LOMMI – 667788 Review

By ClarkKent

LOMMI first formed in 2007, but these Swedes are essentially digital ghosts. You’d think an 18-year history would at least come with a multi-album discography, but I have no idea what these guys have done between then and the release of their latest (and possibly only) album, 667788. A Google search mostly pulls results for Tommy Iommi; they have no dedicated page on Metal Archives; and even their label, Majestic Mountain Records, has zilch about them on their site. This lack of a written history leads me to have some doubts about the promo’s claim that these guys are a “formidable force in [Sweden]’s heavy metal underground.” Still, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe they’re just too trve to have built up a digital presence. The promo blurb also states that 667788 was a “decade in the making,” so maybe these guys were just really busy with life. With these scant details at our fingertips, it’s time to play a dangerous, but exciting, game of promo bin roulette.

Turns out my doubts were ill-founded: 667788 is a blast. The promo describes LOMMI as traditional/groove metal, and while this isn’t the first style that popped into my head when I pressed play, it’s also not inaccurate. They rely on heavy, low-tuned guitars and chunky bass riffs to lay down infectious grooves. The bass line on “Down” carries strong influences of Pantera’s groove classic “Walk,” if Pantera were stoner doom. Stoner doom, to my ears, best describes their sound. The opening guitars on “Sayonara” bring to mind a cleaner, less fuzzy High on Fire, and the epic riffs and cymbal-drenched percussion on “Rather” conjure The Sword. They also sprinkle a little blues and a not-insignificant pinch of grunge, from Alice in Chains to Stone Temple Pilots. I can’t help but think of “Vaseline” when Jens Florén sings “There’s a fly in my room and it keeps me awake” on “Wish.”

While this might make them sound like a clumsily cobbled-together Frankensteinian monster, LOMMI plays with a high level of swagger. This swagger is apparent when Florén cackles on “Sayonara” and throws out a “yeah!” here and there. It’s also there in his thick and meaty guitar riffs, such as those that open the raucous “Blood Moon.” Florén’s voice evokes the spirit of Lemmy from Motorhead and his riffs carry the energy of Rob Zombie. He’s not the only source of the swagger, though. Dennis Österdal’s other band, Transport League, may have been trashed by Grier six years ago, but his bass serves as the backbone on “Down” and “Children,” adding healthy doses of heft and groove. To quote the BFG, that blues-y bass line on “Children” is “scrumdiddlyumptious.” Jörgen Tjusling proves a formidable presence behind the kit. He sets a disciplined, mid-tempo pace, though he occasionally goes ape-wild on the cymbals. There’s a moment on the back half of “Sayonara” where he summons Black Sabbath a lá “War Pigs.”

From the simple song titles to the tight songwriting, this trio seeks to prove the mantra that “less is more,” no matter how many times Angry Metal Guy quotes Yngwie Malmsteen’s “more is more” counterpoint. Over 8 songs, LOMMI provides 38 minutes of no-frills, high-octane fun. However, there are a few momentum-killing moments where songs meander with little purpose. Unsurprisingly, these moments occur on the only two tracks that surpass 5 minutes. While “Blood Moon” has some of my favorite riffs, the final few minutes go into freestyle jam session mode, where your mileage may vary. On “Children,” the bookends are terrific, but the middle portion feels like an entirely different, more sluggish song, a rare moment where the band seems unsure how to fill the time. These few minutes are just a minor issue, however, on an otherwise rollicking record.

667788 just may have put LOMMI on the map; at the very least, it put them on my map. It proves not just the prowess of the individual performers, but their songwriting acumen. Despite their limited credentials, they play as if they were masters of the craft, and that’s saying something for what is possibly a debut album. This one took me completely by surprise, and it’s one of those records where 750 words just isn’t enough to say everything I want to. Hopefully, it doesn’t take another decade to write the follow-up, but if you put out a record this good, who’s to dispute the process? If you love big riffs and big fun, don’t miss out on these guys.

Rating: 4.0/5.0
DR: 10 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Majestic Mountain Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: August 1st, 2025

#2025 #40 #667788 #AliceInChains #Aug25 #BlackSabbath #Blues #DoomMetal #GrooveMetal #Grunge #HighOnFire #LOMMI #MajesticMountainRecords #Motörhead #Pantera #Review #Reviews #RobZombie #StoneTemplePilots #StonerMetal #SwedishMetal #TheSword #TransportLeague #YngwieMalmsteen

Blood Vulture – Die Close Review

By Saunders

Corpse-painted host and comedian of metal show Two Minutes to Late Night, Jordan Olds (aka Gwarsenio Hall), spearheaded some nifty entertainment during the height of the pandemic. Snapping up the limited release digital covers EPs during Bandcamp Fridays allowed me to net some cool stuff. Olds and a host of musicians, including Chelsea Wolfe and members of Dillinger Escape Plan, Mastodon, Mutoid Man, Royal Thunder, and Baroness amongst others, put their wacky spin on a variety of metal anthems and other classic tunes. Olds demonstrated his own impressive musical talents with axe and mic. Keen to substitute his comedic background for a darker, decidedly more serious musical quest, Olds unleashes his Blood Vulture project, crafting a curious debut album entitled Die Close. Boasting a doomy, gloomy, though deceptively versatile and hard-hitting opus, can Blood Vulture muster up the chops and songwriting substance to match the style and impressive musicianship? Die Close features an intriguing melting pot of styles and influences. Doom forms the beating heart of the beast, complimented by elements of sludge, ’90s grunge/alt rock, moody, scarlet dappled Goth, and a touch of camp. Influences are worn proudly on sleeves. Channeling the raw heft of Crowbar, somber hues of contemporary doom heavyweights Khemmis and Pallbearer, along with the addictive harmonies of Alice In Chains, there is nary a dull moment. Blood Vulture boast the songwriting sparks to rise above derivation. Temptation to load up his debut with a convoluted cast of musical guests and friends would have been high. On this front, star power features, but is not overdone, including contributions from Jade Puget (AFI), Shadows Fall frontman Brian Fall, and Kristin Hayter (Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter, Lingua Ignota). Meanwhile, Stephen Brodsky (Cave In, Mutoid Man) and friends lend vocal harmonies on the excellent “Die Close: Finale,” a brooding, grungy, and uplifting closer. Outside of these carefully curated guest spots, by all accounts Olds handles tasks single-handedly, including vocals, guitars, bass, and synths, aided by drummer Moe Watson. Following a shortish, mood-setting opener, Die Close kicks in proper via the leaden sludge-doom riffage and infectious Jerry Cantrell-esque vocal hooks on “An Embrace in the Flood.” The song’s straightforward building blocks deftly shift through surprising turns, including a brief barrage of blast beats and cascading solo, coupled with gorgeous vocal harmonies. A powerful melodic current flows through the album, exemplified through Old’s versatile clean vox, array of elegant solos, and mood-driven, shadowy synths. However, the melodic elements are powerfully counterpunched by a foundation of meaty doom and sludge riffs, lending the album its heavier, weighty edge. Substantial heft dominates the riff palette, heavily featured on cuts such as the gritty crunch of “Grey Mourning,” and the storming throes of “Abomination.” Blood Vulture’s versatility and knack for infectious songcraft shine. Swathed in dreamy atmospheres and built upon a sturdy foundation of grinding riffs, “Entwined” features a wonderful dual vocal performance from Olds and Hayter, the latter’s dramatic, ghostly presence a highlight.

For all its notable strengths, gripping guitar work, and towering hooks, Die Close has a few hiccups expected from a debut album. The two shorter introductory and interlude pieces are decent enough, yet ultimately disposable, while the stronger moments and soaring melodies on the Gothy melodrama of “A Dream About Starving to Death” are tripped up by some overly goofy lyrical and vocal turns. Nevertheless, outside of these minor sore spots, Die Close is consistently entertaining and occasionally gripping at its potent best. Olds still displays some tongue-in-cheek humor and horror shtick, also reflected in the accompanying music videos, though overall, Die Close is a dark and brooding album. Expectedly, Olds is the star of the show, defined by his excellent guitar work and standout vocals. Vocally, Olds shifts between several modes, showcasing solid range, character, and emotional depth.

Blood Vulture came from nowhere, unleashing a fresh, emotive and punchy blast of doomy heft, blockbuster hooks and haunting harmonies. Bolstered by stellar performances and addictive songwriting, where the album’s earwormy hooks and stronger material showcase Olds as a serious artist on the rise, Die Close signals an assured and confident debut. A few kinks aside, Die Close is a hugely enjoyable album that’s well worth a listen and should cement Blood Vulture as an exciting new voice in the doomsphere.

Rating: 3,5/5.0
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Pure Noise Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: June 27th, 2025

#2025 #35 #AFI #AmericanMetal #BloodVulture #CaveIn #ChelseaWolfe #Crowbar #DieClose #DillingerEscapePlan #DoomMetal #Grunge #LinguaIgnota #Mastodon #MutoidMan #PureNoiseRecords #ReverendKristinMichaelHayter #Review #Reviews #RoyalThunder #ShadowsFall #Sludge

Stuck in the Filter: April 2025’s Angry Misses

By Kenstrosity

The cicadas have passed, the brood has bred. And now, it’s all being washed away by a constant deluge of heavy rain and hail amidst thunderous storm of increasing intensity. I imagine those skyborne rumblings shudder every wall of the ducts where my minions toil. I am sure they are frightened, claustrophobic, and soaked. And yet, they persist under my demanding and ruthless management—all so you can have more of what you already get every day in these halls.

Show your appreciation for what we bring to you, and enjoy ov deep Filter!

Kenstrosity’s Biblically-Accurate Beast

Ancient Death // Ego Dissolution [April 18th, 2025 – Profound Lore Records]

A lot of people pine for Death. We know this due to the sheer number of Death worship acts out there, most of which operate eternally under that legend’s shadow. Less common, however, are acts of worship in the service of underground-er heroes The Chasm. Thankfully, Massachusetts death metal quartet Ancient Death take on this mantle, blending much Death and The Chasm inspo with their own curated, abyssal sound. Everything here hearkens back to the ways of olde, but updated to feel relevant in the modern era. Such as this is the case, opening salvos “Ego Dissolution” and “Breaking the Barriers of Hope” strike while the iron is hot, piercing through all expectation with sharp riffs, evolving passages, and dynamic shifts in structure. So effective is this attack strategy that even instrumental aberrations like “Journey to the Inner Soul” feel story driven and purposeful. Standout tracks like “Breathe – Transcend (Into the Glowing Streams of Forever),” “Echoing Chambers Within the Dismal Mind,” and “Unspoken Earth” steal the show, however, boasting Ancient Death’s best riffs, a downright surprising display of vocal versatility, and disgusting solos and dive bombs. It needs time and dedicated spins to bloom and come alive, though, which may discourage listeners hoping for a cheap fix. But trust me, it’s worth the investment!

Killjoy’s Flavorful Feasts

Malphas // Extinct [April 11th, 2025 – Soulseller Records]

If I’m to enjoy no-frills black metal, it needs to have lots of hooks. In this sense, Switzerland’s Malphas had their priorities straight while writing Extinct. Their melodic guitar leads may not be as exuberant or exaggerated as, say, Moonlight Sorcery’s, but they have a thrashy flair which is just as much fun. Once the riffs captured my attention, they reeled me in for a battering vocal assault of coarse barks and spiteful snarls. Drummer Jöschu Käser (also of Aara and many others) can play seemingly any rhythm or tempo, best exemplified across the entirety of “Butcher’s Broom.” This is key for Malphas to prove they have the nuance to pull off mid-paced tempos (“Majestic Moon,” “Consumed,” “Armada Christi”), a quality that I find important in black metal. There are a few neat little surprises as well, like the piano section midway through “Majestic Moon” and the icy synths popping up momentarily in the instrumental closer “Astral Dissonance.” Fans of engaging and catchy meloblack won’t want to miss out on Extinct.

Svnth // Pink Noise Youth [April 18th, 2025 – These Hands Melt]

You’ve likely heard of white noise, but what about its counterpart, pink noise? Whereas white noise contains equal amounts of all frequencies audible to humans, pink noise favors lower frequencies and is generally considered to be easier on the ears. Likewise, Pink Noise Youth, Svnth’s fourth album, is a remarkably pleasant listen. This unassuming post-black group from Rome, Italy has evolved considerably since Cherd’s review of 2020’s Spring in Blue. The familiar glossy guitar tremolos and chords now have an unexpected companion: the electric sitar. This newcomer is mainly supportive, with stray notes and lines drizzled atop the already dreamy guitars for extra sweetness. There are spicier moments, too, like the punky riffs and d-beats peppered with rasping barks that kick off “Winter Blues.” There’s also a much greater prevalence of clean singing this time around, Rodolfo Ciuffo’s hypnotic intonation complements the chunky post-metal of “Perfume” as easily as the carefree guitar strumming in “Nairoby Lullaby.” Gone are the overlong, meandering tracks of before; Pink Noise Youth gets straight to the point with sharper songs hovering in the 5-minute range across a tight 37 minutes in total. Svnth seem determined to make the post-black genre their own and, by all indications, it’s working.

Owlswald’s Wide-Eyed Wonders

Game Over // Face the End [April 25th, 2025 – Scarlet Records]

In the absolutely loaded month that was April, two records surprised these owl ears enough to earn regular spots in my playlist. First up is Game Over’s sixth full-length, Face the End. These Italian thrashers have been peddling their version of the Bay Area sound since 2009, yet this is somehow my first encounter with them. Following the departure of co-founder/bassist/vocalist Renato Chiccoli, Game Over revamped its lineup, bringing in Danny Schiavina on vocals and Leonard Molinari on bass. This refreshed five-piece delivers a newly polished sound, making Face the End the most fun I’ve had with a thrash album in recent memory. “Grip of Time,” “Weaving Fate” and “Veil of Insanity” showcase Game Over’s mastery of Testament and Exodus-level aggression while “Neck Breaking Dance” offers a light-hearted pit call reminiscent of early Anthrax. Alessandro Sansone’s and Luca Zironi’s fast and forceful down-picking, melodic leads and flashy solos run over Anthony Dantone’s rock-solid drumming, all within a crisp and powerful production with ample punch. Schiavina’s charismatic, high-flying vocals immediately grab your attention on “Lust for Blood,” never relinquishing their grasp as they transmit their 70s and 80s horror-inspired themes above abundant gang vocals. In a genre plagued by inconsistency, Face the End is everything I want my thrash to be—aggressive, dynamic and fun.

Kiritsis // Kiritsis [April 4th, 2025 – Wise Blood Records/Pout Records]

Next up is the ruthless sludge and hardcore of Kiritsis. I hope you checked your fun at the door because this Indianapolis-based quartet isn’t here to make friends. Formed by members of Trenches, Hatesong, and Sundown, Kiritsis’ self-titled debut is here to punch you square in the face and take your lunch money. Over the course of thirty-one minutes, this foursome bludgeons listeners with uncompromisingly heavy doses of abrasive distortion, hard-hitting beats and pure unadulterated anger, all slathered in a blackened layer of Carcass-like filth. Blake Henry’s roars and rasps tear through your speakers with pure vitriol and torment, perfectly complementing Eric Mason’s grim riffing, Bill Scott’s demonic bass growls and Nik Jensen’s weighty drum strikes. “Like the Taste,” “Pissant” and “Deny.Defend.Dispose” embody a Will Haven spirit with a barrage of penetrating, assaulting riffs and pounding half-time slams underpinning Henry’s blood-curdling screams. Meanwhile, the sorrowful and doom-tinged “It Ain’t Easy” and “Thieves and Fools” drag you into anguish-ridden depths, draped in their dark, hopeless atmospheres and plodding facades. You won’t find any overly technical or flashy music here—this is pure hatred and loathing in a tight, cathartic package, meant to blast at high volume while you fuck shit up.

Tyme’s Grungy Gift

Melvins 1983 // Thunderball [April 18th, 2025 – Ipecac Recordings]

Hot on the heels and building off of 2024’s Tarantula Heart, stalwart grunge/sludge rock icon Buzz Osborne has teamed back up with original drummer Mike Dillard for Melvins 1983‘s third release and first in four years, Thunderball. This time around, Osborne and Dillard have partnered with experimental electronic artists Void Manes and Ni Maîtres to deliver yet another in a long line of inimitable, don’t-give-a-fuck-what-you-think releases that have become synonymous with the Melvins brand. As influential a band as any going right now on sludgy noise rock emanating from garages across the world, I take note anytime a new Melvins project hits shelves. With Thunderball, Buzz ‘n company have delivered another tasty morsel packed with some o’ that Houdini-sweet heaviness (“King of Rome”) that sweats grunge like “Negative Creep.” A merging of shimmery post-rock with punky garage rock and bass-laden disso-doom that meanders to a close in a wash of plodding riffs and bleep-bloop electronics, “Victory of the Pyramids” is a decent summation of what you’ll find lurking around most of Thunderball‘s thirty-four minute, five track corners, as Void Manes and Ni Maîtres don’t so much enhance as they incorporate their particular brand of electronica into Thunderball‘s sonic aesthetic. As a newcomer still assimilating into the Melvin hive mind here at AMG, I still have the independent lock-step wherewithal to recommend Melvins 1983‘s Thunderball to those who might have missed it.

Dolphin Whisperer’s Ample Acquisitions

Emma Goldman // All You Are Is We [April 28th, 2025 – Zegema Beach Records]

Sassy is as sassy does or somethin’ like that. If you were wondering whether anarchist icon Emma Goldman came back to life to front a mathcore band, I’m sorry to report that that is not the case. However, if you’re in the ballpark for Canadian punks speedballin’ through skronked-out, strung-out chorus barks with a hundred words trapped in ten seconds, then Emma Goldman will be your ticket to a hot psych ward summer.1 From working class psychosis (“i don’t think much at all,” “this is your brain on minimum wage”) to patchwork insomniac ramblings as loaded as the cut-and-scan cover collage (“at rock bottom i was a piss girl,” “that is the land of lost content”), vocalist Victoria delivers a shredded flurry of barks, nags, and cries that pierce straight through the boomy mix. And though the rhythm guitars and bass pulse and industrial cracklings (particularly the two interlude scratches) register on the lower end of the sound spectrum, a fluid twang and tight, clanging snare find an abrasive balance throughout—two broken tones make a right. In under half an hour, All You Are Is We both breezes by in its effortless flow and brandishes passersby with heart-stained tirades and boiled-over emotion. Along with modern acts like Massa Nera and Blind Girls, Emma Goldman in bold, romantic, and unsettled rage makes a strong case for how true skramz can continue to evolve through rich musicianship, progressive leanings, all while maintaining an adherence to post-indebted builds (“it rubs the boycott ketchup on its brand new slacks,” “that is the land…”). And with a dollop more of that cathartic and capturing energy, Emma Goldman may yet charge with the notoriety of its namesake at the front of this genre pack.

Sonum // The Obscure Light Awaits [April 11th, 2025 – Dusktone]

As a product of a previous filter fetching, I had hoped to provide a lengthier statement on my enjoyment of Sonum’s sophomore outing The Obscure Light Awaits. You see, this Italian act has a knack for supplying death metal that holds true to the origins of dark and twisted riffage while still pushing at edges of richer composition in hypnotic rhythms. As a second attempt at deathly glory, The Obscure Light Awaits shows studio knowledge growth in a drum sound that highlights expansive cymbal textures and quick-turn tom rolls that power the mood-driven world in which Sonum inhabits. And in post-growing melodic builds—the kind of atmosphere that leans dissonant like the Ulcerate-channeling broodings of Devenial Verdict—Sonum shows that mood can swell and explode on the backs of horror-tinged orchestral accompaniment and creaking refrains (“Trapped in the Labyrinth of Aberration,” “Nobody Is Innocent”). Trimmed to a three-piece set for The Obscure Light Awaits, the focus that borders on self-similarity on this extended-length journey feels both intimate and indulgent—the closing psychedelic jam session certainly leans on the latter feeling. But with churning tremolo runs that lead to gruff-toned cries, the majority of what Sonum brings to the table lands in consistent and crushing effort (“In This Void We Dwell,” “Messenger of Cosmic Dread”). As a band still finding their footing in the grander scheme of the death metal universe, Sonum has a sense of identity that gives them a fighting edge. And though The Obscure Light Awaits wears its unique vision a little loose at the waist, its journey is well worth exploring.

Zmarłym // Wielkie Zanikanie [April 18th, 2025 – Godz of War Productions]

Once upon a time, Zmarłym fancied themselves a Polish sadboi act whose turmoil was wrapped in the urban decay of early COVID lockdown measures. And now that we’ve all stepped some distance—a safe distance you might say—away from that reality, Zmarłym has learned that the sad doesn’t dissipate quite that easily. Wielkie Zanikanie finds a familiar malaise in isolation, frustration, and a general defeated nature wrapped up in a longing black metal wane with post-punk and progressive undertones, much like you’d find on a record like Voice’s Frightened or Cursebinder’s Drifting. Blaring synth throbs give way to entrancing drum patterns and phase-shifting vocal howls (“Miejsca,” “Bunt maszyn”). Classic tremolo flurries raze playful energy to set the stage for sinister, blood-soaked cries (“Sny o lataniu,” “Plamy II”). And though a goofy mid-album Killing Joke-indebted romp—even a switch to heavy accent English from the brooding native tongue—threatens to break the sinister ambiance that Zmarłym explores throughout the rest of Wielkie Zanikanie, its soft and bouncy inclusions still find layering amongst smoldering black metal riffage. And as all elements come to join hands in the space-bound, synth squealing crescendo of the closing title track, Zmarłym has delivered an experience full of variety and surprise, curated to bore a hole into a mind searching for melancholy with a sense of adventure and play.

#2025 #Aara #AllYouAreIsWe #AmericanMetal #AncientDeath #Anthrax #Apr25 #BlackMetal #BlindGirls #Carcass #Cursebinder #Death #DeathMetal #DevenialVerdict #Dusktone #EgoDissolution #EmmaGoldman #Exodus #Extinct #FaceTheEnd #GameOver #GodzOfWarProductions #Grunge #Hardcore #Hatesong #IpecacRecordings #ItalianMetal #KillingJoke #Kirtisis #Malphas #MassaNera #Mathcore #MelodicBlackMetal #Melvins #Melvins1983 #Metal #MoonlightSorcery #NiMaîtres #PinkNoiseYouth #PolishMetal #PostBlackMetal #postPunk #PoutRecords #ProfoundLoreRecords #ProgressiveDeathMetal #Review #Reviews #ScarletRecords #Screamo #Sludge #SludgeMetal #SludgeRock #Sonum #SoulsellerRecords #StuckInTheFilter #StuckInTheFilter2025 #Sundown #Svnth #Swiss #Testament #TheChasm #TheObscureLightAwaits #TheseHandsMelt #ThrashMetal #Thunderball #Trenches #Ulcerate #Voices #VoidManes #WielkieZanikanie #WillHaven #WiseBloodRecords #ZegemaBeachRecords #Zmarłym