Obvious statement for the day: Things in metal work differently in Europe. Case in point, German death metal horde Wound received “Demo of the Month” honors from revered Rock Hard magazine, no doubt Read more […]
Hey, shouldn’t a skull be on the cover instead of some solitary figure? This is a metalcore album, and such design schematics were such the norm that DR remembers rather vividly Killswitch Engage bassist/artist Read more […]
Without much of an equal or even a parallel in the 2013 black metal sphere, Sweden’s Watain stands alone in their pursuit as being the by-the-book, be-all, end-all BM band. They certainly look and act Read more […]
Fleshgod Apocalypse hails from most epic city in recorded history, and they sure sound like it. This Roman technical death metal band, with an equally prominent symphonic side, now delivers its third Read more […]
Death SS have a Wikipedia page, which came in handy when trying to plot the course of the very review you’re about to read. Long name-dropped and considered one of those revered cult bands, the Steve Read more […]
Former Gigan members creating a band that sounds like…Gigan. Interesting. Orbweaver is the product of former Hate Eternal/Gigan guitarist Randy Piro, who is joined in this endeavor by former Gigan guitarist Read more […]
Divebomb Records usually takes a flier on 80’s cult thrash bands for their well-received reissue series, so it appears modern Prague tech death metal outfit Mindwork are the exception. The label is giving Read more […]
The odd, uncomfortable relationship between Dream Theater vocalist James LaBrie and the band’s now-ex drummer Mike Portnoy helped push the singer into solo territory in 2005. LaBrie, often shuttered out Read more […]
In today’s scene, when a higher profile band calls for your services, you don’t hesitate. In the case of ReVamp vocalist Floor Jansen, when Nightwish needed a touring vocalist in 2012, she has stepped Read more […]
It didn’t take a rocket surgeon to surmise the retro thrash scene’s shelf-life would be a quickie; watching the bands that comprise of it crawl to respectability is another thing onto itself. Whether it’s Read more […]
Does anyone remember long-defunct French black metallers Anorexia Nervosa? DR definitely does, having thoroughly enjoyed their 2004 swansong Redemption Process to the max. AN was one of those bands who Read more […]
The origins of Unmothered’s unusual name stem from Mexico City, where a friend of the band’s inquired a cab driver on how to best describe the city. The driver proceed to use the word “desmadre,” Read more […]
Head on straight, out of the fog, coherent, etc. etc., Phil Anselmo has come a long way from those messy, semi-embarrassing Superjoint Ritual days where the band sucked, he was a mess, and no one cared. Read more […]
Norma Jean is one of the more polarizing groups in metal these days. On one hand, the metalcore stalwarts are a critical and commercial success, beloved by their fans for their breathtaking live sets. Read more […]
Chicago-based thrashers Diamond Plate return for their second studio album, Pulse, and well, it’s a little bit of a slog to get through. Stylistically, Diamond Plate bring a healthy dose of the old Read more […]
More angry dude music, this time in form of a lovely little split between New Jersey’s Old Wounds and upstate New York’s Trenchfoot. They should have trotted this thing out as a New Jersey-New York Read more […]
Supposedly a more wild and raucous version of Cancer Bats, Detroit’s Wilson (first thought that comes to mind? Tim Allen’s neighbor on the 90s sitcom Home Improvement) are an unfortunate creation that Read more […]
One had a hunch that with Atheist, Cynic, and Pestilence all enjoying the spoils of reformation, Gorguts wouldn’t be too far behind. Officially, the band has been back together since 2008, yet mainman Read more […]
Much like Orphaned Land is for Israel, Kryptos is the go-to opening band in India when the big boys roll into town, i.e. Maiden, Dark Tranquillity, Kreator, etc. And given the indeterminate amount of acts Read more […]
Having the unique distinction as well-respected publicist and musician, New York-based Curran Reynolds is one of the savvier PR people DR knows, primarily because Reynolds doesn’t get up in our grill Read more […]
Originally released in 2012 but seeing the light of day thanks to the Cyclone Empire/Metal Blade co-op, Germany’s Shakhtyor (which is Russian for minor) play a rather Americanized style of instrumental Read more […]
The last time To the Pain principles John Intagliata (vocals) and Steve Shaver (guitars) worked together was 1989, a robust 24 years. The pair were teenagers, probably sporting dirty mustaches, high-tops, Read more […]
Power metal goes through waves of highs and lows. Helloween rode to prominence in the 1980’s; Hammerfall resurrected the movement for most Europeans in the mid 1990’s, and for a time, Lost Horizon Read more […]
The fever sea rages, as water batters the hatches and the vessel nears being swallowed. Man has lost yet another battle with Mother Nature, perhaps as retaliation for all the stupid things he’s done to Read more […]
The inclusion of the word “panzer” right away tells you what Denmark’s Panzerchrist are about: War. While it would be awesome if they were about Jesus and war (check out Blind Guardian’s “Another Read more […]
A petulant, restless 20-minute slab of brutal death metal, Dehuman Reign’s debut Destructive Intent EP/mini-CD rages like a young Suffocation, as if they were in a hurry to go to lunch and wanted to Read more […]
A bunch of fresh-faced newbies from Portugal, Destroyers of All try to cram essentially all of the 1990s into their six-song debut EP, Into the Fire. Metal of the 90’s variety generally entails rather Read more […]
Exhumed in their uh, “exhumed” phase are a much more interesting group than they were during the flimsy Gore Metal and Slaughtercult years. Back then, it’s was more about being sloppy with death metal, Read more […]
World Keeps Sinking, the third full-length album from Milwaukee moshers Northless, is a polished and crushing effort that sees the foursome blur the lines of sludge, doom and progressive metal in a way Read more […]
If you’re a European thrash band, why wouldn’t you have Mr. Tommy T. Baron (Coroner) produce your album? The Swiss guitar hero was not only the most technically proficient of all the European thrash Read more […]
