2009-07-01 This week, out from the silver blue buzzing summer sky, comes an even bluer astral buzz, which will hopefully entertain if not most of you, at least some of our readers. Ever since the AGM webzine took a life of its own, there has always been a most peculiar question resisting the passage of time, and that is - as simple as it appears to be at first sight - what is avant-garde metal? A forum thread was created for the purpose of elucidating this enigma, and now that we can all look back at it, isn't it quite easy to see just about how irreconcilable were the multiple opinions displayed? A few weeks ago, a new growing forum thread, however, started giving signs of a new vitality, though as usual, nothing is yet for sure. Even among our crew, there probably aren't two identical views on what is avant-garde metal, which is obvious when you acknowledge the major differences keeping apart the bands featured on our website. While you enjoy some bands and reject others, we may only follow our own instincts. So one of our crew members, malicious clown wannabe and holy-dirty philosopher Oliver Side, decided to put his mind at work by trying to venture at his own risk into the world of avant-garde metal. This is neither supposed to present the webzine's ultimate identity nor to definitely close the discussions at hand, but only to share Mr. Side's so-called "night-time explorations" with you. Therefore we can only hope you will have a good time running after his thought patterns... Until then, weird-toes and weird-asses – fist in the air!

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2009-06-24 My, haven't we been busy this week. Tentakel P. and Simon Brand are here on behalf of all of you video game geeks, breaking down their favourite pieces from retro soundtracks in their Video Game Madness special. Glenn Doom searches for answers to the ultimate question of "what kind of music are these guys playing anyway?" in his review of the latest offering from the weird and wonderful CALLE DEBAUCHE. Thor Wanzek tests his skills as a reviewer and fails at our pleasure. He obviously didn't pay attention in school music lessons while the rest of the class were being enlightened by the marvellous sounds of Norwegian avant-rockers, WOBBLER. Simon Brand divulges his feelings about genre-creation and his contrasting views on SCALE THE SUMMIT's second opus as he gleefully types away while having this newfangled "Adventure Metal" gently rubbed into his ears.

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2009-06-17 Some may know Suleiman Ali through his work on this website, picking apart loved and not-so-loved records for the pleasure of readers everywhere and with the 7th release from his solo project, BURZUKH , he is set to grace your ears as he has your eyes for some time. Simon Brand tells you about this remarkable project and gives you the download link at the end of his review. Another downloadable peal is provided: the Serbian Band AMARANTH with their demo "You Shine, Beyond Dawn", also appraised by Simon Brand. A work of emotional beauty is capable of being crafted by IN THE WOODS... who hold such a great sway over their trajectories on "Omnio"…believes Adam McAuley. Adam Matlock gives you something to read about Suzanne Sterne, the songwriting mastermind, bassist and studio guitarist for RUBY BULLET .

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2009-06-10 The prolific Justin Broadrick may well be one of the most influential men in the world of metal. Helping forge a path for Grindcore with his work with the infamous Napalm Death, pioneering Industrial Metal in Godflesh and bringing joy and woe to anyone willing to listen in his many other projects such as JESU, reviewed by Simon Brand. Any new package from ASMODEE - the gaellic masters of extreme metal - makes Suleiman being excited. One swallow does not make a summer but a DEERHUNTER - CD a tree house fantasy for Jonny Lignano.

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2009-06-03 AGM as it is lovingly known has always blurred boundaries between previously unconnected styles, and perhaps it has fused no other genres more than it has Metal and Jazz. Many metal bands have incorporated Jazz into their metal and vice versa, so three handsome guys (in particular Sir Brand, Sir P. and Sir Matlock) of the avant-garde metal crew wrote one fine story about JAZZ METAL to outline some of the major players in the field and help other's understanding of where it all started.

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2009-05-27 We have a great treat for all you fans of eclectic Black Metal this week in the form of avant-garde phenoms, <CODE>. Olivier picks the brains of guitarist Aort in an in-depth delve into the machinery with his interview and Thor gets a huge dose of evil alongside the main dish of ingenuity while he performs an autopsy on their latest offering, "Resplendent Grotesque". On the other side of the colourful spectrum of AGM, Simon Brand reveals whether you should pick up the sophomore effort of RON JARZOMBEK or not. Prepare to be judged!

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2009-05-20 This week we have the pleasure to introduce a real freak to you who will introduce a real freak to you. A new crew member is welcomed with champagne, known under the mystical name of SRB. This gentleman from Alaska wrote the longest review ever about one of avant-garde metal's highest skilled virtuosos: FREDERICK THORDENDAL Simon Brand tells us about the intense chemistry between the members of one of the greatest and most influential bands called EXIVIOUS . Glenn Doom integrated a personal message for the guitarist of THE SIN COMMITTEE into his review. SCHIZOPHRENIA is a band you'll get dry water and a milkshake from when following Suleiman`s directions at the end of the review.

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2009-05-13 Do you hear that? That is the sound of... a dozen AGM scribes taking a nap in the spring sun, scoring sillier-than-thou results on Facebook quizzes, or just chilling in their own Epicurean favourite manner. Only the ever-vigil Brand, Simon Brand keeps burning the midnight oil, this week lending more than one ear to the Americano electro-prog-metallers of obscurely named orchestra ANIMALS AS LEADERS, and their self-titled debut album. Apparently it's quite a treat for anyone who enjoys their metal to be not just modern and electro-infused, but also breath-takingly technical, even though it seems to leave a bit more to hope for in the future. But you'll get that once you read the review, here somewhere.

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2009-05-06 Today we have a sparkling rainbow of avant-garde metal's varied faces for you. First of all Simon Brand reviews your TOP 4 avant-garde metal album of 2008 - "Traced in Air" from Jazz Metal pioneers CYNIC. Glenn Doom heads for the apes of SLEEPYTIME GORILLA MUSEUM. We also have two promising newcomers of Elektro Metal - Grandmaster Suleiman returns from his extensive trip to Pakistan with KHADAVER. And Adam Matlock travels 3 years into the future for VYRMN.

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2009-04-29 Glenn Doom noticed that SILENTIST gets more stripped down the older they get. An anonymous source provided avantgarde-metal.com with a worksheet to Tentakel P.'s latest review of VALBORG ; arising the question whether he really is as objective as he claims to be or whether he abuses his position by flattering promising bands to lay his greedy hands on promos for free. Thor Wanzek isn't quite sure if Kevin Moore from OSI suffers from permanent root canal treatments by his dentist. Why?: read here.. Adam McAuley falls in Amore with Amorphis.

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