Distill the Swarm: The Top 20 Extreme Metal Debuts of 2017
Pay no heed to what the curmudgeons say as there are plenty of fascinating sounds being forged annually by new metal bands. 2017's swarm has been distilled…
Dean Brown
Dean Brown is a Contributing Editor at PopMatters, and a staff writer for Metal Hammer, Terrorizer Magazine, and Iron Fist Magazine. He has also written extensively for The Quietus and has had bylines at VICE, Decibel, and other music publications. Twitter: @reus85
From Recession to Progression: An Interview with Process of Guilt
Process of Guilt's dogged DIY survival during harsh economic times in a country not particularly well-known on a global level for its metal is proof that if you continue to stubbornly follow your passion good things can happen.
Grave Pleasures: Motherblood
Motherblood is loaded with apocalyptic imagery amidst dark-hearted romanticism.
Gojira Is a Sight to Behold
After a performance like this, it’s hard not to be consumed by hyperbole and declare Gojira the best live metal act on the planet right now.
Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats: The Night Creeper
Because of a lack of movement and variation from track to track, The Night Crawler sounds terminally one dimensional.
Earth: Primitive and Deadly
Primitive and Deadly may be the dawning of another new era for the Seattle legends.
Mastodon: Once More ‘Round the Sun
Mastodon's Once More 'Round the Sun condenses the prog of Crack the Skye into the structures and trademarks of hard rock.
Killer Be Killed: Killer Be Killed
Killer Be Killed neuters the creativity/ability each member possesses and instead favours a dumbed-down, sum-of-its-parts approach to appeal to a wider metal audience.
Triptykon: Melana Chasmata
Besides the spectrum of otherwordly darkness and light that permeates Melana Chasmata, it is completely human. And with that comes the burden of imperfections that hunger to offset the moments of true greatness.
Mixtarum Metallum IX: The Ides of March and the Death of April’s Fools
Mixtarum Metallum IX is consumed by ten deadly albums chained, or loosely chained, to metal’s monolith.
Floor: Oblation
On Oblation, Floor stick within the confines of the sound they created well over a decade ago.
Cult Leader: Nothing For Us Here
Borne of hard times, Nothing For Us Here, Cult Leader's debut EP for Deathwish, doesn’t lose a drop of the nihilism that made Gaza's music so overwhelming and startlingly ferocious.
