Sleeping Village Reviews
  • REVIEWS & PREMIERES
  • ARCHIVES
    • OLDE REVIEWS
    • OLDE INTERVIEWS
    • OLDE FEATURES
    • OLDE PREMIERES
  • SUBMIT FOR REVIEW!

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: April 23rd, 2021, Feat. Frog Mallet, AntiMozdeBeast, Akiavel, and The Last Martyr

4/23/2021

0 Comments

 
Every Friday, a wagon arrives at the Sleeping Village’s crumbling gates, stuffed to the brim with our sustenance for the following week. Today is the day we must offload all this week's new and noteworthy music, and so, in the process, we thought it would be worthwhile to share some of our choice picks from this veritable mass of fresh meat. This is what we’ll be--and have been--listening to this week at the Village HQ. We hope you join us in doing so! 

All of today's releases are independently released, so show 'em some support!

​On the docket for today, April 23rd, 2021:
Frog Mallet, AntiMozdeBeast, Akiavel, and The Last Martyr

Picture
Frog Mallet - Dissection by Amphibian
(Independent Release)

Never before have I stated that the ribbits go hard as fuck, but here we are. On their debut album, Boston's own Frog Mallet promises, to quote, "mallet slamming death metal fit for only the beefiest of frogs." And, I am happy to report, they ain't joking. The excellent Dissection by Amphibian  is a delightfully enjoyable experience, defined by a good-humored self-awareness that is rivaled only by the sheer quality of the tunes themselves. Utilizing frog-centric samples to their fullest extent, Frog Mallet seamlessly weave the overt thematic content with riffage of the highest neanderthalian order. Having your skull bludgeoned into pulp whilst wearing a grin isn't a particularly common experience, but these guys pull off the balance between brutality and fun with great aplomb.  Of particular note is the impressive cast of featured musicians--from Undeath to Bodysnatcher and beyond, the talent pool/swamp represented on this release is pretty damn deep. Check it out!

Find it on bandcamp here! 

Picture
AntiMozdeBeast - The Ritual
(Independent Release)
​

​It ain't a successful Fresh Meat Friday, I've always said, unless it features an entry that deliberately defies categorization. This latest experimental experience from AntiMozdeBeast fits the bill more than adequately. Indeed, across these wild and wacky five tracks, one never knows what to expect. A flurry awaits: a frenetic barrage of harsh electronics, pulsating percussion, cacophonous murmurs, unhinged screams,  The Ritual is a deeply intense and immersive listening experience--there's something unsettlingly hypnotic about the sheer sonic and aesthetic chaos. Strange is still the best descriptor I can come up with, which, if we're measuring success by existential befuddlement, seems like a big win.

Perpetually unpredictable by design, The Ritual  sounds like the soundtrack to sci-fi hell. If you like experimental or avant-garde stuff, you will undoubtedly enjoy what AntiMozdeBeast ​has to offer.

​Find it on bandcamp here!


Read More
0 Comments

VALGRIND - Condemnation (Review)

6/15/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Written by: Blackie Skulless

It took me only a couple seconds to realize that the band was not named after the programming tool of the same name, but in relation to Valhalla. Considering the ancient themes and warlike attitude of the music, this would become quite obvious. Condemnation is the forth record by the Italian death metal quartet, dropping loads of life and layers on what is a generally darker sound.

For a good majority of Condemnation, the songs avoid the typical layout, and instead build themselves on unconventional riff patterns and sprinkle in melodeath tactics. Those allow for extra bridges thrown into areas that don’t necessarily lead into a solo, but perhaps an entirely different sequence of sounds. Depending on the transitions, this can help or hurt. Some points feel natural, as if they go above and beyond the norm. “Divination - Marked By The Unknown” is one of the best tracks here, as it blends this with heavy synth presence, ultimately kicking out a longer track. The doomy outro of the title track was also a neat touch.


Read More
0 Comments

ABORTED - La Grande Mascarade (Review)

4/28/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
I’ve spent, in retrospect, perhaps a little bit too much time in my life waxing poetic about Aborted. I’ve rambled about their latest full length, TerrorVision, at pretty much every opportunity afforded. It’s safe to say I have a deep love for this band--but yet, there is no single album in their discography that I consider a god-tier achievement. Rather, each subsequent effort they release stands as an accomplishment as a piece in a larger puzzle: Aborted’s nigh-untouchable legacy. They have, as far as I’m concerned, never released a dud, despite a stupidly complex rotating cast of characters. Marked consistency is the name of the game, and on La Grande Mascarade, their latest three-track EP, these revered pros deliver another satisfying slab of desecrated death metal meat.


Read More
0 Comments

GODDESS OF FATE - The Orchard Gardener (Review)

10/19/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Yogyakarta, Indonesia is a long way from the humble halls of the Sleeping Village, but, much like the plague that riddles our haggard inhabitants, proggy melodeath knows no borders. In that spirit, we’re breaking out the latest single from Yogyakarta’s own Goddess of Fate. “The Orchard Gardener” represents a tidy breakdown of composition: in the band’s words, “this single is 50% progressive metal and 50% ‘everything else.’” And I’ll be damned, that somehow isn’t mere hyperbole. While the blend may not appear entirely seamless, Goddess of Fate rip it up with a meaty conglomerate of blastbeats, melodeath riffing, tech shredding, acoustic-backed chanting, harsh screams, and (prerequisite) proggy passages. A distinctly jig-esque riff forms the bookends, lending the 7-and-a-half-minutes an epic quality that stretches across the entirety.


Read More
0 Comments

SOILWORK– Verkligheten

1/12/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Written by: Loveloth

Sweden's melodic death scene changed a lot since its inception and its titans followed suite, some for the worse (*coughs* In Flames,) and some for the better. Soilwork falls into the latter and for me, their peak was none other than The Ride Majestic, their previous effort and Dirk Verberuen (who I'll call the Dirk from this point on) played a big role in making that ride truly majestic. Ten and a half months later the Dirk leaves the band to join Megadeth (still salty about that) and suddenly, I became a bit nervous for their upcoming record.

Two Night Flight Orchestra records later (read as three and a half years) Soilwork set off 2019 with Verkligheten, their overall eleventh release which also ended their longest gap between said releases, and is the first with Bastian Thusgaard behind the kit. With great expectations and big shoes to fill, the spotlight turns to Soilwork. It's time to see how Verkligheten fares in their discography.

All that we came to love about new Soilwork is still present. Those mighty riffs, huge, catchy choruses, Strid's brilliant vocals, blistering drumming, subtle yet very present keyboard work, it's all here, but things are a bit different. This becomes more apparent the longer we hang out with Verkligheten. After a solid but not that needed intro, Arrival explodes and soars above you and engulfs you with its majesty. The song barrages you with blastbeats, swift yet deadly tremolo picks, and a chorus powerful enough to move a mountain and somehow give Scar Symmetry a run for their money. It all seems standard Soilwork, but then Full Moon Shoals arrives with its cello, ethereal atmosphere, and the most NWOBHM riff I heard since... since The Night Flight Orchestra's latest record. This is where Verkligheten stands out. NFO's classic and hard rock sensibilities crept up into Soilwork's established formula, and the results will make or break the record, depends on your stance. Dynamics (this word again) is the key player, and Full Moon Shoals use them to the absolute limit. Just when you start humming along the chorus, a thrashy break appears but it's not over as the band decides to treat your ear sockets with the heaviest moment on the record.

Picture
While all the tracks are enjoyable, some clearly stand out. Personal favourite When The Universe Spoke foregoes the 80's and thrusts us back in familiar, blastbeat-filled waters. Not only is this violent and heavy but it's also uplifting and almost hypnotic with its constant flow of double-bass hits.

Surprises are plentiful here but perhaps the biggest one was the addition of the mighty Toni Joutsen on Needles And Kin . Be warned, it's not what you expect. Just as with Alissa White-Gluz's clean vocals on Stålfågel, Joutsen just uses his growls but these are his most guttural and vile yet. So, both of the guests did the exact opposite of what I expected and things are looking good, right? Well, yes, but some things need to be mentioned.
Picture
First off, the production. It's sounds like your run-of-the-mill modern metal record, but the drums are way too overpowering and the keyboards lack true presence. Secondly, Bastian. Filling the Dirk's shoes was impossible considering his age and that's fine, he'll improve. I am slightly annoyed by his one-note approach but have no fear as this doesn't ruin the record, far from it. The Wolves Are Back In Town and Bleeder Despoiler are just some of the bangers you'll come across. Tracks like Witan and The Ageless Whisper, however, feel a bit clumsy.

With Verkligheten, Soilwork started a new exciting chapter of their rich, 24 year long career and I am pleased. While it fails to reach the highs The Ride Majestic, I cannot deny their passion, energy and ability to make brutal yet accessible music. If you're wondering what is the best place to start your Soilwork journey (if you haven't of course), well, you're looking at it. I am already liking 2019, and you will (hopefully) after hearing Verkligheten.

Soilwork - Verkligheten (released Jan. 11th, 2018 from Nuclear Blast)
0 Comments

    Welcome!

    We provide thoughtful reviews of music that is heavy, gloomy...and loud enough to wake us from slumber. Written by a highfalutin peasantry!


    What are ye
    ​ 
    looking for?

    All
    2020
    420
    Acoustic
    Adam Paris
    Albums Of The Decade
    Albums Of The Year
    Alex Bringer Of Payne
    Alternative
    Alternative Metal
    Alternative Rock
    Alt Metal
    Alt Rock
    Ambient
    Ambient Metal
    Americana
    Ancienthand
    Ancient Hand
    Anti-imperialist
    AOR
    Aoty
    Apocalypse
    Art Rock
    Arzou
    Atmoblack
    Atmospheric
    Atmospheric Black Metal
    Atmospheric Doom
    Avant Garde
    Avant-garde
    Avant Garde Black Metal
    Avant Garde Death Metal
    Ballad
    Band Merch
    Bane Ov Silence
    Baroque Metal
    Beaston Lane
    Beatdown
    Bestial
    Best Of The Year 2018
    Blackened
    Blackened Crust
    Blackened Death
    Blackened Deathcore
    Blackened Death Metal
    Blackened Doom
    Blackened Grind
    Blackened Metal
    Blackened Punk
    Blackened Sludge
    Blackened Thrash
    Blackgaze
    Blackie Skulless
    Black Metal
    Black N Roll
    Black Thrash
    Blastbeasts
    Blastbeats
    Blood Metal
    Blues
    Blues Metal
    Blues Rock
    Breakcore
    Breakdown
    British Metal
    Brutal
    Brutal Death Metal
    Cantina
    Captain's Chronicles
    Captains Chronicles
    Capt Graves
    Carlos
    Cavern Death Metal
    Chaotic Death Metal
    Chaotic Hardcore
    Chaotic Metal
    Chinese Metal
    Chiptune
    Christian Metal
    Classic Albums
    Classical Crossover
    Classic Doom
    Classic Metal
    Classic Rock
    Comic
    Community Favorites
    Compilation
    Continuous Thunder
    Core
    Cosmic
    Cosmic Death Metal
    Country
    Cover Songs
    Crossover
    Crossover Thrash
    Crust
    Crust Punk
    Cyberpunk
    Dark Ambient
    Dark Metal
    Dark Pop
    Dark Rock
    Dbeat
    D-beat
    Deathcore
    Death Doom
    Death-doom
    Deathgrind
    Death Metal
    Death Thrash
    Debut Album
    Demo
    Depressive Black Metal
    Desert Rock
    Digital Hardcore
    Disco
    Dissonant
    Dissonant Black Metal
    Djent
    Doom
    Doom Death
    Doomgaze
    Doom Metal
    Doom Punk
    Doomviolence
    Double Review
    Dreampop
    Dream Pop
    Drone
    Dsbm
    Dungeons And Dragons
    Dungeon Synth
    Dungeon Synth Sunday
    Ecological
    Editorial
    Edm
    Electronic
    Electronic Rock
    Emo
    EP
    Epic Doom
    Epic Heavy Metal
    Epic Metal
    EP's
    Experimental
    Experimental Black Metal
    Experimental Electronic
    Extreme Metal
    Fantasy
    Favorite Music
    Finnish Metal
    Florida Death
    Folk
    Folk Black Metal
    Folk Metal
    Folk Rock
    Free Jazz
    Fresh Meat Friday
    Funeral Doom
    Fuzz
    Garage Rock
    German Heavy Metal
    Glam Metal
    Glam Rock
    Gore
    Goregrind
    Goth
    Gothic
    Gothic Metal
    Goth Metal
    Goth Rock
    Grind
    Grindcore
    Groove Metal
    Grunge
    Guest Post
    Guest Review
    Hair Metal
    Hallucinatory Black Death Metal
    Hardcore
    Hardcore Doom
    Hardcore Punk
    Hardcore Sludge
    Hard Rock
    Heavy Grinder
    Heavy Metal
    Heavy Psych
    Heavy Rock
    Hip Hip
    Hip Hop
    Horror
    Hxc
    Icelandic
    Immigrant Core
    Immigrind
    Indie
    Indie Rock
    Indonesia
    Industrial
    Industrial Metal
    Industrial Rock
    Instrumental
    Italian Metal
    Izzy
    Japanese Metal
    Jazz
    Legends
    Lichtmensch
    Lord Hsrah
    Lovecraft
    Loveloth
    Lunar Fanatic
    Mathcore
    Mathgrind
    Math Rock
    Melodeath
    Melodic Black Metal
    Melodic Death Metal
    Melodic Doom
    Melodic Metal
    Memorial
    Merch
    Metal
    Metalcore
    Metalhead World
    Metallic Hardcore
    METAL MENAGERIE
    Metal Reivews
    Metalreviews
    Metal Reviews
    Mid Year List
    Mid-year List
    Miscellaneous
    Modern Rock
    Murder Metal
    Music Review
    Music Video
    Mystic
    Negative Reviews
    Neofolk
    Nerdy
    New Age
    New Music
    Nintendocore
    Noise
    Noise Rock
    Nu Metal
    NWOBHM
    NWOTHM
    Occult
    Occult Rock
    Old School Death Metal
    OSDM
    Ozzy Osbourne
    Pagan Metal
    Peasantrys Picks
    Pirate Metal
    Pop
    Pop Metal
    Pop Punk
    Pop Rock
    Portal
    Post-black
    Post Black Metal
    Post-black Metal
    Post-classical
    Post Doom
    Post-doom
    Post-genre
    Post Hardcore
    Post-hardcore
    Post Metal
    Post-metal
    Post Punk
    Post-punk
    Post Rock
    Post-rock
    Post Sludge
    Post-sludge
    Power Electronics
    Power Metal
    Powerviolence
    Prehistoric
    Preorder
    Prog Metal
    Progressive Black Metal
    Progressive Death Metal
    Progressive Metal
    Progressive Rock
    Prog Rock
    Psychedelic
    Psych Rock
    Punk
    Punk Rock
    Raw Black Metal
    Raw Sludge
    Record Label
    Reese
    Reissue
    Relaxing
    Release Day Roundup
    Remix
    Re-recording
    Retro Rock
    Retrospective Review
    Review Off
    Review Redux
    Reviews
    Riffs
    Rock
    Rock N Roll
    Roots Rock
    Sabbath
    Sabbath Sunday
    Sadboi
    Saxophone
    Sci Fi
    Sci-fi
    Scorpi
    Screamo
    Shane Thirteen
    Shoegaze
    Short Reviews
    Singer-songwriter
    Ska
    Skramz
    Slam
    Sleeping Village Records
    Sleeping Village Sampler
    Slipknot
    Sludge
    Sludge Metal
    Soliloquist
    Solo Act
    Sound Design
    Soundtrack
    South America
    Southern Rock
    Space
    Space Rock
    Speed Metal
    Split
    Star Wars
    Statement Of Intent
    Stenchcore
    Stoner
    Stoner Doom
    Stoner Metal
    Stoner Rock
    Story Review
    Stream
    Surf Rock
    Swedeath
    Swedish Death Metal
    Symphonic Metal
    Synth
    Synth Metal
    Synthpop
    Synthwave
    Talesofdeception
    Techdeath
    Tech Death
    Technical Death Metal
    Texas
    The Administrator
    The Dungeon Awaits
    The Voiceless Apparation
    Thevoicelessapparition
    The Voiceless Apparition
    The Voiceless Appartition
    Thrash
    Thrashcore
    Thrash Metal
    Threefoldtreatise
    Tom
    Torture Doom
    Track-premiere
    Track Review
    Track Reviews
    Trad Doom
    Traditional Doom
    Traditional Metal
    Trad Metal
    Tribute Album
    True Doom
    Trve Doom
    Underground
    Usbm
    Vaporwave
    Vattghern
    Visual Review
    Volt Thrower
    War Metal
    Weird
    Zombie

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • REVIEWS & PREMIERES
  • ARCHIVES
    • OLDE REVIEWS
    • OLDE INTERVIEWS
    • OLDE FEATURES
    • OLDE PREMIERES
  • SUBMIT FOR REVIEW!