Thornafire – Vortex Deconstruccion (Ibex Moon Records)
There’s something awfully hateful with the Spanish language. Just the inflection is convincing enough (just reference any sitcom that uses the negative stereotype of the angry Spanish woman), so pair it with rangy, but classic death...
Nightrage – Wearing A Martyr’s Crown (Lifeforce Records)
Funny…it’s really simple to play melodic death metal of the Swedish variety accordingly. Of course, everyone (i.e. random metalcore band #562) says they do it right, but they’re not Nightrage and Nightrage is not...
Yob – The Great Cessation (Profound Lore Records)
With the Middian fiasco now in the rearview mirror, main Yob-dude Mike Scheidt appears to have done the right thing by re-activating this very crucial power trio. Prior to disbanding in 2005, Yob had...
Hail of Bullets – Warsaw Rising EP (Metal Blade Records)
Responsible for the best death metal song of the last five years in the form of “Ordered Eastward,” Dutch death metal supergroup Hail of Bullets are pulling out the ‘ole stop-gap EP with Warsaw Rising....
Gnostic – Engineering the Rule (Season of Mist Records)
Sort of a primer for Atheist’s first record in 16 years, Engineering the Rule bears several, if not too many resemblances the legendary tech-death crew. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering long-standing Atheist drummer Steve Flynn and...
Precious Metal – Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces (Da Capa Press)
As print dies a slow and painful death, those who grew up devouring Metal Maniacs, Terrorizer, and Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles (read: anyone over the age of 25) are left with few little options. Luckily, in...
The Legion – A Bliss To Suffer (Listenable Records)
A Bliss to Suffer is neither here nor there; a by-product of the generic nature of blackened death metal. It’s the brand of samey, hook-less extreme metal that has killed for lesser bands than The...
Divine Heresy – Bringer of Plagues (Century Media Records)
Talk about picking the best time to release an album. Bringer of Plagues is going to be released right in the thick over a legal battle of the Fear Factory name, which, depending on one’s perspective,...
Celesty – Vendetta (Spinefarm Records)
It’s split down the middle: if you’re a Finnish power metal band, you’re going to sound like either Stratovarius or Sonata Arctica. Not like there’s anything inherently wrong with that (is Thunderstone still making...
Fairyland – Score To A New Beginning (Napalm Records)
Fairyland, who without question have the worst name in all of power metal, won’t strike fear into anyone in the near future, but Score To A New Beginning has some legs to it. And since there...