!Exclaim.ca Reviews - Metal Reviews

Chthonic - Bú-Tik

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:21:39 -0400

Though melodic, blackened death metal band Chthonic hail from Taiwan, their moniker is actually Greek in origin (it's a work that designates or pertains to deities or spirits of the underworld). With all of their recorded efforts, especially most recent release Bú-Tik, Chthonic merge the aesthetics of Eastern and Western culture, creating a sound that draws upon both Taiwanese folk instrumentation and song structures, as well as the European tradition of blackened and symphonic metal. The galloping, martial drumming keeps the pace of the record high and urgent, propelling the listener...Read More

Fuck the Facts - Amer

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:18:38 -0400

The latest EP from avant-garde grindcore road warriors Fuck The Facts is all about the dark side of love: the album title, Amer, means bitterness, and is one one letter from "aimer," to love. Based in Ottawa, ON, Fuck The Facts are known for both their boundless chaotic energy and unrestrained sense of experimentation. As such, Amer isn't your typical treatise on affection, but an exploration of the darker side of adoration. The short, vicious tracks are all tributes to the depths to which we can be wounded by what we care for most deeply. "Un triste vue" is an acidic...Read More

High On Fire - Spitting Fire Live (Vols. 1 & 2)

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:16:56 -0400

Two-volume set Spitting Fire is the first official live release from doom/stoner metal heavyweights High On Fire. The record was recorded at a pair of performances that took place in late 2012, at NYC's Bowery Ballroom and Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg; Spitting Fire does an admirable job capturing some of the sodden, smoky tones and wild, wretched energy the band wield in a live setting. There's ugliness to the recording, a hissing messiness that enhances the sound rather than obscures it. Mixed by Greg Wilkinson and Kurt Ballou, there's just the right amount of rank...Read More

Kalmah - Seventh Swamphony

editorial@exclaim.ca (Trystan MacDonald) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:13:11 -0400

Kalmah strike some as the counter-balance to Children of Bodom. Never quite reaching the same popularity as their Finnish brethren, the swamp lords have always remained in there own obscure, isolated corner of Oulu, Finland. They almost never tour and yet have gained a significant cult following. Albums like Seventh Swamphony demonstrate why; their iconic sound has never disappointed, always providing the appropriate blend of symphonic melody and brutal riffs. Tracks like "Pikemaster" and "Windlake Tale" are incredibly heavy, with Kalmah demonstrating complete domination over their...Read More

Septicflesh - Esoptron

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:04:43 -0400

Originally released in 1995, Season of Mist has dropped a remastered edition of Greek symphonic death metal act Septicflesh's sophomore effort, Esoptron. Known for their vast, orchestral compositions that make extensive use of samples, string sections and choral vocals, Esoptron is an example of their sound in a more simplified, minimal state. Already beginning to expand their aesthetic by adding string sections and a sense of gothic excess, this second record has a stronger core of classic death metal than their later releases. This focus on rougher, bloodier tones leads to...Read More

Brutus - Behind the Mountains

editorial@exclaim.ca (Trystan MacDonald) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:25:33 -0400

The '70s never ended for half Swedish, half Norwegian quintet Brutus. If anything, '70s psychedelic rock is alive and well in their hearts, and their sophomore release, Behind the Mountains, is a testament to that. Songs like "Personal Riot" and "Big Fat Boogie" remind you of a time when people used to dance to rock'n'roll and not computer-generated A.D.D. (aka dubstep). "Reflections" is the most "out there" track on the record, with the background organ reminiscent of Iron Butterfly. The entire sound of this album is incredibly refreshing. Staying true to the genre, Brutus remain...Read More

These Hearts - Yours to Take

editorial@exclaim.ca (Bradley Zorgdrager ) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:07:27 -0400

You can learn a great deal about someone from the company they keep. A prime example of this is These Hearts' Yours To Take, which boasts guest spots from Bert Poncet (Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!) and Mattie Montgomery (For Today). Their appearance gives a pretty good indication of how the album sounds. The pop-punk/easycore of Chunk! is placed against the metalcore breakdowns of For Today, creating a sound that was done first by A Day To Remember. These Hearts can write a damn catchy hook when they hold back on the metalcore, which is why it's such a shame when the appearance of low,...Read More

Power Trip - Manifest Decimation

editorial@exclaim.ca (Bradley Zorgdrager ) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:41:31 -0400

Power Trip want to be Exodus so bad. They try to hide it with their Power From Hell (Onslaught) rip-off shirt. However, on Manifest Decimation, you can hear that they've spent more than their fair share of time banging their heads against the stage and doing the "Toxic Waltz." Not that there's anything wrong with that; if you're going to rip off any thrash metal band, why not rip off one of the first generation and most consistent? Note the inclusion of "thrash metal," which is exactly what Power Trip are. Despite strong ties to the hardcore scene, the Texas-based band are...Read More

Black Sabbath - 13

editorial@exclaim.ca (Greg Pratt) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:16:55 -0400

The big deal here is that 75-percent of the original Black Sabbath line-up, including the perennially confused Ozzy Osbourne behind the mic, have reunited (sans ostracised drummer Bill Ward) for a new studio disc. Crunching the numbers, it's the best percentage/line-up we've seen from this long-suffering legends for a long time — the last album with the classic line-up being 1978's Never Say Die. Here, ex-Rage Against the Machine dude Brad Wilk is behind the kit, and he plays it straight, almost to the point of no personality, doing his best Bill Ward, but taking it down a notch....Read More

Children of Bodom - Halo of Blood

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:14:57 -0400

With their eighth full-length record, Halo of Blood, Finland's Children of Bodom remain one of the highest-profile acts associated with the melodic death metal subgenre, incorporating elements of symphonic black metal and thrash into their grandiose sound. Children of Bodom are now in the 20th year of their career, and their overt theatricality and high profile (they've contributed songs to the Guitar Hero franchise and covered a track by Britney Spears) always threatens to push them over the edge into becoming parodies of themselves. Halo of Blood, despite being an...Read More

Author & Punisher - Women & Children

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:11:00 -0400

Author & Punisher is the dark, industrial drone project of Tristan Shone, who makes use of a bleak, blackened, drone-heavy palette that swings between organic, gritty fuzz and cold, mechanical violence. After the much-lauded release of Ursus Americanus last year, Shone has followed it up with another exceptional release with Women & Children, a viscerally uncomfortably and exquisitely menacing record. This album sounds as though unfeeling machines performed it and was composed by angry ghosts — a wrathful, impotent rage somehow filtered through chilly alienation. All of...Read More

Devil's Blood - III: Tabula Rasa or Death and the Seven Pillars

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:08:14 -0400

Based in Eindhoven, in the Netherlands, psychedelic doom/occult rock outfit the Devil's Blood announced at the beginning to 2013 that they were dissolving, but plans for a final record had already been set in motion. That swan song is III: Tabula Rasa or Death and the Seven Pillars, which the band openly admit was assembled from pre-production and demoed material, cleaned up as much as possible prior to release. Despite the less-than-ideal recording conditions, the material is strong, with urgent, swelling bass lines and fluid guitar work. There's an oppressive, almost chalky smokiness...Read More

Church of Misery - Thy Kingdom Scum

editorial@exclaim.ca (Denise Falzon) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:05:01 -0400

Japanese masters of '70s-style stoner doom Church of Misery are back with new album Thy Kingdom Scum, their fifth LP and full-length follow-up to 2009's Houses of the Unholy. Having formed in 1995, Church of Misery are one of those bands that continue to get better over time, as Thy Kingdom Scum is heavier and more crushing than their previous releases, featuring their best production work to date. The band have maintained their sound, which combines early Black Sabbath with psychedelic doom and stoner rock, while carrying on with their lyrical concept of serial killers...Read More

Noisem - Agony Defined

editorial@exclaim.ca (Denise Falzon) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:59:25 -0400

Formerly known as Necropsy, Baltimore, MD-based death thrashers Noisem unleash their debut LP, Agony Defined, via hometown label A389. These kids (really, the members are between 15 and 20 years old) offer up a raw and manic amalgamation of '80s thrash and '90s death, combining the styles of Slayer and Kreator with Morbid Angel and Cannibal Corpse. The 25-minute Agony Defined is an unrelenting attack of speed and aggression, as "Voices in the Morgue," "Birthing the Bestial" and "Desire and Disgust" are a whirlwind of vicious riffs, fret board-shredding solos and harsh vocals....Read More

Necronomicon - Rise of the Elder Ones

editorial@exclaim.ca (Denise Falzon) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:49:42 -0400

Quebec blackened death metal trio Necronomicon return with their new album, Rise of the Elder Ones, their fourth full-length and follow-up to 2010's The Return of the Witch. Having gone through some label troubles in the past, Rise of the Elder Ones marks the band's first release with Season of Mist, and it also introduces new bassist Armaros. Right from the start, with the onslaught of "Resurrection," it's clear Necronomicon are feeling a sense of stability, as the track blazes with extreme, fast riffs and blasting drums carried out with effortless precision. Since...Read More

BoySetsFire - While a Nation Sleeps

editorial@exclaim.ca (Greg Pratt) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:46:56 -0400

There aren't any surprises on BoySetsFire's first full-length in seven years: there's the heavy hardcore opener that makes way for a melodic, sung chorus; a second song that's more melodic, catchy and totally powerful; and then a third that gets more aggressive again, with more screaming and less power. It's the opening trio we've seen on most of their albums, and it works, except when there's more screaming and chugging hardcore — these guys have always excelled at melody and mid-tempo, with the vocals soaring and singing in that unique way (i.e., "Phone Call (4 a.m.)" and the amazing...Read More

Integrity - Suicide Black Snake

editorial@exclaim.ca (Bradley Zorgdrager ) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:15:30 -0400

Integrity formed in 1988, half a decade before Hatebreed. It's a shame, then, that many listeners will categorize the opening riff of the elder band's ninth full-length, Suicide Black Snake, as a Hatebreed riff. If that sounds worrisome, Integrity fans can relax knowing that said riff in question sounds like Jasta and co. before they decided to cater to the lowest common denominator. Whereas Hatebreed reached a point where they throttled back the hardcore and pumped up the pandering metal, this album makes it clear that at a similar crossroads, Integrity decided Slayer was the only...Read More

Deafheaven - Sunbather

editorial@exclaim.ca (Bradley Zorgdrager ) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:06:45 -0400

Deafheaven don't look like your average black metal band. They lack the traditional garb of corpse paint and black clothing covered in studs. Hell, they even called their newest album Sunbather, an activity that many of their pasty ancestors wouldn't even think of. They also don't sound like your average black metal band. Instead, they add post-rock and shoegaze influences to their surprisingly hopeful-sounding black metal. While "trve kvlt" purists might scoff at this (or even set out with axes and torches in hand), those more open-minded will find a refreshing sound, one comparable...Read More

Creations - Unworthy/Humility

editorial@exclaim.ca (Bradley Zorgdrager ) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:49:54 -0400

You might remember Creations for their infamous mosh call, "You're not a Christian." While they've reduced their accusations on Unworthy/Humility, they've toned down little else — the music is as ridiculously brutal as ever. This is furthered by the addition of the Gun Show's ex-vocalist, Thomas Hirst, who is a better conduit for the band's holy message. Said message is more self-reflective this time, using religion as a measure of self, rather than a justification for judgment. However, Creations should have turned some of that introspection towards their music. Sure,...Read More

The Black Dahlia Murder - Everblack

editorial@exclaim.ca (Bradley Zorgdrager ) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:46:43 -0400

The Black Dahlia Murder have always been a consistent group. However, in the past, that consistency was their downfall, as the uniform nature of the material wasn't just in its quality, but also its sound. Listening to their albums changed from a vicious experience to a viscous one, forcing one to plod through a record of similar-sounding songs to find the gems. The band began moving away from their Sweden-by-way-of-America sound with 2011's Ritual and continue that departure with Everblack, although not as much as anticipated, or hoped. Unfortunately, there are still "classic" (i.e.,...Read More

Full of Hell - Rudiments of Mutilation

editorial@exclaim.ca (Denise Falzon) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 13:00:20 -0400

There's just something about Full of Hell. Upon first glance, they're a relatively young hardcore band with a few releases and tons of touring under their belts. It's impressive, but when you dig a little deeper, the Maryland/Pennsylvania four-piece turn out to be so much more. Rudiments of Mutilation is the band's sophomore LP, following a few splits and 2011 full-length Roots of Earth are Consuming My Home. While the stellar Roots of Earth showcased Full of Hell as a hardcore punk band infusing grindcore, noise and blackened death metal into their sound, exuding hate,...Read More

Set and Setting - Equanimity

editorial@exclaim.ca (Mark Wilson) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:13:19 -0400

Set and Setting hail from St. Petersburg, FL, bringing with them a darker, more aggressive slant on traditional post-rock. Their debut full-length LP, Equanimity, is a swirling mix of droning, ambient guitars with a just a pinch of metallic aggression. Songs like "Spiralling Uncertainties" and "Essence of Paradox" are where Set and Setting come into their own, with different musical notions swelling, contracting and relaxing in unison, creating dense, layered pieces of music. Although each riff is intricate and exciting, the slow builds can last a bit too long, eventually losing what...Read More

Liferuiner - Future Revisionists

editorial@exclaim.ca (Bradley Zorgdrager ) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:33:53 -0400

"Mature" is such a strange adjective to describe an album, and yet it's constantly tossed around. It almost always implies the band improved and expanded upon their sound. However, this should be the goal of any unit, so why is praise heaped upon them for what should be a standard expectation? With Liferuiner's Future Revisionists, maturity isn't just a noun, but a genuine realization. The band have grown from an almost exclusively breakdown-oriented act to one that justifies their use them via the intersecting melodies. While this change in sound may be a purely aesthetic one, the...Read More

Summoning - Old Mornings Dawn

editorial@exclaim.ca (Tyler Munro) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:00:23 -0400

Still a two-piece, Summoning have always managed to compose grandiose, theatrical metal on a scale well beyond their means, and Old Mornings Dawn might is their grandest accomplishment yet. Silenius and Protector spend about an hour piling layer upon layer of synthesized flutes, horns and strings onto their surprisingly temperate black metal base. The result is LARP metal done on Peter Jackson's scale, with only fraction of his budget. What's always differentiated Summoning from their peers is their unseasonably warm sound, which on Old Mornings Dawn is more percussive than...Read More

Haust - No

editorial@exclaim.ca (Trystan MacDonald) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:31:12 -0400

Hailing from Oslo, Norway, this four-piece punk band have returned with their third release, No. While punk has been a significant influence on Norwegian black metal, I've never heard of a black metal-inspired punk band. Featuring nine tracks that took all of an hour to record, No's production quality will make any black metal purist jealous. With guttural punk chord progressions, black metal vocals and untamed, drums, you're immediately slapped in the face by Haust's raw sound. The title track is incredibly catchy, even though it's rusty and rather abrasive to the ears....Read More

Megadeth - Super Collider

editorial@exclaim.ca (Greg Pratt) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:49:51 -0400

You just want it to stop: Megadeth's Dave Mustaine's constant and very public falling apart at the seams. The man is the biggest train wreck in metal, our collective hearts breaking over his most recent shenanigan. And the band — the tunes — well, for a number of albums now he's been in a strange zone where a record drops and we say, "Wow, that's actually not bad," then totally forget anything about the damn thing, except that it resolutely wasn't a "return to form" like the man had promised. Here, opener "Kingmaker" starts things off with a relentless enough, speedy gallop,...Read More

Death Valley Driver - Graveyard Dead

editorial@exclaim.ca (Greg Pratt) — Fri, 31 May 2013 16:22:01 -0400

There's an odd middle ground between great mid-era Entombed death'n'roll, heavy boogie Southern metal and depresso bar band groove rock. It's a fine line, and is it ever frustrating when a band flirt with all the above, as Death Valley Driver do on their second album. There are some great moments, to be sure: the doom of "Ice Serpents," which leads into the sludge/Southern rock of "Crimson Mask" or the gonzo solo on "Bloodfeud," which doesn't lead anyone anywhere, in a wonderfully enjoyable way. But some of the vocals and the riffing just bring you back to your local tavern and that band that...Read More

Kwaidan - Make All the Hell of Dark Metal Bright

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Fri, 31 May 2013 16:18:26 -0400

The debut record from atmospheric experiment Kwaidan is a jangling, lurching creature reaching painfully towards moments of the sublime. Make All the Hell of Dark Metal Bright features the combined efforts of Neil Jendon on synthesizers, André Foisy (Locrian) on guitars and keys, and Mike Weis (Zelienople) on percussion, together groping towards a bleak, alienating and occasionally lovely musical landscape. Metallic elements grind against one another while electronic chirps echo the voices of birds. The first three tracks, each title beginning with the words "Three Empty Rooms of Light...Read More

Demon Lung - The Hundredth Name

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Fri, 31 May 2013 16:15:26 -0400

The Las Vegas-based doom metal project amassed an impressive pedigree prior to the release of their debut, performing alongside the likes of High on Fire and Witch Mountain, recording with Adam Myatt and Billy Anderson (Neurosis) and obtaining album art from Tom Bates (Amorphis). Their first record (a concept album based upon the idea that the devil's son is on Earth trying to assemble an anti-Bible and bring creation down in the process) delivers on these promises. Fusing a smoky occult sensibility with classic doom metal songwriting, in the style of Candlemass or the Obsessed, The...Read More

Dark Tranquillity - Construct

editorial@exclaim.ca (Laura Wiebe) — Tue, 28 May 2013 16:28:21 -0400

Record number ten for Gothenburg, Sweden's Dark Tranquillity kicks off dark and strong, offering a fresh rendering of a definitive melodic death metal sound. By third song "Uniformity," we're reminded of the band's slower, moodier side (including Mikael Stanne's Depeche Mode-esque clean vocals). This "softness" shows up in a couple of later songs as well, but much of Construct has a heavier, aggressively insistent vibe, as if Dark Tranquillity are intent on getting straight to the point. Of the 12 songs, "State of Trust" stands out for its catchiness and for capturing most of the...Read More

Sofy Major - Idolize

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Tue, 28 May 2013 16:21:42 -0400

The second full-length record from French metallic noise-mongers Sofy Major, Idolize is an example of excellent and intelligent musical execution, as well as a defiant refusal to accept defeat. The band travelled to NYC to record at Translator Audio, only to have the studio (along with all their recordings and gear) destroyed by Hurricane Sandy flooding. The situation was salvaged by Dave Curran (Unsane, Pigs), who leant the band replacement gear and set up new recording sessions for them with Andrew Schneider at Seaside Lounge and Spaceman Sound studios. While the narrative is on its...Read More

Leprous - Coal

editorial@exclaim.ca (Trystan MacDonald) — Tue, 28 May 2013 11:37:41 -0400

Leprous are different; it doesn't take long to figure that out. Never ones to follow in the footsteps of other acts, Leprous do their best to limit outside exposure when writing. You get that impression 30 seconds into Coal. The whole album is an enigma, a weird, cryptic creature that emerged from the shadowy recesses of progressive rock. It's impossible to comprehend and the more you try, the more you get sucked into this hypnotic beast. Compared to their previous release, Bilateral, Leprous's latest is melancholic and dark, never deviating from the gloomy atmosphere that...Read More

Rotorvator - E Vivi E I Mort

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Tue, 28 May 2013 10:56:14 -0400

Roughly translating to "the living and the dead," E Vivi E I Mort is the debut record from blackened industrial drone-mongers Rotorvator. Hailing from Italy, Rotorvator have fashioned a brutally metallic, mechanical sound that drags the fiery, clanging pulse of industrial into black metal's realm of brimstone and ice. The production is deliberately distorted and under heavy pressure, muddying the vocals and making the percussion sound thin and distance. However, the electric feedback and crackle, as well as weird metallic shrieks, are close, immediate and strangely clear, creating an...Read More

Fucking Invincible - Downtown is Dead

editorial@exclaim.ca (Bradley Zorgdrager ) — Mon, 27 May 2013 15:22:57 -0400

Fucking Invincible is a bold claim to make, especially for a band only two EPs into their career. With Downtown is Dead, the Rhode Island hardcore unit attempt to justify their moniker. Fortunately, they succeed — at the end of this eight-songs-in-nine-minutes EP, you're left wanting more. While fans of the members' other outfits (Daughters, Dropdead and Soul Control) will enjoy the onslaught at hand, Fucking Invincible's appeal doesn't stop there. Always powerful and, at times, violent, the music contained within transcends the boundaries imposed by powerviolence. Instead, the...Read More

ASG - Blood Drive

editorial@exclaim.ca (Greg Pratt) — Mon, 27 May 2013 15:04:01 -0400

On their fifth album, and Relapse debut, North Carolina's ASG (once known as All Systems Go) work a most excellent middle ground between heavy stoner rock (think Corrosion of Conformity at their boogiest) and more subdued, Cali-style surfer/stoner (hello, Kyuss). But the pounding drums (the snare takes a beating on great opener "Avalanche") and heavy power chords keep it pretty firmly rooted in metal, even when the soaring vocals threaten to subdue things a bit too much. Check out the chorus for the amazing "Blood Drive" to see how those melodic vocals can work wonders though. The whole...Read More

Antigama - Meteor

editorial@exclaim.ca (Greg Pratt) — Mon, 27 May 2013 15:00:24 -0400

Polish tech-grinders Antigama have been getting weirder and weirder for their past few releases. By that I mean the mind-warping grindcore band have been playing it increasingly straight. Listening to the first half of sixth full-length Meteor, you'd think they were on that same path, but you'd be wrong. Sure, killer opener "Collapse" is pretty straight-ahead, sounding more like Napalm Death than any mind-numbing prog-grind, and second tune "The Key" gets a bit trickier — the simple whiplash groove is more Nasum or Rotten Sound than the weirdness Antigama are known for —...Read More

Retox - YPLL

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:55 -0400

Formed in 2010, Retox are one of the latest violent outlets for Justin Pearson, founding member of the Locust and Three One G Records. Following their 2011 album, Ugly Animals, Retox's sophomore effort, YPLL, is a much more finely carved and polished version of their earlier musical assault, falling somewhere between hardcore punk, powerviolence and sci-fi surf. Tearing through 12 tracks in 22 minutes, YPLL is lean and vicious, a cataclysmic collision of elements, as Pearson's spazz-out, smoldering vocals crash against Michael Crain's guitars and Thor Dickey's tense,...Read More

Downpresser - Don't Need A Reason

editorial@exclaim.ca (Bradley Zorgdrager ) — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:26 -0400

Downpresser titled their first full-length album Don't Need a Reason. And while you don't necessarily need one to check this out, especially in the day and age of illegal downloading, there are plenty. For starters, Downpresser play metallic hardcore, the bastard child of metal and hardcore, managing to maintain hardcore's energy while playing music as crushingly heavy as most metal ever gets. They do this in a time where their obvious influences — Merauder, Buried Alive, All Out War, etc. — have either passed their prime or passed away (metaphorically speaking). And the...Read More

TesseracT - Altered State

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:20 -0400

UK-based progressive wizards and djent pioneers TesseracT have gone through a particularly challenging series of line-up changes over the course of their relatively short career. Formed in 2003 as a studio project by guitarist Acle Kahney, TesseracT established a full-line-up by 2007, and while most of that line-up has been static, they've gone through three vocalists during two full-lengths and two EPs (not counting the two vocalists that served before they recorded any material). After Daniel Tompkins established their sound on the Concealing Fate EP and One full-length, and...Read More

Kylesa - Ultraviolet

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:20 -0400

Ultraviolet light, despite being something that we know exists, even having an impact upon our physical bodies, is part of the spectrum of light we can't see unaided. This idea — that of a form of light that is present but not always apparent — is at the core of Ultraviolet, the sixth studio album from respected sludge experimenters Kylesa. Based in Savannah, GA, Kylesa have drawn from influences as diverse as doom and psychedelia to sculpt their sound, which is driven by powerful, aggressive drumming (they've been known to record and perform live with two percussionists...Read More

Blood Ceremony - The Eldritch Dark

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:06 -0400

The spooky, deeply magical wonder that is The Eldritch Dark is Toronto, ON-based Blood Ceremony's third full-length record, and unquestionably their finest to date. Fusing the rich, sumptuous tones of the best doom metal with smoky, sanguine occult rock, Blood Ceremony begin with a solid aesthetic and add just enough flourishes to transform it into something wholly unique. Frontwoman Alia O'Brien's sweet, enveloping voice draws the listener in like how a bright will-o'-the-wisp entices a lost soul into a fog-drenched grove — entirely seduced, you only realize you're trapped once...Read More

Burial Vault - Incendium

editorial@exclaim.ca (Trystan MacDonald) — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:01:43 -0400

Burial Vault's Incendium is a perfect example of a group trying to find their sound. It's an album that places itself in the precarious limbo between black metal and your typical European death metal. While the two genres have always complemented each other rather well, many acts plying the two suffer through an identity crisis, and that's Incendium main fault. From the intro sample to the clean vocals found on "Peculiar" — the only clean vocals on the album — there are various aspects that sound totally out of place. That said, there are some diamonds in the rough...Read More

A Pale Horse Named Death - Lay My Soul to Waste

editorial@exclaim.ca (Laura Wiebe) — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:45:23 -0400

This is the second album from A Pale Horse Named Death — the grungy metal project led by former Type O Negative/Life of Agony drummer Sal Abruscato, here stepping up to the mic with guitar in hand. APHND's 2011 debut channelled Alice in Chains through an extra layer or two of snarly doom, and the new record follows in line, amping up the darkness to more ominous levels. Thematically, Lay My Soul to Waste draws heavily upon bluesy tales of woe and devilish betrayals transplanted to a more modern context. There's a hint of Type O Negative here and there, especially in the...Read More

Decaying - The Last Days of War

editorial@exclaim.ca (Trystan MacDonald) — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:06:22 -0400

It's baffling that in the death- and shock-obsessed metallic underground there are so few war-inspired death metal bands. You would think something as brutal as human history would have a stronger influence on that particular genre. Decaying's third album, The Last Days of War, is heavy while also being a history lesson. Covering some of the most ferocious battles throughout WWI and WWII, Decaying do their best to sonically recreate the turmoil of combat. After a brief instrumental intro, the album immediately moves into "Operation Overlord" and much like the Germans on D-Day, you're...Read More

Gaytheist - Hold Me... But Not So Tight

editorial@exclaim.ca (Natalie Zina Walschots) — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:20 -0400

At the filthy intersection between crusty garage punk, fuzzed-out sludge metal and deliciously sloppy hard rock dwell Gaytheist. Based in Portland, OR, the second record from the disarmingly clever trio has maintained all the impudence of their debut while adding an oily, sleazy sexuality that serves their aesthetic well. "Spread 'Em" captures this lascivious creepiness perfectly, while also being a blistering slab of well-executed rock, full of titillating riffs and unexpected flourishes. The songs have strong grooves and deep hooks, making for a deeply pleasurable listen that also manages...Read More

Beyond Mortal Dreams - Dreaming Death

editorial@exclaim.ca (Trystan MacDonald) — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:00:52 -0400

Sometimes you don't want to listen to complex, progressive technical death metal. Sometimes you just want simple, droning guitar riffs and guttural vocals that barely resemble words. Beyond Mortal Dreams stick with the thick, blood-soaked roots of death metal on their Dreaming Death EP. The musicianship is top-notch, as the sweeping guitar solos and heavy drums demonstrate, and there are various riffs and beats that grab your attention. But, unfortunately, the album, for the most part, lacks originality. Not that there's anything wrong with competency, but in a genre that's so heavily...Read More

Entrails - Raging Death

editorial@exclaim.ca (Max Deneau) — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:37:14 -0400

Entrails stand out among the current resurgence of Stockholm, old-school death metal groups for actually having formed during the movement's early '90s heyday, yet they've only gotten around to releasing material in recent years. Whatever direct bearing this pedigree has upon the music's quality is difficult to assess, but rest assured the band sound confident and genuine, if somewhat resolute in their adherence to tradition. Compared to 2011's The Tomb Awaits, the focus has shifted slightly away from burly mid-tempos and melody-driven leads towards a leaner, hookier approach with a...Read More

Immolation - Kingdom of Conspiracy

editorial@exclaim.ca (Denise Falzon) — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:23:51 -0400

Since forming in 1988, Yonkers, NY death metal veterans Immolation have churned out nine albums of classic, brutal death metal. Their latest offering, Kingdom of Conspiracy, follows that tradition, delivering ten tracks that maintain the band's iconic sound. The album is filled with guitarist/chief songwriter Bob Vigna's crushing riffs and intricate leads, showcasing his penchant for unconventional song structures and guitar flourishes, which adds a different twist to the band, displaying various musical influences. Heavy yet melodic guitar work interlocks with powerful drum blasts,...Read More

Utopium - Vicious Consolation / Virtuous Totality

editorial@exclaim.ca (Denise Falzon) — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:19:32 -0400

After a few small releases, including a demo, EP and split, since forming in 2007, Portuguese grindcore outfit Utopium have finally unveiled their full-length debut, Vicious Consolation / Virtuous Totality. The album proves to be well worth the wait, featuring 18 ferocious tracks of visceral, Nasum-influenced grind tinged with moments of crust and sludge. "Null Rousting" starts the proceedings off with ominous tones, as well as slow, trudging drums and guitar rhythms that build-up to a fast-paced, crusty noise attack that's carried on throughout 16-second rager "Lodging in a Rut."...Read More

Ape Machine - Mangled by the Machine

editorial@exclaim.ca (Trystan MacDonald) — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:39:02 -0400

Stoner metal is such a beautiful term; it combines two of many people's favourite things. Judging from Ape Machine's newest album, Mangled by Machine, they are happy with that combination. From beginning to end, Ape Machine take you for a ride with their third full-length. The entire record flows together excellently, with each track fading into the next, never breaking the momentum. The first few songs adequately present their particular brand of stoner rock, but it's during the self-titled fifth track where the album sinks its teeth into you. Taking no prisoners, the vocals and...Read More