The power of the axe holds court in the halls of heavy metal. There’s just something magical about striking the right chord through a tremendous amplifier or listening to a blistering lead break that Read more […]
With the growing popularity of folk metal, sometimes it seems like the genre is starting to run out of ideas. So many bands go for either the “epic” variety, or the “party” variety and there’s Read more […]
Few bands are as synonymous with melodic death metal as Soilwork. Plugging away through nine full length albums over the course of almost two decades of existence, it’s easy to see why. Despite seemingly Read more […]
Another month comes to a close as we begin to approach the inevitable summer festival season and fall onslaught of new material. Better to stay ahead of the game at this point and check out a few albums Read more […]
Formation: 2009 Location: Finland Style: Dark, atmospheric rock/grunge Personnel: Kalle Koo (Guitars & Vocals); Juho Martikainen (Contrabass); Risto Järvelin (Percussion) Latest Release: What I Hold Read more […]
Quietly carving out an inspiring brand of speedy traditional metal, Sweden’s Enforcer are one of the new generation leaders in their particular niche. Followers flock to their high octane riffs, Olof’s Read more […]
Sometimes it’s just cool how some groups materialize and form, seemingly out of nowhere. Take Alkaloid, who originally announced their intentions just shortly after Christian Muenzner and Hannes Grossmann Read more […]
Sometimes it’s nice to just get a taste of things with an EP before really diving in 100%. A bit easier to digest (not to mention the relief on the budget), it’s a way for bands to get their name Read more […]
A progressive metal three-piece…have to think really hard about finding a group of bands worth mentioning. They’re virtually a non-entity, with the style’s primary bands having conventional setups Read more […]
Starting as a eulogy to guitarist/vocalist Steve Moss’ best friend John Goff who died on August 1st, 2007 due to a severe asthma attack, he would move from Kansas to Buffalo, New York and assemble the Read more […]
Contrary to popular belief, heavy metal as a genre can be just as intelligent on a lyrical level as it is musically intoxicating. Many bands are willing to tackle politics, social injustice, and environmental Read more […]
Good, solid doom/death is a formula that may seem easy, but often is riddled with difficulties. Go too doomy and you’ll lose the portion of the audience that wants the immediacy of death metal, yet Read more […]
Admittedly, the first thing that many think of when they hear Tasmania, is the Looney Tunes character called the Tasmanian Devil. A bit shallow perhaps, but for Psycroptic, it can actually work as a fitting Read more […]
Formation: 2012 Location: Boston, MA Style: Extreme progressive power party thrash. Lots of ripping leads and riffs that are set to stun. Children of Bodom, Dragonforce, Gamma Ray, and Megadeth would Read more […]
Having treaded the waters through the both the bumpy beginnings of black metal and holding the flag high for Viking metal, Enslaved has always been a pioneer. They are also a band that is not afraid to Read more […]
By the time Moonspell’s 1996 Irreligious album hit the scene, Goth metal was far from a codified form of heavy music. Sure, the glorious trinity of British doom (Anathema, My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost) Read more […]
Growing up through the 1980’s metal movement, you got to see the rise and fall of certain trends. Younger musicians naturally wanted to push boundaries, which often meant using faster, more aggressive Read more […]
Formation: 2012 Location: New Hampshire, USA Style: Melodic death metal at the heavier end of the spectrum Personnel: Olivier Pinard (bass); Flo Mounier (drums); Ehren Hill (guitar); Jeff DeMarco (vocals); Read more […]
Dead Rhetoric: You are open about being a medium, witch, and shaman. Does Gospel of the Witches seem to be a link between your metal and nonmetal endeavors? Crisis: Absolutely. When I took a break Read more […]
The name Karyn Crisis was first put onto the metal map back in the 1990s with her work fronting the experimental metal/hardcore band Crisis. While the group attained a cult-like status to some, the band Read more […]
It wouldn’t seem that a few days would make such a big deal, but it always seems like February just flies by. So, likewise, here we are with yet another serving of 15 short cuts featuring some winners, Read more […]
Doro Pesch, the Metal Queen, should be a familiar name for many. Starting out with Warlock back in the 1980s, she survived the ‘90s and her solo career has lasted ever since. She’s lived through Read more […]
Here’s the problem with releasing an album so late in the year: It never makes it onto anyone’s list. This applies for Chile’s Animus Mortis, who released their second album Testimonia as 2014 just Read more […]
Concept albums are pretty traveled roads in heavy metal. Given the genre’s dynamics and lack of time constraints, it’s a fine way to help unify an album. But few bands come close to the dedication Read more […]
With this column going strong for a year now, it’s been fun to seek out new and interesting bands with some free time on Bandcamp. It’s one thing to have music hand-delivered to you, but going out Read more […]
One of the leaders in the epic folk metal scene, Finland’s Ensiferum for many followers blends the right elements of melodic death and cultural themes in a striking manner. It also helps that their lyrical Read more […]
Formation: 2012 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Style: Song-based death metal with technical aspects Personnel: James Becker (Bass, Vocals); Erik Stenglein (Drums); Jerry Hauppa (Guitars); Adam Bujny Read more […]
California death/grinders Exhumed released their seminal (and initial) offering, Gore Metal, back in 1998. Remembering the album’s initial release, it worked as a fun and lively piece of death metal Read more […]
Heavy metal as an art form no longer has to develop and prosper in major metropolitan cities. The ability to get your music heard now is easier than ever, so even acts from outer reaches can stand toe Read more […]
Because they come every four or five years, a Blind Guardian album should rightfully be treated as an event. They’re well past the point of having to follow the traditional bi-annual release schedule to Read more […]
