Mark Z.

Wömit seasön!

Tyrannic – Tyrannic Desolation Review

By Mark Z. on November 22, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 24 comments

“No matter how far today’s bands push the envelope, no matter how weird or experimental or innovative modern music becomes, there will always be bands who look around and simply say: “Fuck that, give me Celtic Frost.” Australia’s Tyrannic is one such band. The trio’s founding member, vocalist, and drummer R. has readily admitted that Tom G. Warrior’s brainchild is his biggest influence, though the band’s music isn’t just another carbon copy of Morbid Tales. For the past decade, Tyrannic has been gaining attention for their strange combination of black and doom metal.”

Molder – Catastrophic Reconfiguration Review

By Mark Z. on November 7, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, 29 comments

“Welcome to the modern age of death metal, where it seems half the newer bands people are hyping up staggered into existence via Maggot Stomp before their chuggy chuggy unga bunga riffage started eliciting enough precum from the hardcore kiddos to catch the attention of bigger labels, ultimately resulting in even more unwarranted hype and overcrowded tours with Jesus Piece and Dying Fetus. Of course, there are exceptions. Like Skeletal Remains, Molder are loyal pupils of death metal’s old school, the kind of band that’s influenced by many but isn’t copying anyone in particular.” Olde is the Molder.

Destruktor – Indomitable Review

By Mark Z. on October 15, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 38 comments

“Deep in the dark chasm of extreme metal lies a hidden gem: Destruktor. Led by vocalist and guitarist “Glenn Destruktor,” these filthy Australian miscreants have been spewing their raw and blasphemous compositions since 1997, crafting a sound that lies somewhere between the blasting blackened death of Abominator and the blistering blackened thrash of Nocturnal Graves. What sets them apart from the rest of the horde, however, is their excellent songwriting.” Destruktive behaviors.

Sathanas – Into the Nocturne Review

By Mark Z. on October 13, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 11 comments

“They always said consistency and hard work pay off. I’m starting to think they fucking lied. Pennsylvania quartet Sathanas have been peddling their witch’s brew of black, death, and thrash metal since 1988, yet the poor saps still have less than 1,000 monthly listeners on Spotify at the time of this review. That’s not for lack of trying, either. Over the years the group have released eleven full-length albums, along with a shitload of splits and even a few EPs. After listening to their back catalog, I’ve started to think that the group’s unwavering devotion to the old school makes them their own biggest enemy.” Witch trial and errors.

Adorior – Bleed on My Teeth Review

By Mark Z. on September 30, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 54 comments

“Somewhere along the way, Adorior got angry. Their 1998 debut sounded like traditional black metal, albeit with occasional experimental touches like cleanly sung segments and moody atmospheric passages. I don’t know what happened, but when the band returned with 2005’s Author of Incest, they sounded ready to take up arms against the entire human race. Author of Incest is, simply put, one of the most incendiary albums ever recorded. Now, after years of dormancy, the group is finally back with their third album, Bleed on My Teeth. Does it continue the band’s diabolical conquest of humanity?” Rage of the aged.

Bewitcher – Spell Shock Review

By Mark Z. on September 27, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Speed Metal, 26 comments

“Bewitcher has always felt different than the blackened speed metal wave that emerged in the last decade or so. I’ve enjoyed some Midnight or Hellripper in my day, but by the late 2010s, it seemed like there were way too many groups offering a stock combination of raspy black metal vocals, bouncy riffs in the style of Exciter or Kill ‘Em All, and a chorus where they shout something about fire or Satan or some shit. By the 666th time I’ve heard a song like that, it just starts feeling tired and disingenuous. Not so with Bewitcher.” Bewitcher is back to Spell Shock your brain with the first Rancid name drop in AMG history.

Invocation – The Archaic Sanctuary (Ritual Body Postures) Review

By Mark Z. on September 16, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 59 comments

“Chile has given us some great records in recent years, with Mayhemic’s Toba and Inanna’s Void of Unending Depths being two notable examples of fantastic albums that have earned a spot in my collection. Thus, when I saw a new Chilean black-death metal band were releasing their debut album via Iron Bonehead Productions—the ever-reliable purveyors of all that is raw and trve—my interest was piqued.” Inherit the void.

Vomitrot – Emetic Imprecations Review

By Mark Z. on August 26, 2024 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 51 comments

“Somewhere along the way I got pegged as this website’s “vomit” guy, and I can’t say I’m bothered by that. Seeing the word “vomit” in a band name tells you absolutely nothing about whether the music will be good or bad, but it does tell you that what you’re about to hear will probably be fukkin nasty. And that’s exactly the way I like my music. Thus, when I learned a band called Vomitrot had an album in our promo bin, I couldn’t wait to get my grubby little paws on it.” Regurgipation.

Fuckhammer – Scorched Earth Prophets Review

By Mark Z. on August 7, 2024 in Reviews, Death Metal, Sludge Metal, 49 comments

“Ha, what a stupid name, I think to myself. Even I can tell they’re trying too hard with that one. I close my browser and go upstairs to get ready for bed. Fuckhammer. I hear the name in my head as I brush my teeth. That was weird, I think to myself. I go to work the next day, type something wrong, and start smashing the Backspace key. Hammering it, in fact. Like a Fuckhammer. Fuck, I think to myself. Get out of my head. I go home and eat chips in the kitchen while my wife cuts vegetables for dinner. The knife slips. “Fuck!” she says. “Hammer,” I whisper to myself. “What?” she asks.” Hammers of misfortune.

Blood Feast – Infinite Evolution Review

By Mark Z. on July 22, 2024 in Reviews, Thrash Metal, 11 comments

“For every Metallica or Slayer, there are thousands of good bands that never made it nearly as big. Blood Feast are one of those bands. Formed in the thrash metal heyday of the mid-1980s, these New Jersey natives came out swinging with their 1987 debut, Kill for Pleasure. Showcasing a dirty and unrefined take on thrash, that album earned some underground acclaim with its manic vocals, primitive riffing, and pugnacious attitude. But greater success was not to be.” Jersey trash and old school thrash.