Nostradameus – Illusion’s Parade (AFM Records)
This is Nostradameus with an “e”...not Judas Priest’s Nostradamus, mind you. Since there are roughly 1.2 million bands out there barring the great prophet’s name, a little letter wrangling couldn’t hurt. It’s like when Andre Matos’ Shaman...
Sectioned – Purulent Reality (Paragon Records)
As it stands, cross-section death metal (i.e. take a ton of styles, throw it all together) is ruling the game, so when something like Sectioned’s Purulent Reality pops, it deserves a long look, if only because of...
Borknagar – Universal (Indie Recordings/The End)
When Bork mainman Oystein G. Brun proclaimed Universal was a “return to form” (cue simultaneous sighs and eyebrow raising), we’re not sure what he meant. This isn’t akin to the glory days of the The Archaic Course....
Obscura – Retribution Reissue (Relapse Records)
Reissuing Retribution makes total sense after the immense breakout year that was 2009 for Germany’s Obscura. Their Cosmogenesis album was a runaway critical darling, landing the band on a spate of international tours that brought their melodically-inclined technical...
Buzzov*en – Violence From the Vault (Relapse Records)
Seriously, who from the sludge/noise arena hasn’t poached a few ideas from Buzzov*en? The distortion, the crazed feedback, the elongated jams...all of this was done well before the new wave stoner/sludge kicked in. Their Sore album is probably...
Stygian – Fury Rising (Mortal Music)
Not as power metal as their name would suggest (there is a “Stygia” who is manned by a dude who used to play drums in this scribe’s first band – wow!), Stygian take us...
Charred Walls Of The Damned – Charred Walls Of The Damned (Metal Blade Records)
The average follower of pop culture knows Richard Christy from his comedy/ crazy man stunts on the Howard Stern Show. Those in the metal scene are aware of his long time exploits as a drummer...
Dream Evil – In the Night (Century Media Records)
These Swedes represent a guilty pleasure of sorts for this reviewer. Clearly setting their style on the 80’s traditional and cliché’ ridden hard rock eras, do not expect anything revolutionary in terms of their...
Mob Rules – Radical Peace (AFM Records)
It would be unfair to lump Mob Rules in with the rest of the current power metal hacks, but we did it anyway and for that, we’re sorry. Next round of beers (German ones, no less)...
Mutiny Within – Mutiny Within (Roadrunner Records)
Starting out as a Children of Bodom cover act, this New Jersey sextet approach their debut album unlike most newcomer bands. While the current business model favors a blitzkrieg of live shows to build up...