Carnation – Cursed Mortality (Season of Mist)
Belgian death metal band Carnation have been held a cut above the rest of the old school worshippers since their 2018 debut full-length Chapel of Abhorrence, and for good reason. While many attempt to...
Doro – Strong and Proud
It’s always a pleasure to get the chance to engage with a lot of the early heroes of heavy metal that are setting the bar high with their work even as they approach 40...
Ne Obliviscaris / Beyond Creation / The Omnific – October 10, 2023 – The Orpheum, Tampa, FL
Photos by: Brittany Barkasi
As mentioned in our review of their latest album Exul, Ne Obliviscaris' pandemic woes resulted in canceled tours in addition to a hefty delay for said album's release. Now finally being...
Martyrdoom – As Torment Prevails (Memento Mori)
The marriage of death and doom metal has been parallel probably since the 1990’s – a lot of musicians sharing similar affinities for the heavy properties both styles convey. Polish act Martyrdoom deliver a...
Myrkur – Spine (Relapse)
Coming off of her last album back in 2020 with Folkesange, a release that jettisoned almost all of the black metal roots of Myrkur in favor of an entirely folk-driven affair, it was with...
Dying Wish – Symptoms of Survival (SharpTone Records)
Not quite the dirty word it used to be a decade ago, metalcore has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence over the last few years. In addition to some of the stalwarts of the...
Cirith Ungol – The Fire Inside
Photo: Peter Beste
When it comes to epic-oriented traditional heavy metal with elements of old school doom or NWOBHM influences, one veteran act that has always been held in cult status (or esteem) is Ventura,...
Berzerker Legion – Chaos Will Reign (Listenable Records)
Recruiting seasoned veterans of the death/extreme metal community, Berzerker Legion started in 2016 through the heads/minds of Asphyx guitarist Alwin Zuur and Hypocrisy live axe man Tomas Elofsson. Seeing eye to eye on musical...
Dead Serenity – When Worlds Turn to Gray (Inverse Records)
Apt readers of this site could deduce that most of the writers have a strong proclivity towards the melodic death metal genre – and have for quite a while. Ears perk up when hearing...
Óreiða – The Eternal (Debemur Morti Productions)
Atmospheric black metal is all about balance. If it’s too grainy and stripped down, it can feel like something is missing. On the contrary, if too lush, the required level of bite and tension...
Prong – At a Breaking Point
Photo: Nathaniel Shannon
When you think of gritty, cold anthems full of force and vigor, Prong has been one of the benchmark acts when it comes to heavy, groove-oriented metal through the decades. Incorporating influences...
Gunship – Unicorn (Horsie in the Hedge)
A famous quote from Monty Python’s Flying Circus is apt for this review: “And now for something completely different.” We’ve covered some music that extends outside of the boundaries of rock and metal, but...