again.

Defiled – Horror beyond Horror Review

Defiled – Horror beyond Horror Review

By Felagund on September 30, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, Punk, Thrash Metal, 20 comments

“Defiled is a grizzled veteran of the death metal scene having released its first demo 31 years ago. As usual, there’s an extensive paper trail here at AMG that provides context for Defiled’s oeuvre (as well as evidence for any future litigation). Over their storied career, they’ve been reviewed on this site three times by three different writers, and the results have been inconsistent. While their 2011 effort In Crisis received a glowing review from the AMG himself, followups struggled with issues from production quality to humdrum songwriting.” But what do Felagund’s Elf ears hear?

Wormwitch – Wormwitch Review

Wormwitch – Wormwitch Review

By Felagund on August 28, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 50 comments

“I have a complicated relationship with Wormwitch. On one hand, I was blown away by their sophomore effort Heaven That Dwells Within. I still spin it five years on and I routinely recommend it to anyone flirting with the melodic black metal or black n’ roll subgenres. On the other, I was generally let down by their follow-up Wolf Hex, which I had the good fortune to review. While I ultimately gave it a 3.0, I haven’t revisited the album much since then, and I still view it as a significant step down from their previous effort. Now here I sit, cradling these frigid Canadians’ latest album (which actually dropped back in July) in my loving arms.” Late worms catch the witch.

Carnal Savagery – Into the Abysmal Void Review

Carnal Savagery – Into the Abysmal Void Review

By Felagund on February 21, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, 23 comments

“I’m a sucker for a gnarly album cover. Give me a detailed image of a zombie, ghoul or otherwise undead creature holding a bladed instrument for use in committing appalling acts, and I’m a happy guy. It was this passion for putridity that led me to choose Into the Abysmal Void, the fifth album by Gothenburg, Sweden-based death metallers Carnal Savagery.” Void noids.

Neurectomy – Overwrought Review

Neurectomy – Overwrought Review

By Felagund on February 4, 2024 in Reviews, Technical Death Metal, 53 comments

“I just couldn’t turn down an album by a band called Neurectomy. I’ve heard of a lot of medical procedures in my day, but I wasn’t as familiar with the process by which a nerve is severed or removed to reduce pain, never to grow back again. With a new “ectomy” added to my growing surgical lexicon, I was still apprehensive. But while tech death can certainly be hit or miss (with the misses often being tedious, forgettable affairs), I was far too interested in the band name and the album art to let something as silly as past experience impact my decision-making.” Nerves of steel.

Lucifer – Lucifer V Review

Lucifer – Lucifer V Review

By Felagund on January 30, 2024 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Occult Rock, 36 comments

“Ah, Lucifer. I remember listening to their self-titled debut album back in 2015 and being immediately hooked by the killer pipes of frontwoman Johanna Platow Andersson and their take on fuzzy, doomy occult rock. But as I sit here to craft a review of Lucifer’s fifth album (aptly titled Lucifer V), I must admit that after that very first dance with the devil in the pale moonlight, I haven’t listened to them much in the intervening years.” New year, same Devil.

Knife – Heaven Into Dust Review

Knife – Heaven Into Dust Review

By Felagund on November 21, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 30 comments

“On Heaven into Dust, Knife have done what many bands refuse to do: grow. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still heaps of Motörhead and Venom worship; plenty of gang chants and blackened vocals; oodles of speed metal chugging, heavy metal galloping, and thrash riffing; almost everything endearing about their debut still applies here and the changes are relatively minor, but they’re impactful.” Stab or prod?

Colony Drop – Brace for Impact Review

Colony Drop – Brace for Impact Review

By Felagund on September 4, 2023 in Reviews, Thrash Metal, 31 comments

“According to Colony Drop’s Bandcamp page, the band’s motto is “High Speed, Twin Lead.” This isn’t just a promise that gets my heart all aflutter; it’s also an honest declaration. Time and time again, you’ll hear this maxim take mighty musical form on Brace for Impact, often to crushing effect.” Space must be colonized!

Progenitor – Eldritch Supremacy Review

Progenitor – Eldritch Supremacy Review

By Felagund on August 9, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 18 comments

“While black metal is not my go-to, I find myself from time to time eager to discover the next blackened diamond in the rough. Enter Washingtonians Progenitor. With an Emperor-inspired logo and hailing from the same gray, Pacific Northwest climes as fellow black metallers Agalloch, it seemed reasonable to assume that the Progenitor gents had, at least on paper, the influences (and rainy weather) needed to produce a solid release.” Wet, moldy, and mossy.