Self-Releases

The Mountain King – Pike Dreams Review

By Thus Spoke on March 9, 2026 in Reviews, Ambient, Electronic, Not Metal, 26 comments

“My general lack of awareness and the fact that The Mountain King themselves submitted the album via contact form and didn’t give much away in their promo pack left me unprepared for Pike Dreams. In the hazy air of the promo sump, I caught the word ‘doom’, but when I hit play on Pike Dreams that’s not quite what I got. As much as the name and cover art seem to scream Sabbathian (neo-)classical heavy metal, stoner, and of course doom, Pike Dreams is ambient, synth-led post-rock, and it’s instrumental.” The hills have sighs.

Profane Elegy – Herezjarcha Review

By Thus Spoke on February 7, 2026 in Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Blackened Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Post-Metal, 24 comments

“Herezjarcha—Arch-Heretic—is the sophomore of Pennsylvania-based Profane Elegy, who are determined to escape genre boundaries. Following the trajectory set by 2023’s When All is Nothing, it sees the co-existence if not coalescence of black and death metal, but also an atmospheric, ambient kind of doom, and only doubles down on each aspect. It’s not the first time a metal artist has claimed to eschew categorization, and many, if not most, modern artists in extreme subgenres borrow from less-extreme ones, and incorporate generous reverb. Profane Elegy’s claims, therefore, don’t excite special interest whether you’ve heard the debut or not; listeners dis/like their sound on its own terms.” Knowing profanity when you hear it.

Enshine – Elevation Review

By Steel Druhm on January 7, 2026 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Metal, 59 comments

An unexpected release from Enshine requires more than one review, so join Steel and Maddog as they examine the heights of Elevation.

Nuclear Dudes – Truth Paste Review

By Thus Spoke on September 5, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, Electronic Metal, Experimental Metal, Grind, Powerviolence, Synthwave, 30 comments

“Nuclear Dudes is one step closer to living up to their moniker as they are now officially more than one person. Joined by Brandon Nakamura (Doomsday 1999, ex-Teen Cthulu) on vocals, Sandrider’s Jon Weisnewski bounces back from the synthwave moment of Compression Crimes 1 to resume the usual trajectory of insanity. 2023’s Boss Blades—my personal introduction to this madness—was a disarmingly likeable collection of silly and serious sounds heavy and light. It was also surprisingly good.” Waste no Nuclear, dudes.

Cult Burial – Collapse of Pattern, Reverence of Dust Review

By Thus Spoke on September 4, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, Blackened Death Metal, Death Metal, 18 comments

“It has always overwhelmed me just how much music is out there, ceaselessly being recorded in studios and basements and forests, ceaselessly being promoted and released, and often sent into the AMG promo pile. There is so much more below the surface than above it, even as regards just one small subgenre. How can one possibly listen to it all, and discern greatness from mediocrity? How can bands stand out when countless others are branding themselves so similarly, making music so apparently similar? Cult Burial are one such band that I would likely never have come across were it not for this gig, despite the generally positive reception both their debut and sophomore albums received.” Cultic revenge.

Old Machines – The Cycles of Extinction Review

By Thus Spoke on August 18, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Dungeon Synth, Electronic Metal, Thrash Metal, 34 comments

“Cycles of Extinction is steeped in lore billions of years old, telling stories of peoples and times spanning aeons and light years—which may or may not be plotlines from many cherished video games—and sporting a runtime spanning an hour. Old Machine’s chosen format could perhaps best be described as being to symphonic death metal what Old Nick is to raw black metal.” Machine yearning.

Record(s) o’ the Month – May 2025

By Angry Metal Guy on August 9, 2025 in Blog Posts, 125 comments

There are months when the Record(s) o’ the Month feels like a sacred duty. It is the noble, worthwhile culmination of rigorous listening and passionate discourse. And then there’s May. May, a month in which Dr. A.N. Grier tried to vote for a band called… SEXCAVE or some shit 4 or 5 different times with different pseudonyms, and where Dolphin Whisperer almost made me rage quit by making a single joke about “sky-tearing tonalities,” which, like… what kind of pretentious fucking bullshit is that? Do you people even listen to music or do you just sit around all day making up stupid poetic ways of saying absolutely nothing?

Anthony Ellis: Ashes of Reason – Crisis Catalyst Review

By Grin Reaper on August 5, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 12 comments

“In an age where technology is abundant and affordable, it’s never been easier for someone with a ditty and a dream to make their music a reality. Enter Ashes of Reason, the brainchild of one-man band Anthony Ellis, and his third full-length, Crisis Catalyst. Shouldering the responsibility to write, record, and produce your own album is painstakingly ambitious and requires deep wells of both grit and gumption. Calling the shots means you get to deliver your 100% pure, undiluted vision into the hungry earholes of curious listeners.” One-man crisis.

Crimson Shadows – Whispers of War Review

By Eldritch Elitist on July 28, 2025 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, Power Metal, 28 comments

“For the uninitiated, Crimson Shadows’ sound is what would have happened if DragonForce had been mainstays in the late 90’s / early 00’s Finnish melodic death metal scene, but with a North American metalcore-adjacent sense of chunk and polish tailor-made for the 2009 Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival. Their blend of sugary lead guitars and rhythmic violence is peak Dumb Guy Metal, and as The Dumbest Guy, I’m thrilled that this new album recaptures the formula perfectly.” Shadows, dragons, dumb guys.

Grace Hayhurst – The World Is Dying Review

By Samguineous Maximus on July 10, 2025 in Reviews, Progressive Metal, 27 comments

“Making good progressive metal is incredibly difficult. Where styles like black metal can still succeed without considered songwriting or astonishing musicianship, prog is a fickle mistress, demanding expert songcraft that balances dynamic peaks and valleys, as well as considerable instrumental prowess. Even prog’s biggest bands still routinely falter when armed with a fearsome squad of world-class musicians and major label backing. Still, this fails to deter new artists without such resources from aiming for the sheer highs the style can offer. Enter English multi-instrumentalist Grace Hayhurst and her debut record, The World Is Dying.” Grace and death.