Post-Millennial's Guide To Metal (And Some Other Stuff)

The twenty first episode of the PMMetalGuide Podcast is out now! This week, the boys explore the musical and cultural phenomenon of Hollywood Undead, and attempt to explain and interpret the music and people's enjoyment of it.

Stepping away from traditional reviews (due to the fact that I haven't felt strongly enough about a release in the past week to warrant writing just about it), I've decided to something a little bit different. Taking a tour of our ninth state of the Union, I'm going to share some NH metal bands that need recognition. In this series, which there will be multiple instances of, we will dive into mostly underground metal music that has recently released from groups within our state! This week, we will begin with music released (and releasing) in 2021, but we will eventually jump back to cover a lot of music that came out last year as well. But for now, let's jump in with some new music! Aetheric Existence -  H O R R I F I C A (Symphonic Blackened Death Metal) While lacking a distinct location on the New Hampshire map, the duo bring to the table a surprisingly stellar blend of black and death metal with heavy, and fairly accurate,  Carach Angren  worship. Note, the similarit...

  The twentieth episode of the PMMetalGuide Podcast is out now! This week, the boys make their third stop on The Opethyssy, a series where they contextualize Swedish progressive metal band Opeth and their discography, with their 1998 release, My Arms, Your Hearse.

The frigidity of winter is perfectly exemplified in atmospheric black metal. Regardless of production levels, location of origin or subject matter, this subgenre always has the ability to summon harsh winds and battering precipitation with just the push of a button. The good stuff, that is. Take a group like Paysage d'Hiver ; perhaps one of the greatest artists of the genre's extended history. With the help of harsh ambience and lo-fi aesthetics, the storm literally  tears into the music itself. Or take Wolves In The Throne Room , whose rich melodic sensibilities weave through their somber soundscapes to produce an unyielding modern take on the style. In a genre with limitless potential, there are too many standout acts to count, each of which brings their own pastiche on the classic sound established thirty years ago in the Scandinavian peninsula.  While dungeon synth might not share the wintry aesthetic of atmospheric black metal, the two certainly go hand in hand. Varg...

 The nineteenth episode of the PMMetalGuide Podcast is up now! Two post-millennials discuss the various subgenres of modern Metal and their far-reaching cultural implications. This week, the boys make their second stop on The Opethyssy, a series where they contextualize Swedish progressive metal band Opeth and their discography, with their 1996 release, Morningrise.

Slint  is perhaps one of the most important bands in rock music history. Most of the collective internet music community knows this, but for those who don't, understand that both of their full-length records,  Tweez (1989)   and Spiderland (1991) completely revolutionized guitar-driven music with their experimental song-structures, previously unheard tonal sensibilities and overall strange performances that have been continuously copied and expanded upon. Spiderland  is also one of my personal favorite albums of all time, with its brilliant blend of emotive math-rock and ominous post-hardcore, as well as an uncomfortable take on the subgenre the band helped pioneer: post-rock. Without Slint , there would be no  Sigur Rós , Mogwai  or Godspeed You! Black Emperor ; no Unwound  or At The Drive-In ; and certainly no  Black Country, New Road .  This London septet has taken the musical world by storm over the previous couple of years. A group ...

  The eighteenth episode of the PMMetalGuide Podcast is out now! Two post-millennials discuss the various subgenres of modern Metal and their far-reaching cultural implications. This week, the boys make their first stop on The Opethyssy, a series where they contextualize Swedish progressive metal band Opeth and their discography, beginning with their 1995 debut, Orchid. 

The tried and true statement of "This just sounds like noise" has existed for as long as music has challenged the masses. Most people you show metal/experimental rock/noise usually just brush away the predictably painful memory they have to endure when listening to this music. You know me though; I just can't get enough of it. And what group to better display all of these qualities than The Body . For over 20 years, Lee Buford (also of Sightless Pit , whose debut we reviewed here ) and Chip King have broken the boundary between metal and noise on every one of their releases. Through countless collaborations, compilations, EPs, and now eight full lengths, their reputation as one of the most sonically interesting acts in the world has only increased.  But I wasn't always crazy about the group. I was introduced to the two-piece with their 2018 effort, I Have Fought Against It, But I Can't Any Longer , which I am still not totally sold on. Boasting a collection of rea...