Blynd – Unbeliever (Pitch Black Records)
Sometimes momentum can be a slightly uphill climb, especially if it’s been a while across as a band’s career arc since releasing a record. Cyprus quartet Blynd arise out of this category – starting...
Void Moon – Dreams Inside the Sun (Personal Records)
Doom as a genre has many layers that have morphed and split off into new sub-categories – yet there’s nothing quite so appealing as the classic form of the movement. We know the key...
Holy Mother – Rise (Massacre Records)
This scribe remembers when heavy/power metal of any variety was a tough sell in the United States – especially during the mid to late 90s. Most domestic bands sought out overseas record deals and...
Red Handed Denial – Digital Dystopia
Returning triumphantly after 2022's I'd Rather Be Asleep, Red Handed Denial are back with A Journey Through Virtual Dystopia, an album that makes the 'hard to classify' act even more of a challenge, in...
Exodus – British Disaster: The Battle of ’89 (Live at the Astoria) (Nuclear Blast)
Digging out an archival tour date on the global push for their memorable third album Fabulous Disaster, Exodus became conquering heroes through relentless road dog work beyond their obvious skills as one of the...
Rhapsody of Fire – Challenge the Wind (AFM Records)
When it comes to glorious symphonic power metal, Italian artists Rhapsody of Fire have been synonymous with this title since the Rhapsody moniker took ahold in the mid-90s. Keyboardist Alex Staropoli may be the...
Supermodel Taxidermy – At What Cost (Punishment 18 Records)
It’s amazing at this stage of the scene how many recordings start as solo project offerings only to blossom into full-fledge bands. This is the case once again for Canadian crossover thrash trio Supermodel...
Selected Singles – April/May 2024
It's been a hot minute since I had time to dive into one of these columns again, but hearing a few new choice cuts, it was time to bring it back and hit a...
Vicolo Inferno – Circles (Rockshots Records)
Naming themselves after a 1504 bloody battle on a narrow cobblestone path in Bologna, Italy, Vicolo Inferno started in 2003, slowly releasing a demo and EP while getting more shows and rehearsals under their...
Idol Throne – A Clarion’s Call (Stormspell Records)
Excitement enters the room when a band impresses you right out of the gate with their debut album to anticipate the follow-up – and that’s the case here with US power/thrash act Idol Throne....