Mastodawn

Angus McSix – Angus McSix and the All-Seeing Astral Eye Review By Twelve

When last we saw the mighty power metal heroes of Angus McSix, they were a fledgling group with a noble aim and a mighty quest: the titular starlord offered promises of adventure and whimsy, with epic aims and a glorious future that had nothing whatsoever to do with Gloryhammer, thank you for asking. Angus McSix could do no wrong on his epic trajectory. Then Thomas Winkler (vocals and the titular Angus McSix) opted to leave the band after their debut, so now McSix’s brother Adam (Samuel Nyman, Manimal) will lead in his stead. So that was a surprise. Still, I have nothing against a new hero, so, like Adam himself, I’m happy to roll with the punches and see what Angus McSix have up their sleeves for their descriptively-titled sophomore, Angus McSix and the All-Seeing Astral Eye.

Unsurprisingly, the core of the Angus McSix sound is pretty much the same. Nyman even sounds uncannily like Winkler on vocals, and the band’s approach to “join our D&D session, the drinks are already here” metal is largely unchanged. It’s a fairly open session too; joining Angus McSix are Rhapsody of Fire (“I Am Adam McSix”), Van Canto (“Dig Down”), Turmion Kätilöt (“Techno Men”), and Freedom Call (“The Power of Metal”).1 Winkler himself makes a brief appearance in opener “6666” for just long enough to say “help me brother, for I am trapped in a block of ice”2 and pass the torch to Adam. It’s a big number3 too, with exactly the kind of over-the-top, bombastic chorus and structure that made Angus McSix and the Sword of Power such a great album. It seems at first that Angus McSix has not missed a step; they pick up exactly where they left off, which is fine by me.

Unfortunately, the rest of the album is not so consistent, with the songwriting oscillating between classic Angus McSix and shakier ground. In particular, the guitars are pushed way back in the mix. The keyboards are similarly brought way up, and, in contrast to the previous album, focused on synths rather than orchestrations, giving several songs a vague ’00s-dance-pop-meets-power-metal feel. “Techno Men,” for example, plays to the industrial metal feel the Turmion Kätilöt singers bring to the song. The chorus, however, is classic Angus McSix, with Nyman singing his heart out on catchy vocal melodies this band does so well. Still, without a strong guitar presence—and the drums don’t pack much punch either, I’m sad to say—a lot of Angus McSix and the All-Seeing Astral Eye feels passive. “I Am Adam McSix” and “Dig Down” are good examples of this; in both songs, Angus McSix slow things down a bit, but only the latter one brings the energy needed to maintain an adventurous feel. This poppier Angus McSix can be a little hit-or-miss.

One of said misses was really unexpected: contrary to their debut, it feels like Angus McSix are trying to be funny. Many of the narrations are intentionally silly; at one point, a narrator describes Adam’s aims as “utterly impossible,” “even more impossible,” and “all in all, a rather questionable plan, except it wasn’t even a plan” (this all from “The Power of Metal,” an otherwise strong song that would be at home on an Avantasia record). Songs like “Ork Zero” embrace the inherent silliness of Angus McSix’s storytelling without overtly acknowledging it and largely succeed; when they do, it falls flat. I love the story of the uber-ork with a heart of gold, but why do Van Canto comment of Adam, “honestly, his tune is really catchy”? Does the phrase “orkish mumbo jumbo” have to appear at all? These feel like unneeded distractions from a group that actually does storytelling fairly well.4

There are great moments and baffling moments on Angus McSix and the All-Seeing Astral Eye. I strongly believe we need more fun in metal and adore Angus McSix for their success in that department. But I feel they missed a step here, leaning too far away from solid songwriting and too much into on-the-nose humor. I remain fully in Angus—and Adam—McSix’s corners, and will be back for the next chapter. But I hope things will feel more like they did back in the day.

Rating: 2.5/5.0
DR: NA | Format Reviewed: Crappy STREAM!
Label: Napalm Records
Websites: angusmcsix.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/angusmcsix
Releases Worldwide: March 13th, 2026

#25 #2026 #AngusMcSix #AngusMcSixAndTheAllSeeingAstralEye #Avantasia #FreedomCall #Gloryhammer #InternationalMetal #Manimal #Mar26 #NapalmRecords #PowerMetal #Review #Reviews #RhapsodyOfFire #SymphonicMetal #TurmionKätilöt #VanCanto

Juuso V Dec 4

Enää kaks viikkoa plus yks päivä ja sit #TurmionKätilöt 😎

Pitkästä aikaa keikalle 🤘 ja vieläpä synttäripäivän kunniaksi! Aijaijai, naminami, halihali ja pusipusi 🤌

#musadontti #tampere #oispajokeikka #musahommat #metalli

Angry Metal Guy Nov 25

Master’s Hammer – Maldorör Disco Review

By Grin Reaper

Besides a stout back catalog, experimental black metal weirdos Master’s Hammer vaunts an intermittent history both in band activity and AMG coverage. After releasing two largely unsung platters of black metal in the early 90s,1 the band unleashed the terminally forgettable Šlágry and hung up the hammer. In the same year our estimable blog was spawned, Master’s Hammer returned with Mantras, further augmenting their core sound with synth layers and an expanded songwriting tool belt. Before shuttering the project again in 2020, Master’s Hammer earned a glowing review and a similarly positive TYMHM at AMG, while another three albums went untested in our halls. The fires of creation never quelled completely, though, and now the Czech outfit reemerges with Maldorör Disco. Can this hammer still pummel, or should it have remained in Master’s toolbox?

Maldorör Disco marks a departure from Master’s Hammer’s earlier eras, dropping black metal vestiges in favor of a sound more in line with Neue Deutsche Härte and electro-industrial. On the likes of Vracejte Konve Na Místo and Formulæ, synths bolster atmosphere and texture. Here, Master’s Hammer adopts the keyboard as the primary driver of melody, and though Root and Mortuary Drape served as apt reference points on earlier albums, Maldorör Disco merits a new set of comparisons. Hints of Turmion Kätilöt, KMFDM, and Heldmaschine permeate Master’s Hammer’s landscape, but more than any other act, I find Maldorör Disco evokes Kraftwerk. ”Anděl Slizu” and “Bicycle Day” exemplify the electro-pomp that Germany’s finest man-machines defined decades ago. With the hooks predominantly occupying synth-driven territory, other instruments are relegated to supporting roles across Maldorör Disco’s ten concise and lively tunes.

Despite Maldorör Disco’s pivot in musical direction, Master’s Hammer retains much of the talent that supported the success of their second era. The only raw recruit is full-time keyboard player Kamil Princ, a sensible addition given the album’s dedication to synth. Princ crafts tenacious melodies that sink their teeth in and don’t let go, a testament to the memorability of Disco’s schtick. Meanwhile, bandleader, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Franta Štorm asserts his uniquely gruff croon and mixes its deployment with other effective stylings ranging between soft cleans (“Anděl Slizu”), backing falsetto injections (“Bicycle Day”), and vocal effects (“El Teide,” “Slatina”). Melded together, these elements fashion a diverse and engaging listen against the synth-laden backdrop. Necrocock (guitars) and Honza Kapák (drums) round out the rest of the band, ably bracing Maldorör Disco’s grooves.2

The revamped, key-centric concept on Maldorör Disco pumps a breath of fresh air from Master’s bellows, although a flaw or two hold the forge fire back from a full-on blaze. The focus on electronic influences adds a new dimension to Master’s Hammer’s sound, and while it works, I lust for more of the oddball shit that made past albums such a blast. The shift in musical approach grabs the limelight, but at the expense of what makes Master’s Hammer so lovably eccentric. Maldorör Disco also stumbles in its adherence to mid-paced tempos. Slower songs don’t pose an inherent problem,3 but restricting song speeds places a heavier burden on songwriting dynamics. Though not a fatal flaw, I wonder what Maldorör Disco might have sounded like with a couple tracks oozing the fury and venom of “Psychoparasit” or the varied velocity on “Zvířecí Zvuky.” Aiding Maldorör Disco are the restrained runtime and improved production, both of which have detracted from previous albums. Forty-two minutes are enough to explore what Master’s Hammer crafts here, and though synths don’t require the dynamic range that denser compositions do, the production is rich enough to highlight when the other instruments break out of the pocket.

After seven dormant years, Maldorör Disco proves Master’s Hammer still strikes with potency. Štorm and the gang might be longer in the tooth, but time hasn’t stripped their ability to pen tunes that stick with you long after Master’s forge has cooled. Nearly forty years since forming, Master’s Hammer bangs out another set of craftsmanlike ditties that’ll keep you whistling while you work. Though I wish Master’s Hammer would have incorporated more of their inimitably kooky antics, I enjoyed my time at the Disco, and assuming electronics aren’t anathema to your metal intake, I recommend giving it a spin or three.

Rating: Good!
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Darkness Shall Rise Productions
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: November 26th, 20254

#2025 #30 #blackMetal #czechMetal #darknessShallRiseProductions #experimentalBlackMetal #heldmaschine #kmfdm #kraftwerk #maldororDisco #mastersHammer #mortuaryDrape #nov25 #review #reviews #root #turmionKatilot

BlackArtDesigns Aug 18, 2025

Made this Turmion Kätilöt dress for the festival summer here in Finland! It won't be my last time wearing it though, as it's very comfy with adjustable straps and pockets large enough to fit my (rather large) phone!

If you want a similar style custom made dress, top or anything really, made from official merch, contact me here or at [email protected]

#turmionkätilöt #blackartdesigns #custommade #handmade #madefromofficialmerch #smallbusinessfinland

Christina Jan 25, 2025

Guten Morgen zusammen 👋🏻 Ein gutes Wochenende liegt vor mir: gleich geht es zum Brunchen mit meinen Studienfreundinnen und morgen in die Therme, jede Sauna durchschwitzen. Und sich innerlich darüber beschweren, dass ich nirgendwo meinen eigenen Aufguss machen darf, aber naja, Deutschland halt.

Und wie läutet man das besser ein als mit Musik? Gestern waren wir beim Konzert von #TurmionKätilöt - jedes Mal ein großer Spaß, das Publikum war gut drauf und die Band hat sich sichtlich über den Zuspruch gefreut. So viele Handherzen habe ich selten bei einem Konzert gesehen ☺️ Da sie aber leider nicht "Pyhä maa" gespielt haben, anbei hier: https://lynkify.in/song/pyha-maa/pnGHQHVZ

BurnYourEars Webzine Jan 19, 2025

Die finnischen Discometaller TURMION KÄTILÖT – die 'Hebammen des Verderbens' – sind auf Tour und wir waren spontan in Essen dabei. Die Metalparty war ein wahres Spektakel, und wir haben einige beeindruckende Bilder von diesem unvergesslichen Konzert mitgebracht. Es hat sich definitiv gelohnt. 🕺🥳 #turmionkatilot #turmionkätilöt

https://www.burnyourears.de/live/54434-turmion-kaetiloet-bilder-vom-finnischen-discometal-in-essen.html