In the “Did not see that one coming” department, former Nevermore guitarist Jeff Loomis joined Arch Enemy this week. Considering the strong solo career Loomis has enjoyed since he departed Nevermore in 2011, the move came as a surprise to many. Some even went to venture it was a way for Loomis to earn a steady paycheck in a band where clearly, his talents wouldn’t be maximized. One could guess all day, but let’s see if this union lasts a full 12 months…
Features
British crossover masters SSS have something to say…and for good reason.
Get to know Boston, MA melodic death metal newbies My Missing Half.
Italian atmospheric metallers Nero Di Marte have one of the year’s more impressive forays on their hands with Derivae. Read what the band had to say about the album, and much more right here.
Reviews
Zom reveals in blackened death metal mastery on Flesh Assimilation.
Spanish melodic death metal outfit Dysnomia demonstrate some promise on their new, self-titled effort.
Get into the holiday spirit with Ragnarok Juletide, an assembled batch of various Christmas songs performed by Finnish metal bands.
Paganizer celebrates 20 years as a band with 20 Years in a Terminal Grip.
Metallica’s not-so-productive years are examined in Into the Black, one of the best books about the band in existence.
Dutch death metal crew Soulburn return after a 16-year absence with The Suffocating Darkness.
Another Dutch extreme metal entry, this time via Thanatos and Global Purification.
Antimatter figurehead Mick Moss gets his side project kicks with the excellent Sleeping Pulse.
Cult death metallers Necrophagia fall flat on Whiteworm Cathedral.
The news in ten
1. Sylosis releases animated video for “Leech.”
2. Iron Reagan releases video for “I Won’t Go.”
3. Relapse Records hits the 25-year mark.
4. At the Gates pops out “Heroes and Tombs” video.
5. Grind freaks Cretin to release Stranger in December.
6. Napalm Death streams a new jam, “Cesspits.”
7. Machine Head’s new album cracks the Billboard top 20.
8. Sonata Arctica goes the Genesis cover route with “I Can’t Dance.”
9. Saint Vitus vocalist Wino enters rehab.
10. Ola Englund of The Haunted creates new project with former Decapitated drummer Kerim “Krimh” Lechner.