metal — Music — Monsters, Madness and Magic

Mare Cognitum Returns with a Brilliant, Terrestrial Epic

The music is somber, introspective, still evocative of a “Great Beyond” from previous Mare Cognitum albums, yet there is an urgency to these compositions, a moribund tether that continues to guide the listener forward.

Seregost and Erythrite Throne Storm the Gates of the Obsidian Kingdom

If you happened to miss the inaugural incantation woven by the staff and steel of Erythrite Throne and Seregost, A Sacrilegious Ritual Upon Once Holy Ground, the diabolical duo have returned and arrived at the Gates of the Obsidian Kingdom

Museum of Macabre Media, MusicJ.R YoungOctober 21, 2020Seregost, Erythrite Throne, dungeon synth, ambient, Dark Ambient, bandcamp, monsters, madness, magic, horror, black metal, metal, musicComment

The Mysterious -S- Offers A Meditative Journey Through the Experience of Killing Time

The enigmatic band, -S- has crafted a compelling EP of what the band itself deems to be dark, occult funk. The title of the EP, Zabijanie Czasu, roughly translated as “The Killing of Time”, represents the first part of a planned trilogy devoted to the notion of Time.

Music, Museum of Macabre MediaGuest UserSeptember 8, 2020-S-, Zabijanie Czasu, The Killing of Time, review, metal, monsters, madness, magic, I, Voidhanger, voidhanger recordsComment

Blazon Rite Raise Their Swords On Primal Debut EP

Blazon Rite’s 2020 EP “Dulce Bellum Inexpertis” is a welcomed addition to the NWOTHM movement that offers a unique take on the traditional metal genre while blazing its own trail as a standout in a crowded field of contenders.

Museum of Macabre Media, MusicGuest UserSeptember 7, 2020Blazon Rite, NWOTHM, heavy metal, review, metal, monsters, madness, magicComment

Furnace Brings A Beloved, Gothic Melodeath Sound with A Lovecraftian Edge

Do you remember when you first heard Draconian Times, hearing the directions that Paradise Lost had toyed with, yet finally mustered (and mastered)? I felt that same nostalgia and whimsy when listening to Dark Vistas. Gruff vocals, chunky, driving guitars, chorused guitar interludes - you could tell me this released in the mid 90's and I would believe you.

Museum of Macabre Media, MusicDaniel EdenfieldAugust 28, 2020Furnace, Dark Vistas, review, metal, monsters, madness, magicComment

Crawl Before The Crypts of the Undead as Serpentis Commands Withered Flesh To Arise

Withered Flesh Arise is the latest ritualistic offering from the altar of Obsidian Relic Records. The Lords of Seregost call forth from the crypt— Serpentis! To begin this crawl into the cemetery, the listener is beckoned beyond by the haunting haze, the chilling calm before the sacrilegious storm that is Walking Among Corpses. The wrought iron gates whisper their tale on the wind. The cold kiss of the grave festers a certain fear. The fear of familiarity. Your wishes for revulsion are replaced by a righteous reverie for the rot. You’re unnerved by your very nature as your toes cling to the touch of the damp soil. Longing to dance with the lich, you proceed to the Crypts of the Undead.

Erythrite Throne and Seregost Perform A Sacrilegious Ritual Upon Once Holy Ground

If you’re a fan of modern dungeon synth then you likely know both Erythrite Throne and Seregost. Over the past couple of years, they’ve released consistently strong content with original voices that rise above the rest. They both wowed with amazing sets at Northeast Dungeon Siege MMXX this year. Now, they’ve joined forces for a split release that keeps the legacy of underground camaraderie alive. Obsidian Relic Records is set to release A Sacrilegious Ritual Upon Once Holy Ground on May 1st.

The Testament of the Traveler: Termination Shock Comes As No Surprise

Calgary’s Traveler came charging out of the gates with their 2019 self-titled debut album. The band firmly announced their arrival to the metal community at Germany’s Keep It True festival, treating European audiences to a traditionally brisk blend of heavy metal. The travelers from beyond are composed of retro-riff master Toryin Schadlich, guitar guru and songwriter Matt Ries, shrieking storyteller Jean-Pierre Abboud, and robustly rounded out by the thundering rhythms of bassist Dave Arnold and drummer Chad Vallier. With the release of the latest album Termination Shock on April 10th of this year, if you’re still sleeping on Traveler, it’s time to wake up.

Museum of Macabre MediaJ.R YoungApril 21, 2020Traveler, Termination Shock, Gates of Hell Records, nwothm, heavymetal, metal, reviewComment

Socially Distance Yourself Permanently With Shitfucker's "Sex With Dead Body"

Do you spend your nights hunched over a computer, hunting eBay for the missing pieces of your serial killer trading card collection? (Eclipse put these out in the 90s. Look it up.) Do you feel at home in the seedy, debauched world of say, William Lustig’s Maniac (1980)? Then have I got a piece of sonic sleaze for you. I’m talking about Shitfucker’s Sex With Dead Body. What a fucking sentence.

Museum of Macabre MediaGuest UserApril 14, 2020Shitfucker, Werwolf Records, metal, extreme metal, reviewComment

Trad/Speed Metalers Blood Star Refuse To Give In To The Fear On Debut EP

I will admit that before I had the opportunity to write this I was drooling over the first track of this EP not long after it hit Bandcamp. I won’t shy from the fact that I am a sucker for killer cover art and god damn this cover is sick. You could easily convince me that this was a release from 1984 based on the art alone. I wouldn’t argue.

Virginia based artist Markus Fussell can lend his brush to as many albums as possible and the scene would benefit. Google him and you’ll see what I mean. Of course, we’ve all been lead-in by the promise of good album art only to be left disappointed. I’m happy to report that this is not the case with Blood Star’s The Fear.

Museum of Macabre MediaGuest UserApril 9, 2020nwothm, Blood Star, The Fear, review, metal, heavy metalComment

Bestial, Bludgeoning, Blasting Blasphemy: Hegemony's "Enthroned by Persecution"

I find myself growing pickier and pickier when it comes to Death Metal as I get older. The genre has, undoubtedly, produced more than its share of classic releases: Altars of Madness, Onward to Golgotha, Close to a World Below and None So Vile are where my preferences lie. I will never be able to get into the over-produced, sterile exercises in musical masturbation that make up a lot of the modern Death Metal scene, however.

Luckily, I don’t have to clear that hurdle with Hegemony’s Enthroned by Persecution. Available April 24th on Hell’s Headbangers, it’s a raw, bludgeoning, filthy mess of an album that manages to be a breath of fresh air while simultaneously calling back to genre greats in a manner that isn’t just flat-out aping the source material.

Jason Edwards' Top Five Metal Albums of 2019

I haven’t listened to as much music this year as I probably should have. That being said, there are definitely a few albums that stood out among my (admittedly limited) listening this year. With that out of the way, here are my top five Metal albums of 2019 in no particular order. If you see something you like, make sure to support the bands by visiting the links provided.