Filters are hard to keep clean because of all this filth. Don’t make it worse!
Jun25
Record(s) o’ the Month – June 2025
“As we inch inexorably closer to relevance and timeliness, we must first cross the fallow fields of June. A weird month, June was differentiated by the sheer number of recommendations that I received from the staff. Some months will see the Groupthink kick in, and everyone will vote for the same three albums. But June had no clear standout.” Or did it? (It kinda didn’t.)
Heathen’s Eye – Port Inspiro Review
“Swedish band Heathen’s Eye is boldly trying to make their mark in these well-traveled lands with their debut Port Inspiro, the Esperanto title meaning ‘inspired by the past.’ Can this freshly formed team of experienced musicians sail through time without getting lost along the way?” I mean, shouldn’t we be worried about the paradoxes more?
Ophelion – The Jaunt Review
“Stephen King’s “The Jaunt” is a story so metal, it begs for musical adaptation. UK-based progressive metallers Ophelion have accepted the challenge in their five-track self-released debut. Undeniably bold, are they up to adapting such a stark, deceptively simple tale?” A tale as old as 1981.
Grace Hayhurst – The World Is Dying Review
“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.
A-Z – A2Z² Review
“In the eyes of a legacy creator, novelty and personal excitement drive the continued pursuit of the release. Mark Zonder, esteemed drummer of Warlord and formerly of Fates Warning, lives by this mantra, using A-Z as an outlet for his frenetic rhythmic focus surrounded by the performances of trusted partners.” Prog letters by the numbers.
The Bleak Picture – Shades of Life Review
“It’s been a draining year. Lacking the mental energy for new music, I’ve subsisted on a diet of ISIS and Fvneral Fvkk. Clouded by the doomy stylings of the latter, I decided to make my return to reviewing with dismal death-doom. Despite releasing their debut just last year, Finland’s The Bleak Picture is a project of members of Autumnfall. That said, these two bands sound worlds apart, as their names betray. Abandoning the blackened scenery of Autumnfall, The Bleak Picture paints a bleak picture with melodic death-doom that reeks of Finland.” Smell the bleakness.
Acidsloth – Acidsloth Review
“Can you guess what genre Acidsloth plays? Yes, that’s right, it’s thrash! Ok, no, obviously not, it’s stoner doom—what else with a name that’s a portmanteau of a drug and a notoriously slow-moving animal? Kicking around since 2021, Kraków’s Acidsloth already have two LPs to their name, but it’s their third that they bestow the honor of being self-titled. The reason is that this time, they’re a “full band” (to use their own terminology), totaling eight(!) musicians, five of whom perform vocals.” The hateful 8 and the danger sloth.
Nad Sylvan – Monumentata Review
“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.
Anfauglir – Akallabêth Review
“How much effort should be required to appreciate a piece of art? The Silmarillion, a posthumous compilation of mythology and historical accounts relating to J. R. R. Tolkien’s timeless fantasy universe, is generally regarded as a more difficult read than its more cohesive and narrative-focused predecessors. Still, the rewards for such dedication are said to be great, and the rich lore also serves as a creative wellspring for many an artist. Anfauglir, an anonymous duo tucked away somewhere in the United States, presents its own daunting work of art: a 72-minute symphonic black metal album patterned after Akallabêth, one of the main parts of The Silmarillion chronicling the rise and fall of the island kingdom Númenor.” Long, blackened, and nerdy.
