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Latest Rhetoric

June 24th, 2022 Reviews

Fallen Sanctuary – Terranova (AFM Records)

The evolution of this act from a mutual love of late 90’s/early 2000’s European-style power metal into a full outfit is what we have here for Fallen Sanctuary. Vocalist Georg Neuhauser (Serenity) and Read more […]

June 24th, 2022 Reviews

Devil’s Train – Ashes & Bones (Rock of Angels Records)

Back for a third platter with a new bassist and guitarist in tow, Devil’s Train contains many familiar players for those who love heavy, power, and speed metal. Drummer Jörg Michael cut his teeth on Read more […]

June 23rd, 2022 Features

Elephants in Paradise – Beware of Black Widows

Probably one of the quirkiest monikers in the music field, Elephants in Paradise are an Austrian act who develop a mix of alternative and progressive hard rock/metal, with pop, melodic, and modern sensibilities. Read more […]

June 22nd, 2022 Reviews

Entrails – An Eternal Time of Decay (Hammerheart Records)

Originally developing their death metal material in that first wave of the 1990’s, Entrails went to rest towards the end of that decade. Guitarist Jimmy Lundqvist resurrected the band in 2008, signing Read more […]

June 22nd, 2022 Reviews

Nightbearer – Ghosts of a Darkness to Come (Testimony Records)

Fruitful times for OSDM these days – almost like clockwork passing the torch down from forefathers to newcomers, people are cranking out straightforward riffs embellished with HM-2 pedal urgency, summoning Read more […]

June 21st, 2022 Features

Devil’s Train – Rock and Roll Family

Returning after a seven-year break from the recording studio with their third album Ashes & Bones, Devil’s Train showcases metal musicians developing material in more of a classic hard rock, bluesy/southern Read more […]

June 20th, 2022 Reviews

Intoxicated – Watch You Burn (Seeing Red Records)

Recording this album Watch You Burn in the same rehearsal studio in Tampa that Morbid Angel called home for years (now reconverted to Candor Recording) – Intoxicated contains members with affiliations Read more […]

June 20th, 2022 Reviews

Wicked Stone – Synergy (Hard to Stay Quiet Records)

The parallel development of music in the US and UK markets is intriguing – oceans apart but often similar in the sense of continually morphing and exploring new trends/sounds hoping for that ‘next Read more […]

June 19th, 2022 Features

Seven Kingdoms – Peak Perseverance

US power metal bands struggle often to attain the respect and popularity of their European counterparts. One act consistently making inroads to change that perception from Florida has been Seven Kingdoms. Read more […]

June 17th, 2022 Reviews

Exocrine – The Hybrid Suns (Unique Leader Records)

Advanced musicianship at dizzying speeds can lead many to check out early when it comes to the tech death revolution in metal. Others can’t get enough of the movement – which brings us to French quartet Read more […]

June 17th, 2022 Reviews

Civil War – Invaders (Napalm Records)

Although six years may seem like a long time between studio records, there’s been a few key shifts in the lineup of Civil War plus normal worldwide events that justify this absence. New singer Kelly Read more […]

June 16th, 2022 Features

Visions of Atlantis – Embracing Pirates

Austrian act Visions of Atlantis have come out of the pandemic resilient considering the tragic derailing of their 2020 North American tour opening for Dragonforce less than a week into March of that year. Read more […]

June 15th, 2022 Reviews

Consecration – Cinis (Redefining Darkness Records)

Specific countries develop distinct qualities when it comes to metal. The bleak, grey atmosphere often appears in the UK as an example – perfect for a fusion of death and doom to coexist. Consecration Read more […]

June 15th, 2022 Reviews

Monasterium – Cold Are the Graves (Nine Records)

Belief in a common goal allows artists to achieve a unifying template which can convince listeners to attach easier to their output. In the case of Monasterium, this Polish quartet worship at the altar Read more […]

June 14th, 2022 Features

Sole Syndicate – Striding into the Flames

These days musicians can develop a melting pot of influences past and present, old school to modern, and shape things into a mold or niche that has a wide array of appeal. Swedish act Sole Syndicate are Read more […]

June 13th, 2022 Reviews

Kreator – Hate Über Alles (Nuclear Blast)

Masters of thrash Kreator may take a little longer to release studio albums than in the 80’s and 90’s – but that’s only due to a vigorous worldwide touring and festival schedule that keeps the Read more […]

June 13th, 2022 Reviews

Wind Rose – Warfront (Napalm Records)

Creating a category all their own, Italian quintet Wind Rose deliver dwarven power metal – chock full of folk spirit and fantasy, Tolkien, and Warhammer themes for album number five in Warfront. Raising Read more […]

June 12th, 2022 Features

Temple of Void – Threshold of Excellence

Ardent metalheads love getting into a band early in the game, watching the growth as musicians gain seasoning, experience, and confidence in their craft. With Michigan’s Temple of Void, the group releases Read more […]

June 10th, 2022 Reviews

Inanimate Existence – The Masquerade (The Artisan Era)

Productive since 2011, California act Inanimate Existence live for a blend of progressive-oriented technical death metal that has received critical praise as well as building a legion of followers. The Read more […]

June 10th, 2022 Reviews

Sole Syndicate – Into the Flames (Scarlet Records)

When it comes to blending influences from across continents, many Scandinavian artists place special care and concern to service the needs of the songs first and foremost. Place Sole Syndicate in this Read more […]

June 9th, 2022 Features

Fallen Sanctuary – Headed to the Top

It’s always exciting to hear premiere musicians’ express affinity for a specific style of music, get together, and end up releasing a new band and album that revives a movement that was delivering Read more […]

June 8th, 2022 Reviews

Temple of Void – Summoning the Slayer (Relapse)

Another entry in the thriving Midwest metal movement, Michigan quintet Temple of Void have been developing a hefty discography in the death/doom realm since arriving on the scene in 2013. A part of underground Read more […]

June 8th, 2022 Reviews

Seventh Wonder – The Testament (Frontiers Music)

Active since 2000, Swedish progressive metal masters Seventh Wonder continually impress as creative musicians striving to develop material that balances intricate musical parts with proper phrasing and Read more […]

June 7th, 2022 Features

Civil War – Power Through History

Now four albums into their career, Civil War have been able to establish their own credibility beyond the ex-Sabaton membership. This is high quality power metal in the European mold – stirring melodies, Read more […]

June 6th, 2022 Reviews

Carried by VI – Metempsychosis (Self-Released)

Establishing themselves in 2017, Connecticut act Carried by VI as a band travel across various metal and hardcore platforms style-wise when engaging with their material. Metempsychosis is the latest EP Read more […]

June 6th, 2022 Reviews

Deep Sun – Dreamland – Behind the Shades (Massacre Records)

Choosing to change out aspects of the lineup, sound, songwriting tactics, and even band logo, Swiss symphonic metal/rock band Deep Sun arrive at a new juncture in their career with this third album Dreamland Read more […]

June 5th, 2022 Features

Maniac Abductor – Throwing Down Damage

Always a staple of this scribe’s listening palate since the inception of the movement in the 1980’s, thrash metal has gone through its ups, downs, twists, turns, and transformations. Some musicians Read more […]

June 3rd, 2022 Reviews

The Cross – Act II: Walls of the Forgotten (Pitch Black Records)

Recognized as Brazil’s first doom metal band, The Cross’ origins date back to 1990 – developing a couple of demos before a twenty-year hiatus stalled momentum. They’ve been active on the recording Read more […]

June 3rd, 2022 Reviews

All Things Fallen – Shadow Way (Blackoak Records)

It’s always helpful to have specific bullet points to get a leg up on the plethora of releases flooding the scene these days. In the case of Swedish progressive metal artists All Things Fallen, it’s Read more […]

June 2nd, 2022 Features

Seventh Wonder – An Emotional Gamut

Veterans of the progressive metal scene, Seventh Wonder continue to enrich the lives of their faithful followers through a discography that resonates for those who love the genre. Releasing their most Read more […]