Mein Herz Brennt Oct. 12, 2015

The Angel's Share
by Islay

I love a good bass intro. This one has brass balls. And that's not even accounting for that crazy guitar riff afterwards. "Self Adulation" deservedly does just that, all while kicking like the wild horse on the cover. This is Islay. This is righteous German death metal. We got hooks. We got s...

Brutal Enough for Odin, Sensitive Enough For Loki Oct. 9, 2015

At the Break of the Day
by Azgard

I am not a hater of deathcore, but the tag does tend to make me hesitate. For every Born of Osiris there are at least 10 piles of insipid BLUUUUUUUUUUUUURGH. Luckily, Azgard from the Ulkraine leave the bro-offs and chugging to the amateurs, instead creating satisfying songs that cover a wide range...

From the Hoardes of Ohio... Oct. 8, 2015

A Kingdom Aflame
by Siren

It's been a little while since I heard some good, rollicking folk metal. Even longer since I heard some solid "heavy metal" that I really connected with. Thankfully, Siren is here to make a change to all of that. With a mixture of black, melodic death, folk, and heavy metal; A Kingdom Aflame rips...

The Black Viper Oct. 7, 2015

Travesty of Light
by Kyy

Kyy, meaning "viper" in Finnish, is a black metal group out of Lahti. I'm not into Satanism, but these guys most definitely are. Regardless of your belief system, there is no denying that this music is intense. Travesty of Light certainly starts things off with a bang. Enormous looming chords ...

Nobody Wins Oct. 7, 2015

War - Agony
by Grim Vision

Three tracks, 11 minutes, pure energy and brutality. Such is the punk rock ethos of Grim Vision from Germany. This is some deliciously crusty metal. Like war, it hits hard and fast, and in the end you wonder if anybody has truly won. Once again, prepare yourself for some hefty Converge influen...

Groove is in the Heart Oct. 6, 2015

Devoutness
by Synapses

Before I even talk about the band, I just have to say that "Spiral of Devoutness" drops the bass heavier than a dubstep song. There, I said it. Now that that's out of the way, this is Synapses formed in Italy. Take Meshuggah's groovy, pure tech-driven origins of djent + the brutal death of Cannib...

The Yellow Album Oct. 6, 2015

Paroxysm
by Plague Rider

Good gravy, those vocals. Reminds me a bit of Gigan, but no matter how you slice it this guy is a death metal monster. This is, of course, Paroxysm by Plague Rider. The band is an experimental death quintet out of the UK. And in just 4 tracks clocking in about 20 minutes, they are here to slice ...

Spoiler Alert: This Album is Good Oct. 5, 2015

The Grim Muse
by In Twilight's Embrace

What an incredible intro. Rivers of drool. I needed to change my shirt. In Twilight's Embrace is here with their third album, and they are out for pure bloodlust. These Poland natives have an unquenchable thirst for speed. There's definitely a touch of Venom thrash, especially notable in tracks...

Now That's More Like It Oct. 2, 2015

New Bermuda
by Deafheaven

Well, that opener is certainly a far cry from the docile tunes of Sunbather. This is the foreboding march I come to expect from something willing to carry the black metal monicker. This strikes me as an album with something to prove. And rightly so, with the previous album starkly dividing, it se...

Rock and Roll Oct. 2, 2015

Psychic Warfare
by Clutch

Clutch is another one of those bands that I have always respected from afar, but for whatever reason never became a long time fan. I won't waste precious words speculating as to the deeper meaning behind this. Rather, I just want to tell you about Psychic Warfare, and how it rocked my world apart....

Deep Fried Melodeath Oct. 2, 2015

Downfall Rising
by Wombbath

Damn that’s some crunchy death metal. That bass tone is a swampy, monstrous delight. “I Am the Abyss” tricks you into thinking there will be some classical reprieve from the balls-to-the-wall groove. No such luck. After only a few seconds of strings, the drums and death growls go back to abusing...

Take Me To Church Oct. 1, 2015

Church of the Five Precious Wounds
by Repulsive Dissection

Repulsive Dissection is a technical brutal death metal band with members hailing from all over the globe. Dave Billia (Italy) is on drums, Tom Bradfield (UK) on vocals, Yura Kowalchuk (Ukraine) on guitars and Viktor Prokofjevs (Japan) on bass. And when these worldly people combine, the result is t...

Enter the Hall of Souls Oct. 1, 2015

Revenant (Creeping)
by Creeping

Ready for some doomy BM to crush your spirit today? Good. This is Revenant, by the appropriately-named Creeping. These Kiwis lurk around in the shadows like a pack of soul-reaving psy vampires "per se." But Hot Topic legions be warned, this is probably too scary for your scene. Despite the "c...

I'm Only Metal When It Rains Sept. 30, 2015

Eternidad Solemne
by Lluvia

"The wraith of the storming skies returns with this second summoning of bleak and epic sorrow. Vast and captivating atmospheric black metal enshrouded by the darkening clouds of rain and war. Reflections of a heaven that weeps its surrender in battle as a dead god lies upon the funeral pyre." Lluvia...

NYBM Sept. 30, 2015

Ygg huur
by Krallice

I'm going to level with you: I really struggled with this one. To be honest, I'm still not even sure if I enjoy it. That being said, something about it just tells me it belongs here on the site. Krallice mixes some murky, bassy production with The Number 12 Looks Like You mathcore riffs and dista...

...Not Even Going To Try To Say This One. Sept. 29, 2015

aokigahara
by aokigahara

Aokigahara. I can't help but feel like I am missing some sort of inside joke here. Furthermore, I really need to buy one of those maps that you put pins in. I don't think Las Vegas, Nevada has been featured yet here on Metal Trenches, but the day has come. With this self-titled release of "dark ...

Monolithic Sept. 29, 2015

Architects of the Void
by Behold! The Monolith

"Umbral Vale" tricked me. The album opens like this is your typical doom metal album. It's and epic intro, to be sure. But as someone who tends to bore of this style, my first perusal led me to shut the album off far too soon. So I was a bit miffed when on the second go I stuck around for the Le...

Dark Post-Hardcore Sept. 28, 2015

The Ebony Void
by The Drowned God

We could argue all day about what constitutes metal, but I'd rather just sit back and enjoy the music. The Drowned God is a Pennsylvania-based group, describing their influences as coming from from post-hardcore and post-metal to "create music that's emotive and atmospheric." The band features mem...

Never Judge A Book By Its Cover Sept. 28, 2015

Grotesque
by Unjustly Labeled

To quote an old adage, "Never judge a book by its cover." And over the years, I am constantly reminded that this applies to music as well as anything else. Unjustly Labeled is the brainchild of Johan von Knorring, who states "My music is mainly about trying to express something. Expressing the fea...

Slaves to the Tone Sept. 25, 2015

Slaves Beyond Death
by Black Breath

Black Breath is a band from Seattle, WA, and another of the legion of recordings brought to us by the one and only Kurt Ballou. Jesus, how many times am I going to have to name drop him this year? Hot on the heels of the popular new release from High on Fire, Slaves Beyond Death is another whiskey...
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