About
Independent rock & metal
criticism, written by hand.
The Editor
Hi, I'm Marvin.
I'm an independent rock and metal critic based in Germany, writing about heavy music without PR relationships, label affiliations, or agendas. I started Riff Vault because I wanted to read the kind of music writing I wasn't finding anywhere else: critical, specific, and honest about what makes a record work or fall short.
My focus is on the heavy and the slow: post-metal, sludge, doom, stoner rock, black metal and their intersections. But I'll write about anything that demands to be written about. Genre is a tool, not a cage.
I've been listening seriously to heavy music for over fifteen years. I've seen bands in basements, theatres, fields, and parking lots. I care about this stuff in the way that only makes sense if you've been there.
The Approach
No algorithms. No PR. No payola.
Every review on this site represents real time spent with a record: multiple listens, proper notes, genuine engagement. I don't score things after one spin, and I don't write reviews unless I have something to say beyond "this exists, here are the genres, four out of five".
What gets covered here are records that come from the underground, from EU and German acts, from small labels, self-releases, and bands that take real risks. Major-label material and the records that already get covered everywhere are not where Riff Vault adds value.
When something doesn't work, I write that too. A 3 means good with caveats; a 2 means I think the record is interesting but flawed. The point is honest engagement, not boosting.
Submit your album
Bands, labels, scouts: send the link.
I'm actively looking for new underground rock and metal records to cover. If you're in a band, run a small label, or want to point me at something good that would otherwise slip through the cracks, send a Bandcamp link to riffvault@proton.me.
Two lines of context help: what's the record about, what makes it different. The release should be from the last six months or so. I read everything but can't promise a review. If your record fits the focus, I'll get back to you.
The Rating System