Spectral Wound - A Diabolic Thirst ALBUM REVIEW 

I did not find this uninspired or unimaginative at all but I can see how some black metal fans might. But it’s exactly what I want in a melodic black metal record - no bullshit or time wasted, relentless guitars and drums, unhinged vocals. Strong 8 and one of my favorite metal records of the year, along with Solar Paroxysm from Mare Cognitum. Keep the black metal reviews coming Fantano, cheers.

I feel a diabolic thirst every time you’re on screen, Melon

I fuckin’ love this record, one of the most refreshing black metal records this year.

Anthony, you do not need to talk about how you have a “diabolical thirst” for MC Ride

"The sound is impressive, it's dense, it's distorted, with enough atmosphere to feel like it's towering over you" So a Profound Lore record then

2 metal reviews in one week? I like you again, Melon.

Day 31 of asking Anthony to review LMFAO - Party Rock and Sorry For Party Rocking

I get a strong Forteresse vibe from this album, who are also Canadian.

First Cannibal Corpse, now Spectral Wound? Melon finally reviewing interesting music again. :)

As much as I love that you're doing more metal reviews, I'm still waiting on the Porter Robinson review, Melon

Nurture next Melon?!?!

If we’re talking black metal, the new Mare Cognitum album is excellent

At this point my only hope whenever you review any metal record is that someone will be curious to check them out regardless of your scores and find their new favorite band, and sink deeper into the abyss in the process.

I had never heard of them before, as black metal isn't typically my thing, but I gotta hand it to them though, their name game is absolutely spectacular. "Spectral Wound," check. "A Diabolic Thirst," double-fucking-check. And even down to track names like "Frigid and Spellbound" the album gets respect just for cool names alone. Listening to it has me looking for black and white grease paint while checking Google to see if there are any centuries old stick-built houses of worship in my area. Just as black metal should.

Just here to tell Anthony thank you for reviewing a metal album. How are you doing Anthony? You good? Do you need anything? A cup of tea perhaps?

Only a 6? This is a modern classic for the genre. Every song is amazing and it flows so good. Sure its nothing new for the genre but who else is doing straight up black metal this well.

*slaps desk* Damn it melon, i want to see that Porter Robinson review in my inbox next morning, got it?!

This isn’t how you spell “poter Robinson - NURTURE ALBUM REVIEW”

This isn’t Porter Robinson

i think this is the first time i found some random album before melon

Idk why but I’m always pleasantly surprised when you review underground metal

STILL WAITING FOR NURTURE, MELON

You're right that it's pretty textbook second wave bm, but it's high quality. Like, this should be IN the black metal textbook on how to make quality black metal. I'd give it a solid 8.

This album is fucking incredible. Some of the most cathartic black metal I’ve heard in a long time. Super high intensity songwriting, deliberate and effective melodies, extremely precise drumming, and fantastic production value (without being obnoxiously polished) Ain’t much not to like here. Only record I’ve heard like it this year is Ferriterium’s (French band) new one released back in January. Given that these guys are from Quebec, I’m just gonna go out on a limb and say that speaking french gives you some kind of an advantage in creating high quality atmospheric black metal.

i am only aware of this album because of the rym charts

Hi Anthony, I've never done a request but I'll shoot my shot. I think you should check out the album 'Pale Swordsman' by Këkht Aräkh (aka "Crying Orc"). It's got an older raw sound that, to me, doesn't sound generic. The overall tone of the album is moody and melancholic but not depressing. It features nice little piano interludes between songs that carry the atmosphere of the album, one which doesn't focus on blaring loudness.

2021 Reviews: 10s: 9s: Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra - Promises 8s: Viagra Boys - Welfare Jazz Jazmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales Moor Mother & billy woods - BRASS Weezer - OK Human Black Country, New Road - For the first time slowthai - TYRON Black Dresses - Forever in Your Heart Ad Nauseam - Impreative Imperceptible Impulse Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - CARNAGE Gensis Owusu - Smiling With No Teeth Feu! Chatterton - Palais d'Argile Armand Hammer & The Alchemist - Haram BROCKHAMPTON - ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE Jeff Rosenstock - SKA DREAM 7s: Navy Blue - Songs of Sage: Post Panic! Madlib - Sound Ancestors The Body - I've Seen All I Need to See Conway & Big Ghost Ltd - If It Bleeds It Can Be Killed King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - L.W. Altın Gün - Yol C. Tangana - El Madrileño Rural Internet - BREAKING UP Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over the Country Club Benny the Butcher & Harry Fraud - The Plugs I Met 2 Xiu Xiu - OH NO Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END! Spirit of the Beehive - Entertainment, Death Conway the Machine - La Maquina Cannibal Corpse - Violence Unimagined 6s: Shame - Drunk Tank Pink DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ - Charmed R.A.P Ferreira - bob's son Ashnikko - Demidevil Portrayal of Guilt - We Are Always Alone Mogwai - As the Love Continues Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats - UNLOCKED 1.5 Danny L Harle - Harlecore Death From Above 1979 - Is 4 Lovers Iglooghost - Lei Line Eon serpentwithfeet - DEACON Spectral Wound - A Diabolic Thirst 5s: Playboi Carti - Whole Lotta Red Bicep - Isles Foo Fighters - Medicine at Midnight Hayley Williams - FLOWERS for VASES / descansos The Weather Station - Ignorance Pale Waves - Who Am I? NF - CLOUDS Quadeca - From Me to You Young Stoner Life, Young Thug, Gunna - Slime Language 2 4s: Trippie Redd - Neon Shark vs. Pegasus Julien Baker - Little Oblivions Sleaford Mods - Spare Ribs Lil Yachty - Michigan Boy Boat 3s: Eminem - Music to Be Murdered By Side B Florida Georgia Line - Life Rolls On Justin Bieber - Justice 2s: 1s: 0s: Classic Reviews: The Roots - Things Fall Apart M.I.A. - Arular Nine Inch Nails - The Downwards Spiral Portishead - Dummy Alice Coltrane - Journey in Satchidananda Redux Reviews: Gorillaz - Plastic Beach (9/10) NOT GOODs: Architects - For Those That Wish to Exist NOT BADs: Steven Wilson - The Future Bites Custom Scores: AJR - OK ORCHESTRA - (NOT NOT AMAZING/10) Taylor Swift - Fearless (Taylor's Version) - (SCREW YOUR OLD RECORD LABEL. DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO. COOL?/10) Controversial Reviews: Eminem - Music to Be Murdered By ---------------------------------- (3/10) The Weather Stations - Ignorance ------------------------------------- (5/10) Julien Baker - Little Oblivions -------------------------------------------- (4/10) Yellow Flannel Reviews: Gorillaz - Plastic Beach ------------------------------------------------------ (9/10) Moor Mother & billy woods - Brass ------------------------------------ (8/10) Weezer - OK Human ----------------------------------------------------------- (8/10) Black Country, New Road - For the first time ---------------------- (8/10) slowthai - TYRON --------------------------------------------------------------- (8/10) Black Dresses - Forever In Your Heart ------------------------------- (8/10) Ad Nauseam - Impreative Imperceptible Impulse ------------- (8/10) Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - CARNAGE -------------------------------- (8/10) Feu! Chatterton - Palais d'Argile ---------------------------------------- (8/10) AJR - OK ORCHESTRA ------------------------------------------------------ (NOT NOT AMAZING/10) Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The LSO - Promises - (9/10) BROCKHAMPTON - ROADRUNNER ----------------------------------- (8/10) Jeff Rosenstock - SKA DREAM ------------------------------------------ (8/10) Red Flannel Rewiews: Eminem - Music to Be Murdered By Side B ----------------------- (3/10) Florida Georiga Line - Life Rolls On ----------------------------------- (3/10) Justin Bieber - Justice ------------------------------------------------------ (3/10) AJR - OK ORCHESTRA ----------------------------------------------------- (NOT NOT AMAZING/10) This is the 63th review of 2021

Let's fucking go two metal reviews in a week.

I would've rated it higher but it's nice to hear some praise for what will probably be one of the best metal albums released this year. I would love to hear your reaction to the new album from Wode, which I think will be the best metal album released this year unless something else comes along and completely surprises me.

This is my metal AOTY so far

Nurture was so good that Melon forgot to make a review

Anthony if you're not careful I may form my own opinion about the Porter Robinson album before you release a video

Most of the black metal I consumed in the last year was from Old Nick. Really refreshing in sound, full of atmosphere, and thrash. Plus some good ass titles in the albums they put out all 2020! I'd be so jazzed to see their stuff get reviewed.

I'm beginning to think that Anthony doesn't like music at all and has this channel just to piss off people haha

My favorite metal record of the year thus far. I can't articulate what makes this one stand out for me. Objectively, it's doing nothing new. It just, as they say, hits different.

I get a diabolical thirst every time melon uploads

This type of traditional sounding black metal doesn’t usually jive with me because I’m just a new school typa kid who doesn’t know shit other then like American black metal,but the first track really just grabbed me with that like pause and gasp right into a blast beat at the 2:10 min mark,now that is dynamic af I think I’ll finish the album 😄

So happy I came across this review, already in love with this album

I have a diabolical thirst for your nurture review.

Something tells me Anthony thought it was a one-man project at the time of recording and had to go back and edit himself saying "the band" over the top throughout lol

*refreshing melon's page until he reviews Nurture*

Anthony hurry up and review Nurture so I can have an opinion on it that I can tell my gamer friends

I'm happy you found them, they've been awesome

It’s okay Melon, no one who actually likes metal goes to you for metal recs lmao

You have to review Nurture by Porter Robinson

They remind me of Sargeist and that’s a great thing.

A Diabolic Thirst is intensely performed, albeit standard, black metal fare.

The album on the shelf is Betty Davis - Self Titled (1973). An in your face funk/soul gem which laid the groundwork for outspoken explorations of female sexuality in popular music and influenced artists like Madonna and Prince

nurture never happened

Was not expecting this, nice!

He likes it but gave it a bad review? Ok

sound just like what I would expect from a non-black metalhead

Need more metal reviews

WHOA!!!! WHOA STOP THE PRESSES!!! MELON REVIEWED A BLACK METAL ALBUM THAT I LOVE!!! WOOOOOOHOOOO!!!

Black Metal turns heads like it turns crosses 👿 🔥 ⛪️

Yes! More extreme metal reviews!!

Don't forget to review the new Darkthrone album when it drops Melon

This album is incredible

to review: Inglorious - We Will Ride

we’ve unlocked the neutral flannel

Dude wheres the flu game review dont do aj tracey dirty

You’re pretty late on doing an album review on Drake’s - Take Care

to be clear; black dresses are one of the most phenomenal bands/beings/duos that there is rocking it now or any time, really. i only threw them in there to show how tough that choice would be. but the only reason to come down on my decision in any way would be due to losing those tracks. that would suck. but maybe they will send me some bonus tracks for being so in love with their tunes and so blissed out on their rock and/or fucking roll? one can only hope. ;-)

tied for my favorite album of the year with Geister

I have a diabolic thirst for you Melon

Hey melon! You listen to the new Kaleo album at all? Or you saving that for YUNOreview

Meh... Too predictable and HD for me. I like my black metal raw as hell, sounding like it was recorded on a Fisher price cassette recorder in a wet, rotted out house in the woods during a snowstorm ❄️

the best thing about this review is the fact that after I checked this album out on bandcamp I went to the Profound Lore bandcamp and discovered there is a new Portal album coming out next month

There's a new blackened metal band from the UK called Dusk Lurker that some people are comparing to Spectral Wound, but they have a little more versatility in their songs. I don't quite hear the similarity myself but I do think both bands are great in their own ways. Also Xirgan are pretty cool, just discovered them yesterday too

More metal reviews please!! Do At The Grave's new album next

Bought this record immediately, so happy he is reviewing it. Canadian pride

This is no bullshit black metal album sounds like something from the 90s from Norway

Certified Canadian Moment

Anthony, I would really like to hear your thoughts on Katie Pruitt. Thanks for being the busiest music nerd!

I've listen to black metal for over 30 years, album is genius..

*REVIEW NURTURE*

This album is just a very pure form of black metal and it’s preformed perfectly. You don’t always need to do something new for something to be good melon

You know this album is good when you can’t find it anywhere

A diabolic thirst for diabolic licks

whoa he reviewed a metal album

I love black metal. Even though though you weren’t too up on enjoying it, I think I should definitely check It out, who knows I might like it

Finally metal here.

Damn Melon, this is at least an 8.

Have you listened to the most recent Akhlys album? IMO takes a bit more risks than this album and is just as aggressive, albeit not quite as traditional. Also the opening riff of frigid and spellbound is such a banger.

who else thought this was a die lit REDUX review based on the thumbnail

Man this album is making the rounds like hot cakes

I really loved this record, i would say its one of my favorite black metal releases of the 2020s so far looking back on this review. I would say its a decent 8 for me.

Why is the lip movement out of sync when Anthony says band?

I would love to see you review lausse the cat - the girl, the cat and the tree

Represent Québec Supremacy Gang

Finally a black metal review 👌🏻

off topic but slightly surprised that he hasn't reviewed the Dry Cleaning album

Melon if you don't review the new Tribulation album I'm going to start eating red meat again

Whoa... whoa... Another Metal review? (Checks Calendar). Damn! Besides that, cannot disagree with the review. This is some heavy hitting black metal.

Nurture when?

New Alan Vega Anthony!

antknee you complaining about how you don’t think Gatorade is “a true thirst quencher” and threatening a lawsuit isn’t a review

as a casual black metal fan, i really like this album

You should do the front bottoms album in sickness and in flames! I know you've done back on top already but it would be great to do them again! Just a suggestion though

I'm obsessed with spectral wound omg