Dethklok Metalocalypse – Deth Album II (Adult Swim)
Funny how a cartoon death metal band is better than a lot of… you know, actual death metal bands. Even with that, it’s hard to justify what qualifies as death metal nowadays, so maybe Dethklok...
Portal – Swarth (Profound Lore Records)
It’s a warped, disturbing sound emanating from Portal. They've always gone this route, these lunatic Australians, and it has netted some utterly messed-up results, especially 2007’s Outre, which practically defied all logic within the death metal realm. Swarth continues...
Hypocrisy – A Taste of Extreme Divinity (Nuclear Blast Records)
Far and away the best Hypocrisy since their glorious self-titled album from 1999, A Taste of Extreme Divinity is the summation of everything Hypocrisy does well and really, there’s a lot Tagtgren and co. do well....
Axxis – Utopia (AFM Records)
A two decade-long career plus a recent opening jaunt with two premiere power acts across Europe (the late 2007/ early 2008 extravaganza with Gamma Ray and Helloween) means very little to a fickle North...
Baroness – Blue Record (Relapse Records)
Lots of fuss over these guys and it’s totally warranted. Rarely does a band justify the hype generated by the press, but then again, we’ve propped up a lot of bands that sank faster than they...
Saviours – Accelerated Living (Kemado Records)
A band where the stoner tag doesn’t apply – no friggin’ way – Saviours kick out the jams in a High on Fire frenzy, with a tad more aplomb and NWOBHM sensibilities. Yet, don’t...
Children of Bodom – Skeletons In the Closet (Spinefarm/Universal Records)
Cover albums…how friggin’ overdone are they? Like, way overdone, so much so, that’s it’s become a prerequisite of sorts. Not like Bodom cares – they’ve been tacking on covers to Japanese special editions for years, only...
Immortal – All Shall Fall (Nuclear Blast Records)
Back after a seven-year absence, Immortal return to defend the realm of Blashyrkh – and do they ever. Do take stock in the high rating and the fact we’re not tempering our enthusiasm for...
Belphegor – Walpurgis Rites – Hexenwahn (Nuclear Blast Records)
Gotta hand it to these Austrians – they’re awfully productive, as it feels like last year’s Bondage Goat Zombie (great title, by the way) is still fresh in a lot of our minds. The short lag...
Fool’s Game – Reality Divine (Cruz del Sur Music)
By no means a sure-thing, Reality Divine looked good from the start. Boasting members of Pharaoh, Manticora, and Ark, the brainchild of guitarist Matt Crooks holds the grand flag of melodic metal high, with a sometimes...