Bats – Cruel Sea Scientist (Armed Ambitions)
Having first stumbled across Bats playing a lacklustre show supporting Down I Go in a dingy dive bar in Dublin, initial impressions were not good, although they already had the beginnings of a fan...
Meshuggah – obZen (Nuclear Blast Records)
Early reports had obZen marking a return to the unbridled fury of 1998’s Chaosphere, but instead, it’s more of a combination of Nothing, Catch Thirty-Three and the aforementioned sonic maelstrom that thrust Meshuggah into the underground spotlight. obZen, in certain spots...
Satan’s Host – Great American Scapegoat 666 (Moribund Records)
Formed in the late 70’s, well before a lot of us were even a twinkle in our parents eyes (at least in yours truly’s case…), Denver’s Satan’s Host have gone from a hard-nosed, melodic...
Zimmers Hole – When You Were Shouting At the Devil…We Were In League With Satan (Century Media Records)
Essentially SYL without Devin, Zimmers Hole isn’t as new as many think – the duo of guitarist Jed Simon and bassist Byron Stroud have been doing the “Hole” for years whenever Townsend would go...
Dark Fortress – Eidolon (Century Media Records)
Given a ringing endorsement by Tom G. Warrior of Celtic Frost, Germany's Dark Fortress (why such the unimaginative name?) have received a nice little push from Century Media, who must feel like this is...
3 – The End Is Begun Special Edition (Metal Blade Records)
A band that has piqued the curiosity of many in both the underground metal and progressive scenes, Woodstock, NY's 3 (or just "Three") are getting the 'ole reissue treatment on one of the most...
Eluveitie – Slania (Nuclear Blast Records)
Scheduled to take part in the inaugural Paganfest with Ensiferum, Tyr, and Turisas (drools on keyboard…), Switzerland’s Eluveitie is the newest participant in the ever-expanding folk metal arena. Part Battlelore, part Dark Tranquillity (especially...
Landmine Marathon/Scarecrow – Split (Level Plane)
‘Tis a cool concept for a split – two bands that actually don’tsound like each other, Landmine Marathon continuing in their rumbling, primitive (lots of Bolt Thrower) approach to crusty death metal, while Scarecrow surprisingly emerges as...
Dead to Fall – Are You Serious? (Victory Records)
With nothing more to show than a reputation as a good live band, Chicago’s Dead to Fall have veered off the metalcore path with a tongue-and-cheek album ragging on the scene they have been bottom-feeders of...
To-Mera – Delusions (Candlelight Records)
Clearly one of the more left-field and adventurous albums to feature standard female vocals, Delusions from To-Mera is a bit too much on the experimental side, the band unable to recreate the sterling dynamics from its...