Review by Adam M on November 17, 2015.

Here is a rock record that makes an undeniable impact. There is a post-rock vibe to Forgive Yourself, which adds to the overall diversity of the music. The feeling presented on the album makes its way through each track here.

The songs all glisten with energy and drive. The bass unusually plays a large part to the songs to give them the appropriate rhythm. See the first song, Cowards, as an example that shows off the bass prominence. This music recalls the likes of In Solitude, but has an even further stretched arm into the rock genre. This leads to an album that has undercurrents of metal music, despite not being entirely of that genre. The inability to put a concrete label on the band allows them to achieve a more varied tone, certainly. The vocals on this album are in the forefront with the evil sort of vibe that Glen Danzig brings to the table. The music is often more colorful than the dreary vocals, but both of these aspects meld together quite well. Musically, there is an ethereal atmosphere to the tracks that is very moody throughout. The album does sound a little bit doomy in addition to being heavily post in nature. The overall aura of the album is somewhat dreamy. The songs all have at least a good deal of atmosphere to them. This is what elevates this above a typical rock album. Although Publicist UK labels themselves as punk, I believe this album is simply a really good rock effort. There are many standout moments on the disc. I Wish I’d Never Gone to School has a heavy post flavour and is one of many great moments to be found. The immediate next track Canary is also strong.

This album is a strong effort of rock that has enough variation to make it appealing to heavy metal listeners. Make sure you give Forgive Yourself the attention it deserves.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Alex on October 4, 2021.

Putrevore has to be the most impressive death metal band Rogga Johansson's name is attached to. He's involved in more bands that you can count on one hand, all of which are fairly good, but Putrevore is unmatched the way I perceive it. The songwriting, tone and execution is in a league of its own compared to another band he's involved in. Not so long ago he was involved in albums released under Revolting and Paganizer both of which were commendable to say the least but Miasmal Monstrosity under the Putrevore banner has a lot more of what I expect when the term old school death metal is used.

Evident from the first guttural note that this band was no joke, 'Those Who Dwell Beyond' lands you in a puddle of hurt. An explosive display of metal from the riffing and drumming right down to the vocals that sound as though an underground swamp of muck imploded. For most, that track alone would be more than enough to keep them invested; easily a winner for me but the real menace of guttural excretion struck immediately after; 'Vortex Devourer'. Mother of septicemia, this track is a fucking monster, it brings to life the cover image that so easily balls-up the effect of this album.

You'll feel shat on and decimated by the time Miasmal Monstrosity is done. A steaming 60-foot pile of dung comes tumbling down the death metal tunnel with 'Clad In Skin And Rot' that has a rather ominous guitar riff around the middle section. Paired with the gargantuan, gurgling vocals, this song crushes. And it must also be noted the installments on Miasmal Monstrosity all sound of their own, bearing different faces of delivering the mess.

These songs promise a beating and that's precisely what you get; Rogga ravages and rapes the guitars and bass with powerful pulses and riffs, the drumming does a fair bit of damage especially on the slower parts of per say a song like The 'Fleshment Awaits' as you can really feel the impact and appreciate the support given to amplify the thick audio texture on Miasmal Monstrosity.

You'll enjoy every bit of this record that is easily for me Rogga's best and most impressive musical involvement. You can hear the likes of Incantation, Disma and Undergang on Consume All Flesh via the pinch harmonics, thunderous death/doom breakdown sectors and the vocal snot of Dave Rotten.

Miasmal Monstrosity is worth every second of your time and support if you appreciate real death metal. Gutted and buried under a rubble of broken bones and putrefied flesh, with Miasmal Monstrosity, you'll find yourself amidst the muck and mess of a condemned death metal league.

Rating: 9.6 out of 10

Review by JD on September 19, 2008.

Shades of classic MAN’O’WAR and the infamous PILEDRIVER paint every single note of this American mid-west’s THE HORDE’s first release . From Empire to Ashes is a rather fun and unserious album, one that is just chocked full of pure fun.

Mixing together all of the old metal lyrical standards of wizards, swords and battling dragons in to their music, the band thunders and pummels you through every heavy metal cliche there ever has been. THE HORDE swaggers, strut and thump their chests like wild cavemen as they sing of epic battles waged between good and evil..... It is MAN’O’WAR all over again... Good times a plenty here.

It may not be the next step for metaldom, but having that ‘just because it’s fun’ vibe to it that makes this album a great listen. Cheesy would be the term I would use THE HORDE overall... but in a world that has enough crap in it, having a fun time listening to this album is more than worth it. This clearly shows that fun and fantasy has not totally disappeared from metal. I like cheese, and this was pure gourmet at it’s finest.

Hail the missing art of cheesiness in all of it’s form. It is not the best album out there but it packs a lot of fun into thirty two minutes and thirty seconds. Call the cows in from the field right away... THE HORDE might need more milk to make more of that cheesy goodness they deliver so well.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 6
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 6
Originality:4
Overall: 7

Rating: 6

Review by JD on September 19, 2008.

Shades of classic MAN’O’WAR and the infamous PILEDRIVER paint every single note of this American mid-west’s THE HORDE’s first release . From Empire to Ashes is a rather fun and unserious album, one that is just chocked full of pure fun.

Mixing together all of the old metal lyrical standards of wizards, swords and battling dragons in to their music, the band thunders and pummels you through every heavy metal cliche there ever has been. THE HORDE swaggers, strut and thump their chests like wild cavemen as they sing of epic battles waged between good and evil..... It is MAN’O’WAR all over again... Good times a plenty here.

It may not be the next step for metaldom, but having that ‘just because it’s fun’ vibe to it that makes this album a great listen. Cheesy would be the term I would use THE HORDE overall... but in a world that has enough crap in it, having a fun time listening to this album is more than worth it. This clearly shows that fun and fantasy has not totally disappeared from metal. I like cheese, and this was pure gourmet at it’s finest.

Hail the missing art of cheesiness in all of it’s form. It is not the best album out there but it packs a lot of fun into thirty two minutes and thirty seconds. Call the cows in from the field right away... THE HORDE might need more milk to make more of that cheesy goodness they deliver so well.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 6
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 6
Originality:4
Overall: 7

Rating: 6