Nirvana

Extortionist – Stare into the Seething Wounds Review

By Dear Hollow on October 10, 2025 in Reviews, Deathcore, Metalcore, Nu Metal, 29 comments

“Although my love for metal has its origins in the -core movement, it’s largely passed me by in the years since. New artists come and go, and the next thing I know, my favorite metalcore songs were all released in 2015 or earlier. Extortionist is also one of those bands I neglected, but when I first heard them, I immediately clocked it was not The Contortionist. With no prog in sight, Extortionist is known for their blend of deathcore, metalcore, and nu-metal, which has me running for the Tums right away.” Nice core you got there. Be a shame if something…happened to it.

Regina – Liminal Space Review

By ClarkKent on September 12, 2025 in Reviews, Alt-Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 36 comments

“At the end of each year, Angry Metal Guy likes to boast of the diverse coalition of readers who flock to these halls from all over the world, including the lone visitor from Vatican City. Just as important as the diverse readership is the diversity in the bands we review. So when Dolphin Whisperer excitedly brought to our attention a promo that would, if reviewed, be our first Uruguayan metal tag, I decided to take up the mantle as explorer to this uncharted frontier. Liminal Space is the debut album from Uruguayan alt-metal act Regina.” Strange nu/new worlds.

Swans – Birthing Review

By Dear Hollow on May 27, 2025 in Reviews, Ambient, Noise, Noise Rock, post-punk, Sludge Metal, 40 comments

“It’s hard to keep up with Swans. Since 1982, Michael Gira and company have cranked out sixteen studio albums, eight EPs, and ten live albums (not to mention all the compilations and side projects), influencing underground stalwarts like Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Neurosis, Godflesh, and Napalm Death, as well as more mainstream acts like Nirvana and Tool. No genre was safe, as noise rock, no-wave, industrial, sludge, post-punk, and post-rock were impacted in the process – yet Swans have always had their own inimitable and uncategorizable sound.” Still on the pond.

Idiot Robot – Anti Pop Culture Review

By Saunders on March 14, 2024 in Reviews, 32 comments

“Perusing the promo sump, I stumbled across Idiot Robot, intrigued by the grunge tag they were saddled with. Being an avid fan of the ’80’s/’90’s grunge scene, Seattle rock movement and ’90’s alt-rock in general, I’m a sucker for this shit. Hell, even 2023’s Somnuri album, which kicked endless arse, sealed my love with its earwormy grunge hooks and melodies. Under closer investigation, I realized our resident spongey friend Kenstrosity reviewed the Floridian duo’s self-titled debut album in 2020, where despite endearing elements of nostalgia, the end result was something akin to a dumpster fire. Nearly four years have passed, and everyone has room for improvement, right?” Robot problems.

Almost Dead – Destruction Is All We Know Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 1, 2024 in Reviews, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 9 comments

“I’d be a fool for not giving Almost Dead some credit for not giving two fucks what anyone thinks of their straightforward and sometimes strange style. That said, Destruction Is All We Know is the oddest album of them all—no doubt with some help from dial and toggle man Zac “Friend o’ the Blog” Orhen.” Odd Fellows warchest.

Rosy Finch – Scarlet Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 9, 2020 in 2020, Discos Macarras, LaRubia Producciones, Lay Bare Recordings, Reviews, Sludge, Spanish Metal, Spinda Records, Stoner Metal, Sludge, Stoner Metal, 37 comments

“The hallway that led to my office in grad school was red. Both walls. I shit you not. To make matters worse the hellish tunnel narrowed as you approached its end—where, to no one’s surprise, you could find my office. Trust me when I tell you that five years of red walls can fuck with a person. Like grad schools, animals also use the color red to ward off people. Red can represent everything from lovers to the most gruesome of deaths. And Spain’s grrrl sludge group, Rosy Finch, is every bit as varying in its topics and delivery. With artwork that looks as though poor Carrie got it again, this is Scarlet.” Red is a slow color.

Quayde LaHüe – Love out of Darkness Review

By Holdeneye on November 22, 2019 in 2019, Adult Fantasy Records, American Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, K Records, Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 26 comments

“I was saddened to learn that by skipping the first day of Eliminator Fest, I’d missed a performance by the band that I find myself covering today: Olympia, Washington’s Quayde LaHüe. After spending time with their debut album Love out of Darkness, I’m vowing to catch them live at some point, because these guys and gal kick some serious olde school ass.” Love in a dark place.

Elder – Reflections of a Floating World Review

By Dr. Wvrm on June 5, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Armageddon Label, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Stickman Records, Stoner Metal, Progressive Metal, Stoner Metal, 89 comments

“Every so often, an album comes out of nowhere and truck sticks you into next Tuesday. Elder’s 2015 opus Lore did that for me. Their complex brand of New England stoner metal featured the right amount of proggy psych stylings to land in my personal Top Ten. Lore has been a constant friend these last two years, and I expected that topping it would be tough, given its lofty heights and incredible riffcraft. Leave it to Reflections of a Floating World to prove me so incredibly wrong.” Respect your Elder.

Område – Nåde Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 28, 2017 in 2017, Avante Garde, Electronica Metal, French Metal, My Kingdom Music, Reviews, Avant-Garde, Electronica Metal, 47 comments

“Well, Område have done it again. Two years ago, I opened their Edari review talking about the marriage of an album to its artwork. What seems simplistic turns out to quite difficult. Finding the right artist and the right piece of art to match an album’s character is like food presentation. For instance, if not careful, you’ll turn your entire family against your amazing chili dogs. I thought the artwork of Område’s debut was the perfect match to its sound, but Nåde takes the cake (or, in this case, a foot-long chili coney).” Of trippy music and penis-shaped meats.

Interview with Dan Gargiulo of Revocation

By Mark Z. on April 6, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Blog Posts, Interviews, 35 comments

“Between pillaging, plundering, and getting insanely hammered, Mark Z. interview’s Revocation’s Dan Gargiulo.” The first of several plunder publications from this year’s 70,000 Tons of Metal excursion.