Here’s a great way to start a song: “Fuck you, Billy! Where is this going? You know, you’re dad’s in the bar, and he keeps calling for shots! Well, the lights in the bathroom, yeah, they’re whiter than heaven! And your sister’s boyfriends keeps looking at his — haw, ya know!” That’s how Sports Team start their new single “Billy.” They grab your attention right up top, and then they reward it.
The post Sports Team – “Billy” appeared first on Stereogum.
At the end of his TYMHM for Sworn’s A Journey Told Through Fire, Carcharodon proclaimed it the best record in the band’s twenty-year career. He also worried, considering their history of long gaps between releases, that it might take another five-plus years to release the next one. Well, Sworn alleviates any such fears with the release of album number five, Null Crowned the Infinite, only three years later. Now that our finned writer has taken a non-conspicuous break, he can enjoy the luxury of complaining about how much of an over/underrating bastard I am. As Carcharodon pointed out, A Journey Told Through Fire was an enthralling piece of melodic atmoblack containing a skillful blend of aggression and slow tempos. Still unsigned, Sworn continue to write the music they love and are ready to regale fans with yet another collection of their brand of Norwegian black metal.
On Null Crowned the Infinite, Sworn put on a display of melodic black metal in the vein of Vorga, blending a Walg-like aggression with slower, more atmospheric touches. At first glance, it seems as if the atmospheric stuff will win out. “The Starless Origin,” Sworn’s longest-ever composition at over 12 minutes, begins with a few minutes of ominous synths, and even when the song proper begins, it’s not until halfway through that the aggression kicks in. Though arguably too long, the tune displays some impressive riffcrafting and concludes on an incredible emotional payoff. From there, the record hits a much more furious pace. “Null Crowned the Infinite” is a bona fide banger, giving vocalist Max Wilson the opportunity to flex a melodic tint to his rasps atop the fantastic drumming and riffs. While cuts like “A Cosmic Storm” and “The Entropic Void” demonstrate more variety in pacing, “Fracture of Aeons” goes all out in a frenzied mix of speedy blast beats and melodic trems in what Sworn proclaims is their most aggressive song to date.
The performances on display reveal musicians at the peak of their skill and creativity. Behind the kit, Tom Klungland delivers a dose of unfettered energy, yet he goes beyond the typical black metal blast beat. His mid-tempo work highlights the suspense that builds on tracks like “The Starless Origin” and “A Cosmic Storm,” and he proves particularly acrobatic in the early goings of “The Entropic Void.” Christoffer Kjørsvik and Goran Hope’s guitars also provide ample jaw-dropping moments. That melodic lead on “Null Crowned the Infinite” is sublime, but tremolos aren’t the only trick they pull. That same song also highlights their ability to drop some plaintive acoustics, while arpeggios on “A Cosmic Storm” amp up the raw emotion on display. They also whip out elaborate solos that add an element of power metal and provide bursts of energy. The ever-potent Wilson delivers blackened growls that lend an icy harshness. He adds an edge to the (usually) more upbeat instrumental compositions while keeping in line with the high energy.
The one area Sworn struggle with, at least on Null Crowned the Infinite, is closure. It often feels as if Sworn are unsure of when, or how, to end their lengthy compositions. While the tracks on A Journey Told Through Fire contained some emotional payoffs in their closing moments, the same impact isn’t felt here as consistently. “Null Crowned the Infinite” misses an opportunity to end on the high note of an incredible solo when it instead adds another minute of repetitive riffs and blast beats. Similarly, “Fracture of Aeons” and “The Entropic Void” do a great job of building up towards a potentially powerful emotional climax, yet get stuck and never quite break out into the needed payoff. This isn’t just a problem for conclusions, either—”A Cosmic Storm” spends way too much time on its intro, and a few other mid-portion moments stall out as well. On the flip side, “Circle of the Eternal” proves that Sworn still know how to wield instrumental segments to great effect, ending the record on a high note thanks to a mixture of triumphant solos and catchy melodic trems.
So is Null Crowned the Infinite an improvement over A Journey Told Through Fire? Not quite, but it’s close. As a whole, the latter remains the superior record, but some individual moments on this one upstage individual songs on the prior. Despite its dark tones, the album feels like a triumph, the work of confident musicians who have hit their stride. Sworn have truly blossomed late in their career and have proven themselves a black metal band to keep on your radar. The momentum built in the final minutes left me breathless and wanting an encore as soon as humanly possible.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Self-Released
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook | Official Site
Releases Worldwide: September 4th, 2026
The post Sworn – Null Crowned the Infinite Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.
Thrash metal powerhouse HAVOK are proud to share the new single The Ultimate Weapon, alongside an official video, available below via BLKIIBLK. The band commented: “We’re excited to debut this new song right before our two headline tours begin. We’ll be playing The Ultimate Weapon live and look forward to hearing crowds shout the choruses […]
Hey everybody, a new and improved Dave Mustcomplain here.
My old lady and I just came back from church, and I’ll be goddamned if the Holy Spirit didn’t personally reach down and touch me on the tits. Said I need to be more open-minded and less filled with rage, yet here Doreen had been angry when I insisted we switch houses of worship after our pastor over at First Trinity went on an anti-ICE rant. Pretentious little shit.
Looks like I was right, because we move over to Faith Lutheran and BAM! God talks to me. This is fantastic, and I’ve decided the first step in my new journey will be with this new Sigh album, so aren’t you lucky?
Track 1: Kuso-shi 1, 2, and 3
First off, I’m not sure what to make of this artwork. Is this what goths are into these days? I suppose that would make sense, what with all these pink-haired freaks walking around the mall with their Attack on Titan shirts. Goddamn—whoa Dave, chill out. Remember how profound that divine experience was this morning? Anyway, aside from the singing, I am enjoying this music, I think.
Track 2: Jigoku-Zoshi 1 – Unkamusho
It’s a little fast, and I have no idea what they’re saying, but…I suppose it’s alright?
… How am I sounding here?
Track 3: Anzenshokon
I can’t say that I like the beginning of this song, because it sound like something off that shitty Pure Moods soundtrack commercial I used to watch in the 90s, but I sure as shit like it better than whatever the fuck happens around the four-minute mark — time to take a breath here.
Track 4: Kuso-shi 4, 5, and 6
There’s no goddamn way I’m sitting through all seven minutes of this song. For the sake of my newly-found sense of grace, I’m skipping it.
Track 5: Shoso
Ahhhhh, there we go. A blissful minute of what I am only assuming is metal music because my editor at MetalSucks told me so.
Track 6: Unputenpu
In case you were wondering, I definitely don’t wish I was listening to .38 Special and drinking a Busch Lite in my man-cave instead of writing this shitty review.
Track 7: Jinmenjushin
To be as diplomatic and magnanimous as humanly possible for fear of offending my Lord and Savior, with whom, we’ve established, I am on newfound good terms, I’m beginning to think this album isn’t for me.
Track 8: Jigoku-Zoshi 2 – Tokatsujigoku
The guitars in this song are…nice, and—ahhhhh FUCK! I can’t do it. I can’t fucking do it. This sucks shit through a straw. I’m so sorry, Jesus.
Track 9: Kushukankyo
If I wanted acoustic guitar I’d listen to some America. Remember that song “Sister Golden Hair”? Now that was a fucking tune. Certainly better than this pisswater.
Track 10: Kuso-shi 7
SKIP.
Track 11: Kuso-shi 8 and 9_Mettaijakujo
Here I was, all excited to reach the last track. If you think I’m going to sit here and objectively review all 11 minutes of this shit stain, you’re out of your goddamn mind. That includes you, God. You have no idea how much you’ve tested me today.
There you go. 0/5 stars. Obviously, I’m going to have to get right with the Lord after this little lapse, but for now I’m going to get absolutely Christ-hammered while rewatching the ’85 Super Bowl on YouTube.
Goddamn, those were the days.
Now, fuck off.
The post DISGRUNTLED DAD REVIEWS With DAVE MUSTCOMPLAIN: SIGH – GOH-KA appeared first on MetalSucks.
Guillotine are gearing up for the release of their new EP ‘A Lesser Key’, and have shared a new taste of it featuring their friend Will Gould.
The song is titled ‘Gouge’ and is a tension-based piece of beautiful, building post-hardcore brilliance. A crushing collection of earnest lyrical turns and caustic instrumentation, it bursts into life and then retreats in stunning action.
And with Will adding his own unmistakable croon to proceedings, an extra layer of atmosphere is added to the table.
The result is a sensational undertaking, one that sticks with you long after it has faded away and pulls you back in for a second go around.
The band’s new EP will be released on October 16 via VENN Records.
The artwork looks like this:
You can also hear ‘Haunted’, which is due to appear on the release, right now:
The post Guillotine Share Striking New Track ‘Gouge’ Featuring Creeper’s Will Gould appeared first on Rock Sound.
Irish post-punkers M(h)aol signed to Merge and released their album Something Soft last year. Since then, they’ve lost a member and become a trio, and now they’ve shared the jittery, deadpan new one-off single “Scam Manifesto.” (Anyone who saw I Shot Andy Warhol will be able to appreciate the wordplay of that title.) It’s about the way you can feel about yourself after too much time on the internet: “I said that I’m worth more, but I’m a liar/ I see my limbs and all I want to do is set my house on fire.” Former member Sarah Deegan, now of Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra, joins in on backup vocals. Here’s what singer/drummer Constance Keane says about the track:
The post M(h)aol – “Scam Manifesto” appeared first on Stereogum.
Albany, New York metal act Faded Line has just unleashed their latest EP, "The Only Way Out Is Through" on July 24th via Creep Records. Formed in 2021, Faded Line is made up of music veterans in the New York Hardcore scene who have played in bands like Murphy's Law, Madball, Machinehead, DRI, and more. The band is Vegas Nancy (vocals), Jeff Manion (guitar), Mike Prout (guitar), Carlo D'Amato (bass), and Walter "Monsta" Ryan (drums).
Tracks:
Very quickly in the EP, Faded Line showcases a powerful sound. Explosive screaming vocals, raw production, heavy metal guitars, thumping bass, and percussive drums work together to create a classic hardcore sound. Galloping tempos alternate with slower sections, creating a dynamic sense of contrast. Speeding blast beats add to the hardcore sound as an intensely fast, in-your-face sound is created.
Mixing influences from punk and heavy metal, Faded Line pays homage to hardcore greats with a nostalgic, classic sound that HC fans love. Tracks like "Hollow Point Forgiveness" trade some of the punk influences to stray further towards extreme metal as rapid double bass and distorted guitar chugging creates a brutal sound, even ending with a crushing breakdown.
The punk and hardcore edge is clear, as many of the songs feature samples talking about violence and anger. From start to finish, the EP is 28 minutes long and builds a consistent sound that blends genres like death metal and hardcore.
Overall, Faded Line creates a sound that is raw, heavy, and unapologetically explosive. Fans of hardcore music should definitely check out "The Only Way Out Is Through". You can stream the band's latest EP, available on all platforms now.
Find Them Here: Spotify | Instagram | Facebook
Thanks for reading!
(Andy Synn has a darkly dynamic Danish debut to recommend today) Being a music lover – and I mean a real music lover – means being constantly caught in a tug of war between listening to what you already love and/or finding new stuff to add to your collection. Because, as much as I enjoy […]
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