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2019 Albums

Album Review: Swallow The Sun – When A Shadow Is Forced Into Light 9.5 (Doom Metal)

July 17, 2019 Noob Heavy admin

Four years after the release of their magnum opus Songs from the North, a triple album introduced in 2015, and after the tragic demise of Aleah Starbridge (the front man Juha Raivio’s life partner and Trees of Eternity’s lead vocalist) in 2016, the Finnish death-doom giants have returned with an album which leaves no heart untouched. A short while ago, late 2018, a single album was put forward which best depicted the dark depths of their sorrow: Lumina Aurea, a heart- wrenching blend of black and funeral doom with dashes of folk created by Einar Selvik of Wardruna. […]

2018 albums

Esoteric Tape: Black Anal Goat Vomit – BAGV (Black Metal)

July 16, 2019 Noob Heavy admin

BAGV is a recent black metal favorite of mine and I have pretty much left it in the player since it arrived. A solo project from my city that has been established for some time, releasing their first LP in 2008. The album itself is a compelling mix of post metal chills and abrasive black metal. It sounds really good on tape and the overall quality of the physical product was fine […]

Art Feature

Australian Heavypedia: Judd Madden (Solo Doom)

July 12, 2019 Noob Heavy admin

During my process of contacting bands for the Aussie Metal project I had the fortune of coming across the droning and elaborate tunes of Judd Madden. A prolific solo project from Melbourne. I’m used to one man bands in black metal but it feels less common in doom, a genre often demanding the thickest of sounds. Judd Madden not only manages to do this alone, but also often erring on the side of wistful post-metal. He also has exceptional art across his discography so I knew I had to delve deeper into what he had to offer as an individual musician. As it turns out, there’s a lot to explore – even more than the initial Bandcamp page lets on. I’m most familiar with Cosmic Black Wizard Demon Horse Lord (Top left) which should become a quick favorite for many long form doom metal fans. There’s a decade worth of content, all accessible for free. […]

Carcassbomb's Reviews

Album Review: Hela – Death May Die 9.2 (Doom Metal)

June 12, 2019 Noob Heavy admin

A far darker opening than I was expecting. Apparently the opener track is based on the story “The nameless city” by Lovecraft (read). The song titles alone say to me that this is a chronological story starting with a horrible discovery, The Gateway. There’s some kind of mythical figure and perhaps the revelation of evil, Mothers Of Monsters and Touched By Evil. Then that touch of evil infests or takes hold in the form of the Dark Passenger – possibly analogous of mental illness or possession. This passenger causes chaos and unnatural acts, resulting in Repulsion – of self and externally. The Gateway inevitable leads to Bodies Burning In Hell – The end destruction, death or suicide from madness and hell because of the corruption. […]

2018 albums

Album Review: Iron Eagle – Audio Nasty 9 (Grindcore)

June 10, 2019 Noob Heavy admin

It’s been a while since I’ve heard some good punk influenced death metal. Deathgrind, grindcore, whatever you want to call this, It’s pretty fucking rad and definitely some dirty shit through and through. It’s not as simple as you’d expect though, with many tasty treats hidden beneath a repulsive outer layer. The name is based on an old movie, Iron Eagle, if that gives you any insight into their more playful influences, humor and old films have always been effective within the genre. […]

2018 albums

Album Review: Virgil – The Pacer EP 8 (Prog)

June 9, 2019 Noob Heavy admin

I got put onto this one after chatting with Dr.Knudson who did the cover art for Welcome to Bonkers. He also did the art for this tight little EP from an american prog instrumental outfit called Virgil. So check him out, this artwork speaks a lot to the complicated and chaotic nature of the music. It’s pretty badass. […]

2019 Albums

Album Review: Hellripper – Black Arts & Alchemy EP 9 (Speed Metal)

June 6, 2019 Noob Heavy admin

At this point I’m covering so many one man bands and it’s crazy the level of quality an individual can put out now. This guy has a bit of a history having released a slew of recordings over the past few years, a lot of which are well received. He’s clearly onto something. I’ll definitely be going back to check out the LP which holds a whopping 89% at the Metallum. This has 91% with less reviewers. Just for context, most of the time fully fledged and veteran bands get worse scores than this every day. There’s plenty of blackened speed metal here with zero compromise to the sound or intensity. Definitely check this one out. […]

2019 Albums

Album Review: Witch Ritual – Death:Beyond 9 (Stoner Doom)

June 6, 2019 Noob Heavy admin

I’m going to try to do this without doing a single pun involving their band name and hopefully without misspelling witch. Witch Ritual is some dense european stoner doom, real melancholic stuff. I haven’t heard their EP, but this is their debut LP that really cements their expectations high. This ones essential for fans Windhand and Jex Thoth, general doomheads should certainly check it out too. It has the raunchiness I love in stoner doom/fuzz without the exploitation aesthetic. It’s pretty awesome all over. […]

2019 Albums

Album Review: Solus – Insight 8 (Black Metal)

May 31, 2019 Noob Heavy admin

I will preface this review with the fact that I enjoy melodic black metal and typically can’t stand symphonic metal of any kind. But this self recorded and self released solo project is winning me over with the symphonic aspect, it’s a lot darker than it’s typically arranged. It’s an interesting little detour away from all of the bigger bands. It’s more about the project itself, the craftsmanship and hobby. […]