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Hammer Horde - Under the Mighty Oath (2009):
MetalMessage.de (GER): 10/10 - Read review here
"The current grand debut album "Under the mighty Oath" now shows the five member heap of heroes as a breathtaking competent music group. The totally convincing pieces of this absolutely dream record, finished in fall 2008, was then mastered by Mika Jussila in the Finnfox studios, and the result is, mildly put, overwhelming."
Decibel Magazine: 9/10 - Read review here
"The group sing-along/drink-along/pillage-along chants, the interwoven melodic guitar lines, the battle drums—every element is recorded with care and precision. I know, in America! It’s like a miracle."
MetalReview.com: 8.8/10 - Read review here
"Under the Mighty Oath is an entirely triumphant debut record, and it's testament to the fact that you can still find gleaming gems in a sub-genre that's thoroughly flooded with competition. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised to see this work wriggle its way into some top ten lists at year end, it's just that solid."
Metal-Observer.com: 8.5/10 - Read review here
"The Ohioans master the split between powerful riffing and epic atmosphere (with different emphasis) and to be honest, “Under The Mighty Oath” just keeps getting better with each repeated listen, a fairly remarkable feat for a debut that deliberately stays away from the usual beaten path..."
MetalBite.com: 8.2/10 - Read review here
"All I say is to raise a tankard of ale high in the air and toast them all.... This rocks!! They tell Norse tales like none others around...they show great complexity that is delivered with such savageness that you could feel the unrelenting fury of attacking Norsemen as they took towns while slaughtering everyone that stood in their way."
MetalReporter.com: 7.5/10 - Read review here
"The vocals are one of the high points of “Under The Mighty Oath”. From grunts, screeches and growls to plenty of sing-a-long moments, this album has it all."
HardRockHaven.com: 7.5/10 - Read review here
"...the album launches into a series of blood-drenched odes to battle and glory that seamlessly weave crushing death metal heaviness, blistering black metal ferocity and pagan metal melodies and instrumentals."
Metal CD Ratings: 4/5 - Read review here
"The atmosphere they have created transcends borders and nationalities to create something that sounds as authentic as anything a Scandinavian or Finnish band could have come up with in their place."
TeethoftheDivine.com: - Read review here
"...you’d be hard pressed to fathom this as a release from a group of American-based black/death metallers as they have a perfect grasp on the slightly blackened, Viking/Pagan visage that’s rousing, majestic, and thoroughly enjoyable."
Metal-Temple.com: - Read review here
"All in all, this album is something new to the US metal scene judging by the Metalcore madness that reigns. HAMMER HORDE brought all the North European influences and by adding some of their ideas created a nice debut that can (and I think will) gather around them a solid fan base." |
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A Gruesome Find - Of Blood and Nobility (2007):
Leviathan-Magazine.com: 9/10 - Read review here
"The structure of the songs in “Of Blood…” display the ability of these guys to blend catchy rhythms, repetitive and aggressive riffs, and complex changes of tempo; a perfect example of this “Into the Realm of Darkness” a well timed, well executed song, that contains different speeds, and different riffs, providing expectation and a constant motivation to the listener."
SOD Magazine: 9 Skulls
"A Gruesome Find breaks the shackles of obscurity and blasts forth with the fully realized masterwork that is Of Blood and Nobility. Fans of Heavy Metal, with the emphasis on HEAVY, will find much to worship here as will fans of catchy blackened Thrash Metal, fans of Black Metal, fans of War Metal, fans of pagan Metal, and fans of metal...period!"
BurningMisery.com: 4/5
"The whole disk is full with awesome material and found out that I have more favorite tracks on this album release. The high-pitched vocals are unbelievable aggressive and sounds @#%!% killer as it should be with this kind of hellish attacks."
DeadTide.com: - Read review here
"This is really solid blackened death from Ohio, though you would probably think Sweden upon listening to it. Imagine Naglfar with vocals that sound like they have disotortion on them, but don't. I don't quite know how to describe them but the fact they appear to be a natural sound is pretty impressive."
PulltheChainZine: - Read review here
"...in a few words: death black metal insanity at its best (and another example of the good health of the American underground black metal scene). The twelve songs recorded here got everything you listen out for when checking out new bands: brutality, violence, melody all topped with a killer musicianship. "
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Forever Lost - Caverns of the Catastrophic (2006):
Metal Maniacs Firing Squad:
"Bearing The Jester Race comparisons with flying colors, Forever Lost take the In Flames guitar harmony style to other realms (as many acts have since), while incorporating plenty of chuggier, archetypical USDM elements, Blister-ing, solo-ridden stop/starts that reek of early Bodom and the moodiness of early-mid Opeth, blast through with Cynic/Death tenacity and a semi-hardcore-driven slam a la Darkest Hour and Unearth."
The Metal Hotline:
"They claim to be from Toledo, Ohio, but they sound like they are from an ancient land where the streets run red with the blood of dragons. Both of the songs they offer on their page, "Horizons of Vanquish" and "Beyond the Mortal Opus," present tweedly deedly melodic metal that is sure to please the ears of any friend of the Metal Hotline.
This is battle metal. Bring your armour and your swords." |
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A Gruesome Find - The Fire that Burns in Hell (2003):
Metal-Observer.com: 8/10 - Read review here
"The execution is very good, and I can't resist mentioning the great riffs again! Quality stuff and a great first release."
MetalMarch.com: 8/10
"One thing I really enjoy here is that an album like this can, not only please both fans of Black and Death Metal, but also make new fans of Death Metal through Black Metal and the other way around."
Mother Goat Webzine: 7/10
"A Gruesome Find's music is mainly upper mid-tempo/faster, although not hyperspeed, with some rather good riffs scattered throughout the album, and many decent sections."
Explicitly Intense Magazine:
"AGF blend all the classic elements of Black Metal with a fresh injection of young energy. There is originality all over this disc including a piano introduction reminiscent of Dissection. AGF have all the potential to surpass all expectation."
Live4Metal.com:
"There is a significant groove factor on many of the songs, resulting in a less chaotic approach than some in the BM circle. A Gruesome Find won't be mentioned in the same breath as Dark Funeral or Marduk, but they are certainly on the right track."
PulltheChainZine:
"...above all, the American four piece hits all the right notes by emulating and adapting patterns already heard in both first hour death metal and melodic black. " |
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A Gruesome Find - Ravens of the Full Moon Eclipse (2002):
Metal-Observer.com: 9/10 - Read review here
"Upon The Throne Of Chaos" then surprises me with more melodies, almost sounding like Symphonic Black now! This is a great song! Very good use of instrumentals, quite some melody and still heavy."
Into-Obscurity.com:
"True Ohioan Bleath Metal" adorns everything that pours out of the package that A Gruesome Find sent me. With a ridiculous self-proclaimed genre like this, it was hard to take them seriously. However, my laughter was quickly turned to surprise when I gave the disc, packaged in a DVD case, a listen. They're actually pretty @#%!% good.
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Sinister.com.au:
"The music is what counts, and this release surprised me somewhat unexpectedly when I pressed play.
'Ravens of the Full Moon Eclipse' being the first and stand out track, shows the best of what this band has to offer.
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Live4Metal.com:
"I just love these happenstance band discoveries. I got a copy of A Gruesome Find's Ravens of the Full Moon Eclipse from Mortician's tour guy/assistant (or whatever he is) and was quite impressed with the 5-song demo. It's a strong offering of black metal. Now I'm no black metal expert, but I know what I like, and these songs crushed my fat head with malevolent hatred." |
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