The unfortunate consequence of starting a new band after leaving a popular, quasi-legendary band is that said previous band will always come up in the discussion. Soen, as it stands, will forever be the Read more […]
Behind the scenes the common fan would shudder at the many forks in the road bands have to make in the hopes of climbing up the ladder in terms of popularity and better opportunities within the industry. Read more […]
It’s clear that At the Gates is a band that needs no introduction to any fan of metal. After their swansong Slaughter of the Soul was released and the band called it quits, it only furthered their legacy. Read more […]
That would be “Cold” for those of curiosity, although lest we not confuse this Khold with the nu-metal pansies under the actual “Cold” banner. Talk about from the “Where are the now?” file… Read more […]
Possessing a healthy appetite for metal on the live front since my indoctrination in the 1980’s, it’s never mattered to me whether I gain my fix at a national, large theater/arena venue or in a small, Read more […]
Starkill made a big splash onto the metal scene last year with their debut, Fires of Life. Since then, they’ve been touring the globe in support of said album with bands like Wintersun, Amorphis, Turisas, Read more […]
Formation: 2001 Location: Virginia, USA Style: Extreme metal that balances technicality and melody Personnel: Jeff Sumrell (Bass, Vocals); Dave Tedesco (Drums); Richard Gulczynski (Guitars) Latest Read more […]
Critics, let alone history, have never been kind to female-fronted, or all-female hard rock and metal bands. The amount of “shade” (there’s your hip word of the day) thrown toward the likes of Butcher Read more […]
Fortunate to take in The Dark Discovery from my early co-editor years at Snakepit magazine, immediately the sound of Sweden’s Evergrey captured my headspace. There was a sense of heaviness and darkness Read more […]
Not having a new demo tribunal since April (yikes!), it seemed the time was right to at last clear out a bit of the submissions that DR gets on a regular basis. Slightly shorter due to the overall busy Read more […]
[9/10] As the seemingly constant late 1990’s ad-run of Monster Ballads proclaimed, “every bad boy has his soft side.” For an avid technical death metal fan, such is the most rational justification Read more […]
Dead Rhetoric: Nina, as a female vocalist in a particular sub-genre more well-known for strong male vocalists, do you feel like it can be an uphill climb to prove your ability and commitment to the genre Read more […]
Remember when metal was just metal? People would clamor to any show they could, seek out all the record stores and magazines and radio stations to get any taste they had for the genre, once hooked it was Read more […]
So much music so little time. So little time, in fact, that one lucky band managed to get covered twice in this month’s edition due to an oversight by yours truly. Nonetheless, here’s the latest batch Read more […]
With many bands, it takes years and years to truly make a name for themselves. But for some bands, they form just the right concoction and seem to gravitate towards the spotlight from the beginning. Read more […]
Decapitated is a band that has had to deal with more than their fair share of tragedy. The young band exploded onto the scene back in 2000 with Winds of Creation, and pushed out Nihility and The Negation Read more […]
Dead Rhetoric: You are known as one of the more opinionated and vocal fans of music in general: how do you handle some of the backlash you may receive? I for one appreciate the fact that you stand up for Read more […]
I’ve been fortunate to have many conversations with October 31/Deceased main man King Fowley for a few decades. During the years of the Powermad and Classic Metal Festivals, he was a regular staple as Read more […]
If one band can be cited as an example for an explosion of success in the past few years, it’s Amaranthe. With their 2011 self-titled debut, the band made waves with their infectious combination of Read more […]
Another month hits the books, now in the midst of the perpetually busy fall season. Time to get a few more things completed before the approaching winter (well, at least for us northeasterners). If you Read more […]
Formation: 2004 Location: Sheridan, Wyoming Style: Black metal, but with highly unique riffs and arrangements. Read: Unconventional, without alienating the listener. Personnel: Toby Knapp (all instruments Read more […]
Fueling the fire for yesteryear, we have a new crop of artists who churn out stripped down metal that focuses on the almighty riffs and melodies that many turn to when hearing heavy metal for the first Read more […]
Swiss metallers Schammasch develop deeply contemplative music that ventures into the mind, outlines wisdom and urges understanding. They “guess” that they “can live” with being categorized as avant-garde Read more […]
Some bands really require no introduction. Bands like Slayer, Metallica, and Megadeth are practically household names, even to the non-metal. Strange to think that twenty-five years into their career, Read more […]
When you think of heavy metal, you tend to think of the most traditional of themes and forms. Electric guitar wizardry, themes of death and decay, and visceral intensity. But not all bands are willing Read more […]
Give us a one-man guided black metal with character and gall over a faceless, flannel-shirt brigade any day of the week, ya know? This scribe always ponders (and has sometimes scribbled on this very site Read more […]
Instrumental bands have a tendency to be very hit or miss. Without lyrics to shift the attention of the listener, the music truly bears all of the weight and pressure. There needs to be a certain dynamic Read more […]
The year Sanctuary came to my attention: 1988. Even as a late teen, budget constraints often caused me to be very cautious on blind purchases. Thus after reading up on the bands in such publications as Read more […]
In the crowded death metal genre of today, there seems to be two major factions: old school and technical. The old school death metal scene has resurfaced in a big way over the last few years, with everyone Read more […]
Hailing from the land of harsh Arctic winds, brutal winters, and a bevy of ice hockey talent, Canada’s Striker have been making their presence felt with their brand of old school oriented classic/power Read more […]
