Ask any number of the Norwegian black metal veterans and they’ll all say the same thing: Brazil’s Sarcofago was a major influence. As arguably the most extreme band to originate from Brazil, Sarcofago Read more […]
First eyeballing the excellent Sarafin Concepts artwork (also responsible for label mates Eternium and The Kennedy Veil’s latest covers, among others), it seemed reasonable that Hate Division’s latest Read more […]
[9/10] Anathema, a UK band with distant ties to the world of heavy metal which are no longer intact, nor have been for a long time, remain dear to the hearts of many a metal fan as is evidenced by their Read more […]
When I, like many others I do not doubt, heard the news that Wolves in the Throne Room were exiting their post-Celestial Lineage slumber to release new material, it was with great glee. The caveat came, Read more […]
Elevated to Euro festival headliner status…doesn’t get much bigger than that across the pond, ya know? It’s a spot reserved for the big guns; the anthem-bringers who generally fester in the melodic and/or Read more […]
With Epicloud, we got Epiclouder, a companion disc to bring forth “the rest” of the material Devin was working with at the time. Two albums from Devin is always better than one, and for Casualties Read more […]
Owls are great, especially in this scribe’s happy little home, where his happy little lady went as far as to decorate an entire Christmas tree with nothing but small, stuffed owls. It was a sight to behold. Read more […]
One of the real survivors from Noise Records’ mid-80’s signing spree that basically gathered up all the good up-and-coming German metal bands, Tankard have gone over the 30-year mark with their typical Read more […]
When was the last time that a tech death album took you on a journey? Sure, there was Warforged’s valiant effort at the beginning of this year, but that was only an EP. A Never-Ending Cycle of Read more […]
With no prior knowledge of Deus Otiosus, between the slick grim reaper in their logo and the gnarly looking monster that adorns the cover of Rise, they should have their merchandising pretty well covered. Read more […]
Listening to Scamp’s The Deadcalm makes DR ponder a time roughly ten years ago when Denmark’s Mnemic were in line to be modern metal’s next great hope. Ultra-produced, pretty heavy, relatively devoid Read more […]
The idea of having fun is generally one that is poo-pooed in metal. There’s this stereotype of stoic evil, lending credence to that guy you always see at a metal concert. You know the type: standing Read more […]
Even if they’re a few shades (of grey) from ascending to the top rung of Finnish dark rock/metal, The Chant sure know how to be ominously soothing. Barely metallic, splintered the occasional guitar push, Read more […]
The war of words between Accept and Udo Dirkschneider? Most awesome. It’s the type of back-and-forth the press can get plenty of mileage on, while giving fans ample reason for debate over which incarnation Read more […]
A side outlet for a pair of Enthroned dudes (Phorgath and Olve), Emptiness play what is now, the very hip and happening brand of weird-as-fuck death metal. Nothing But the Whole on the surface, doesn’t Read more […]
Unaussprechlichen Kulten is a fictional book of Lovecraftian lore (also called the Nameless Cult or Black Book). This Chilean death metal squad has produced two full lengths prior to Baphomet Pan Shub-Niggurath, Read more […]
It’s not too often that Norwegian black metal pioneers Mayhem release new material to the masses, but as has been the trend in the band’s recent history, when they do decide to unloose an unholy horde Read more […]
While melodic death metal may have experienced its heyday long ago at this point, there’s still something captivating about bands that do it right. We’ve already encountered excellent new material Read more […]
The dial points right to these Aussies as one of the more reliable practitioners of the grief-stricken (!) funeral doom style. Actually, Mournful Congregation may be a mobile step above that little segment; Read more […]
It’s a love/hate relationship with Ukraine’s Zgard. These one-man projects are always complicated in one way or another because the music is limited by one musician’s individual ideas in their own Read more […]
Even in my 40’s, I still seek out underground metal talent and clamor to take in new acts when my schedule allows in a live environment. Recently hearing about this Canadian band through their Bandcamp Read more […]
Total stopgap here, which is fine – hard to mess with the Kiske/Hansen combo, which for you neophytes, is Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen of the oh-so-glorious Keeper-era Helloween fame. The band’s 2012 Read more […]
The last Son of Aurelius album (and first technically speaking) was released back in 2010. The Farthest Reaches was a promising effort in technically driven melodic death metal. Far from the most original Read more […]
The Swiss Herod, not to be confused with the Buffalo, NY Herod, who, for a very brief moment of time in the mid-00s had some potential in American melo-death derby. Weird how these international copyright Read more […]
Stalwarts of a unique style of folk inspired, power metal infused, brand of charismatic heavy metal, Sweden’s Falconer drop their eighth album in Black Moon Rising, eagerly anticipated by their fans, and Read more […]
A hair surprised Sabina Claussen doesn’t get more credit in the female extreme metal vocalist discussion. She’s been holding court since the early 80s among the fierce Boys Club that is the German Read more […]
Who knew some of the music from Colorado might suck the breath from your lungs faster than a change in altitude will? They maybe one of the less commonly known bands, but Colorado’s Velnias reach out Read more […]
When it comes to Swedish-styled retro death metal, originality is about as frequent as water in the desert. A relatively simple formula to retread: pack in that buzzsaw guitar tone, add some heavy yet Read more […]
In all fairness to Autopsy’s undeniable legacy and influence, DR didn’t have to dig into the netherworlds of its cranium to dissect Tourniquets, Hacksaws, and Graves. Killer title, though. In what Read more […]
So, New York’s Imperial Triumphant took the ten songs from their last two albums and combined them into one re-release called Shrine to the Trident Throne. It’s a two for one deal! No need to be said, Read more […]
