Oxygen Destroyer – Guardian of the Universe (Redefining Darkness Records)
A weapon used to kill Godzilla in the original 1954 movie, Northwest-based unit Oxygen Destroyer has one of the coolest names in the metal realm as of late. Makes sense that the band would...
A Night in Texas – Digital Apocalypse (Unique Leader)
Back for their fifth album since forming back in 2009, Australia's (yes, that's right) A Night in Texas return with Digital Apocalypse. The deathcore act has gone through a number of vocalists through the...
Hammerfall – Avenge the Fallen (Nuclear Blast)
Back on the label that made them a power metal force when everyone thought the style was dead and buried, Hammerfall are still standing tall as a global unit that keeps the flag of...
Visions of Atlantis – Sailing the Pirate Universe
There's always been glimpses of true greatness with veteran symphonic metal act Visions of Atlantis, but it hasn't really been until recently that they've really captured their full potential. Most notably is that of...
Âscent – Gamma (Wormholedeath)
Progressive rock / metal has been a favorite genre to this scribe since youth. A healthy love of artists from Kansas and Rush to Yes led to the 80s/90s work of Fates Warning, Queensrÿche,...
Aligned in Ruins – Cognitive Behavioral Torture (Self-Released)
Hailing from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Aligned in Ruins spits out a vicious blend of groove metal through some djent and hardcore angles for this album aptly titled Cognitive Behavioral Torture. The nine tracks within...
All For Metal – Bow at the Altar of Metal
Strong metal deserves a strong presentation with an equally provocative image to uphold. That’s what you’ll get with the international outfit All For Metal. Bursting onto the scene through their debut album Legends, their...
Carnophage – Matter of a Darker Nature (Transcending Obscurity)
We’ve talked about it before, but let’s bring it up again - this dude is on the incessantly selective side when it comes to brutal death metal. Or as one friend will say sometimes,...
Lost to Light – Conceal (Self-Released)
Metalcore seems to also have received a generational resurgence much like death metal these days. From the UK in Derby, Lost to Light is another explosive newcomer setting their sights on achieving appeal from...
Absorb – Double Down on Smog
Photo: Brittany Vaughan
When it comes to doomy, sludge-oriented metal with death inflections, there’s quite a buzz going around for this Canadian act Absorb. Together since 2013, they’ve released a series of albums and EPs...