We recently mused on the failures of, and potential remaining hope for, melodic death metal. Briefly, we said that while the genre is on the ropes, there’s still good music to be made within it, either by “owning” the classic tropes of the genre or experimenting with new sounds. That…
Melodic death metal is not exactly the genre to watch these days. It seems the heyday of it came and went rather quickly; if you ask some folks on the Internet, that golden age never came. That seems a bit harsh. The basics of the genre seem solid as they…
Soilwork have long been one the most consistent acts in melodic death metal. Although they’ve rarely received the same amount of critical recognition as formative bands like In Flames, Dark Tranquility or At the Gates, they’ve nevertheless managed to put together a catalogue of records whose overall quality rivals any…
There are few literary universes that have been plundered as deeply by metal bands as that of H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos. While there are many other fictional worlds that have received their fair share of attention within the genre (Tolkien’s Middle-Earth being the most obvious and popular example), few if…
Music can be shaped and defined by the surroundings and conditions of the people who make it. Perhaps the wide array of folk music around the world is the most obvious example but metal also has its own parallels when it comes to identity and regionality. The Nordic countries of…
It’s important for bands to keep up momentum, both on a smaller and larger scale. When Naberus dropped their impressive debut record, Reveries, in 2013 they managed to create a respectable amount of buzz within their local Melbourne and Australian scenes. Following that, however, the band’s trajectory seemingly stalled, and…
Amorphis has had an eclectic career, to say the least. The Finish melodeath pioneers have been responsible for some of the most memorable and the most forgettable melodic death metal the genre has to offer. While modern times may have seen them become overshadowed by their countrymen in Insomnium and Children of Bodom, yet few have traversed a stylistic spectrum as wide as Amorphis. The near three-decades since their inception has seen the band go through significant line-up changes, all while incorporating sizable aspects of folk, progressive, doom and even power metal into their ever-evolving sound. Now with thirteen studio records under their belt, finding an entry point into their oft-overlooked yet not inconsiderable career can be a daunting task. So, in celebration of the release of their new record Queen of Time, here’s a look at 8 of the most definitive and rewarding moments of their career.
In the build-up to the release of At The Gates’ sixth full-length, To Drink From The Night Itself, there appeared to be a clear split within the community. On the one hand we had the ‘fuck yeah, new At The Gates!’ crowd, and on the other hand, we had the…
Sometimes you just need a straight banger to get through the day. Sure, Portal’s winding, insanity-inducing escapades are valuable and enjoyable in their own way, but it’s not necessarily music to punch a hole in the wall to. Thankfully, Pestilent Reign is here to bring us all the neck-snapping, gut-churning…
Hello, Hellions. Welcome to Death’s Door, February Edition. Wipe your feet on the mat, pull up a bone chair and feast on the flesh of the unbelievers while I complain about the worst month of every year. Yes, that would be February. The Corporate Holiday has passed, the fresh stench…
