Dolphin Whisperer

EEEEE EEEEEEEEE, San Jose State University

Brutal Sphincter – Sphinct-Earth Society Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on May 28, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, 64 comments

“The world seems to grow more hostile by the minute, so I feel like I need to be more “on guard” with the media around me. So, I’ve been seeing this guy for a while now. He was going to therapy pretty regularly with a Dr. Moshe Pitt as part of maintaining a healthy outlook on life—or so he told me. But when I was at his place the other day, I saw this little booklet on his nightstand called Spinct-Earth Society. I did a little research on it, and it turns out that it’s a self-help book by some organization from Belgium called Brutal Sphincter. I confronted him about it, and he confessed in full to using only this manual—not a therapist! But he seems happier than ever, and things are going great? Should I be worried? Can Brutal Sphincter be trusted?” The hole story.

Tonguecutter – Minnow Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on May 21, 2025 in Reviews, Hardcore, Noise Rock, Punk, Sludge Metal, 28 comments

“Are the ’90s played out yet? If you ask the metal world, or rather, the metal-leaning world of -cored and rocky sounds, we’re just getting started in the retro movement of three-decades past explorations. From the dreamy prog-leaning radioscapes of Lizzard to The Jesus Lizard-drenched grinding lurch of Full of Hell to the nostalgic Deftones-alt-castings of Bleed, the ’90s finds itself emblazoned in cut-n-scanned posters across guitar-led machinations in our current age. In a guise more Hole-y and riot grrrl, Michigan’s Tonguecutter wears close that AmRep, early Melvins, Unsane-y aesthetic with their quick-n-dirty debut Minnow.” Tongue chum.

Katagory V – Awaken a New Age of Chaos Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on May 15, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 23 comments

“Katagory V, not to be confused with any band called Category 5 or Five or any variation thereof, has been rollicking with power chord and falsetto vocal abandon for the better part of a quarter-century. Not continuously, though, as founding bass-slinger Dustin Mitchell put the riff-train on pause from 2014 to 2023 after struggling to fund the release of 2015’s Resurrect the Insurgence. With roots in a progressive and riff-heavy attitude that mirrored the doom-weighted Swedish power metal sound but with a stronger foot in early USPM progenitors like Fates Warning and Queensrÿche, Katagory V carved a niche within a niche in the American underground.” Kategory: Niche.

The Infinity Ring – Ataraxia Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on May 11, 2025 in Reviews, 27 comments

“The heart of heavy metal music lives in attitude, one of extreme emotions—sadness, anger, exuberance, catharsis. And in increasing trend, modern practitioners often conjure that spirit through atmosphere, which allows metal-adjacent spaces like goth rock and darkwave to strike a chord with those who typically fall for weepy music of crying guitars and mournful vocals. New England-based The Infinity Ring harbors some of these dark sounds that attract lovers of the downtrodden—twangy and folky guitar refrains, post-rock-like swells in intensity and volume—all wrapped up in a smoky and gravel-filled vocal delivery.” Sparkling flecks of metal in the air.

AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö: Exterior Palnet – Haragma II

By Dolphin Whisperer on May 2, 2025 in Angry Metal Guy's Unsigned Band Rodeo, Black Metal, 29 comments

““AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö” is a time-honored tradition to showcase the most underground of the underground—the unsigned and unpromoted. This collective review treatment continues to exist to unite our writers in boot or bolster of the bands who remind us that, for better or worse, the metal underground exists as an important part of the global metal scene. The Rodeö rides on.”” Palnet of terror.

Changeling – Changeling Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on April 25, 2025 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, Technical Death Metal, 94 comments

“Creation, evaluation, iteration—art lives and transforms an untold number of times before its flesh lays bare for a dissecting audience. Thus, the album runs on a path of turns sharp, around, back again—whatever it takes—before the artist declares it enough. Tom Geldschläger has worn many musical lives, both under his given moniker and “Fountainhead” with acclaimed acts like Obscura and Ingurgitating Oblivion, and as a performer/engineer. And now, with Changeling, Geldschläger seeks to express a culmination of his works, partnerships, and curiosities in a grand exploration of his unique fretless guitar stylings amongst progressive, orchestral, and deathly conjurings.” Grow, evolve, MUTATE!

AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö: Nephylim – Circuition

By Dolphin Whisperer on April 9, 2025 in Angry Metal Guy's Unsigned Band Rodeo, Melodic Death Metal, 53 comments

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.

Yer Metal Is Olde: Enslaved – Isa

By Dolphin Whisperer on March 22, 2025 in Yer Metal Is Olde, Black Metal, Progressive Metal, Viking Metal, 50 comments

“Not a single band out there really sounds like Enslaved—arguably modern Enslaved records included, many of which have landed mixed in these halls. But one thing is consistent in the Angry Metal Guy message: Enslaved’s peak period produced timeless records that should sit atop the rankings of many a list.” Olde and still bold.

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.