Dillinger Escape Plan – Option Paralysis (Party Smasher Inc./Season of Mist)
Quite the odd scene seeing DEP without the Relapse tag next to it. It’s almost like when In Flames jumped from Nuclear Blast in 2006 for Come Clarity. For a lot of people these bands...
Landmine Marathon – Sovereign Descent (Prosthetic Records)
In its latest mutation, grind is now of the female-fronted variety. Not like there weren’t any chicks fronting grind bands before this (Nuclear Death comes to mind), but Landmine Marathon is far and away one of...
Katatonia – The Longest Year EP (Peaceville Records)
In this day and age, EP’s are pretty worthless. Bonus material gets slapped on the ‘net in a heartbeat, rendering special releases like this null and void. In the case of Katatonia, their swelling...
Kalmah – 12 Gauge (Spinefarm Records)
After 2008’s dominating, world-beating, universe-owning For the Revolution, Kalmah appears poised to further ascend up the melodic death metal ladder with 12 Gauge. We’ve stated this a handful of times (click here for proof), but it bears repeating:...
Rage – Strings To A Web (Nuclear Blast Records)
Power trios place intense focus on hooks and chemistry. You can’t have a weak link amongst the vocals, guitars, bass or drums, which probably explains the appeal of Rage through the years. Their brand...
Burzum – Belus (Candlelight Records)
Perhaps the most aped and copied black metal entity, Burzum (rather, everyone’s favorite jailbird Varg Vikernes) finds itself in a precarious position with Belus. On one hand, it’s a welcome sight to have Burzum back,...
Gamma Ray – To the Metal (earMusic)
Business as usual for Kai Hansen and co. with To the Metal. Following up the totally excellent Land of the Free Pt 2, To the Metal sees Gamma Ray tone down some of its traditional Euro speed metal...
Armored Saint – La Raza (Metal Blade Records)
If ever a group of California musicians felt trapped in genre limbo, it would be the mighty Armored Saint. Coming to the forefront of a scene in the early to mid-1980’s with a sound very powerful...
Les Discrets – Septembre et ses dernières Pensées (Prophecy Productions)
Wisely paired with the new Alcest, Septembre et ses dernières Penséesis the full-length debut of French trio Les Discrets, who feature in the ranks former members of the now-defunct Amesouers, who were led by Alcest...
Unleashed – As Yggdrasil Trembles (Nuclear Blast Records)
During my tape trading heydays of the late 80’s into early 90’s, a special feeling overwhelmed me at the prospect of discovering Swedish death metal. At first my mind struggled to handle the deeper...