Features

Exmortus – Dance with the Dead

Long-time followers of Dead Rhetoric are aware of our affinity for this California band Exmortus. Intertwining sophisticated riffs and shredding leads in a neoclassical meets thrash/death context, they’ve Read more […]

The Unity – Join the Hellish Joyride

Photo: Michael Stammwitz German power metal band The Unity have probably delivered their most versatile and satisfying studio album to date for their latest record The Hellish Joyride. People who appreciate Read more […]

Warmen – Accidental Aggression

Photo: Marek Sabogal Containing members with ties to Children of Bodom, Ensiferum, and Kotipelto, Warmen arrives back on the scene after a prolonged absence from the studio. Which is understandable Read more […]

Knife – A Slice of Metal

Germany has always had a solid foothold when it comes to traditional heavy metal support and its numerous offshoots. For those that love a blackened, speed approach, look no further than Knife for that Read more […]

Spirit Adrift – Spontaneous Inspiration

Prolific creativity comes to mind when checking out the work of Spirit Adrift. Active since 2015, they’ve released a series of EP’s, singles, and full-length records faithfully year after year – Read more […]

Signs of the Swarm – Heavy Is A Feeling

Photo: Andre Giovanni There’s a huge swirl of underground buzz percolating to the larger metal scene when it comes to deathcore. Thanks to the explosive popularity of Lorna Shore, you hear other artists Read more […]

Eleine – The Legion Remains

Symphonic metal covers a broad spectrum of styles these days. For those that love the heavier side tempered with the right melodies, hooks, and cinematic-oriented aspects, Swedish act Eleine are mandatory Read more […]

Astralborne – Climb Aboard the Fun Train

A studio project formed by musicians from New York, Ohio, and Michigan, Astralborne live for a lot of the early melodic death metal influences that originated from Europe during the 1990’s in their style. Read more […]

Crypta – Process of Pain

Photo: Estevam Romera Quickly making their mark across the death metal landscape, Crypta returns for their second studio record in Shades of Sorrow. Continually challenging themselves as far as intricacy Read more […]

Blindstone – All About Freedom

The roots of heavy metal tie into the blues. For guitarist/vocalist Martin Jepsen Andersen, he gains the chance to explore those blues in a power trio context for Danish act Blindstone. Many may know of Read more […]

Omnium Gatherum – Stuck Here On Tour’s Way

It’s mid-April and Markus Vanhala is exhausted. The Omnium Gatherum guitarist is on tour with his other but equally-as-important band, Insomnium, trekking across the States in support of Enslaved after Read more […]

Demolizer – Delivering Capital Punishment

Photo by: Anders Dalhøj Aware of this Danish four-piece in the early stages of their career through the Ghoul debut EP of 2018, Demolizer garnered the interest of Mighty Music who signed the group Read more […]

Girlschool – It Is What It Is

Photo by: Adam Kennedy The longest-running all-female rock/metal band internationally, Girlschool has always been one of those groups that put the focus on music first. This scribe remembers watching Read more […]

Lockjaw – Making Massive Connections

Hailing from the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area, Lockjaw is aiming to become a potent force when it comes to their melodic groove metal style. Their debut album Relentless contains monster riffs wrapped Read more […]

Fifth Angel – Older, Wiser, and Ready to Kill

When it comes to melodic power metal, one of the originators of the movement came from the very fertile Seattle scene (pre-grunge mind you) called Fifth Angel. As their profile grew bigger through their Read more […]

Bloodbound – Powerhouse Tales

Closing in on a twenty-year career, Swedish act Bloodbound arrive at their tenth studio album with Tales from the North. A reliable force on the heavy/power metal scene, this energetic effort encompasses Read more […]

Wonders – Capturing Time

Lovers of European power metal always appear on the lookout for the best albums in the scene year after year. For this scribe’s money, the second album from Wonders Beyond the Mirage is another excellent Read more […]

Vexed – Music is Nonbinary

Vexed made a pretty massive splash with their first effort back in 2021 with Culling Culture. Mixing elements of modern metal, vicious deathcore and metalcore, as well as electronic elements, they had Read more […]

Royal Thunder – Rebuilt with Hope

It takes a lot of work and effort to get things going again after a band dissolves. Plagued with some issues before the pandemic, Royal Thunder called it quits shortly after they released Wick. But with Read more […]

A Dark Halo – Elements of Unreality

Discovery is a joyous aspect of metal journalism. The opportunity to expose oneself to artists usually not seen or heard otherwise, the ability to hopefully turn other consumers on to these musicians as Read more […]

Evile – Venture into the Unknown

Photo Credit: Steve Dutton Veteran artists often feel the need to explore new territory as they gain more confidence, seasoning, and experience at their craft. Well-equipped in the art of ripping thrash, Read more […]

Benthic Realm – Open the Vessel

Nothing sounds quite as emotionally liberating as well-crafted doom metal. The right combination of hefty riffs bolstered by pounding bass and crushing drums – allowing the vocals to tantalize or mesmerize Read more […]

Vypera – Stormwind Approaching

Many followers of melodic hard rock/heavy metal hold a special place for the 1980’s-era in their hearts. MTV was brought into millions of homes, introducing heavier forms of music to an audience craving Read more […]

Before the Dawn – Back From the Dark

Photo Credit: Teppo Ristola A decade ago, multi-instrumentalist Tuomas Saukkonen put to rest numerous bands to focus solely on Wolfheart. Slowly but surely, the resurrection of his other bands has begun Read more […]

Pyramaze – Object Permanence

A constant favorite even from the early years, Pyramaze are an international power/progressive metal act that pride themselves on delivering impactful material that is equally catchy as it is forward thinking Read more […]

Avarice – Lurking in the Trenches

We’ve seen quite a proliferation of younger acts pushing multiple subgenres into a sound that is energetic, attacking, while also developing the key components for hook/groove retention. Hailing from Read more […]

Jag Panzer – Beware of The Hallowed

Photo by: Ryan Kercher Building a discography that appeases the most ardent metal followers, Jag Panzer returns with another conceptual storyline for this latest album The Hallowed. Unlike their ode Read more […]

Creeping Death – Hanging on the Edge of Existence

Photo Credit: Addrian Jafaritabar Another in the younger breed of Texas artists combining a love of hardcore and death metal, Creeping Death have quickly moved up the ranks through consistent releases Read more […]

Scar Symmetry – Phase II in Effect

These days consumers often wait a bit longer for studio albums in the metal scene more than ever. Factors include family/personal responsibilities, longer touring windows globally – or say a prolonged Read more […]

Dieth – Trust Your Instincts

An international band with ties across multiple continents, Dieth features a killer combination of musicians: ex-Megadeth bassist David Ellefson, ex-Entombed A.D. guitarist / vocalist Guilherme Miranda, Read more […]