Hot on the heels of the March Record(s) o’ the Month comes the treasure trove for April. April had some heavy hitters, and the staff was as fractious as ever advocating for their anointed favorites. Naturally, AMG upper management listened dutifully, deliberated deeply, and made decisions guaranteed to peeve the underlings. This is the wiolence inherent in the system. This is AMG!!
Replicant’s blend of skronkified tech, disso, hardcore, and OSDM is not for the weak. It’s the sound of instability and mayhem with massive grooves, aggro vocals, and a penchant for herky-jerky, nerve-jangling twists, almost like a forced marriage of Demilich and Gorguts with Internal Bleeding vomiting all over the ceremony. On Infinite Mortality all these elements coalesce into a sickening cacophony of insanity that pushes the boundaries of extreme music as it fucks with your sense of reality. To call this uncompromising is to undersell how toxic the material is and what it can do to synapses with prolonged exposure. This is nasty, insane, contorted music that somehow holds together and makes sense even as it kicks your brain out. As a stunning Kennstrosity stammered, “It’s brutal, it’s smart as hell, and it’s a novel entry in the wild world of skronky death. You’d be remiss to let it pass you by.”
Runner(s) Up:
Inter Arma // New Heaven – Progressive blackened sludge/doom-death crew Inter Arma impressed the masses since they launched their earliest crusades. Fifth full-length New Heaven continues their evolution with a new product that sounds different than its predecessor while retaining the core of the Inter Arma sound. The doom elements are scarce, Portal influences dot the landscape, and the heaviness is insane. Forays into southern rock offer respite and the clash of influences and styles creates a warped, weird experience. It’s a fascinating ride though. As Cherd summed up, “Almost 20 years into their career, I’d say they can do no wrong.”
In Vain // Solemn – Progressive melodeath act In Vain have always been well-received by the AMG brew crew, with their 2018 Currents opus earning especially high praise from Angry Metal Guy Himself. Their slick blend of prog, folk, post-black, and melodeath is engaging and thoughtful, setting them apart from the melo-mob. While they can be pompous and pretentious at times, there’s no denying the quality of the writing and the talent involved as they create sweeping soundscapes and stunning vistas. As an equally pompous El Cuervo expressed, “Solemn is an awe-inspiring release and one that any fan of metal shouldn’t miss.”
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