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March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Arsis – We Are the Nightmare (Nuclear Blast Records)

Arsis may not quite be Death yet, but if anyone can lay claim to the neo progressive death metal tag for this generation, it would be James Malone and co. Their previous two efforts, 2004’s A Celebration of Guilt and 2006’sUnited In Regret were promising stabs at melodic prog death, but lacked any sort of staying power. Perhaps best known for their “The Face Of My Innocence” number (which rules, by the way), Arsis appears poised to carve a niche …

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Firewind – The Premonition (Century Media)

All-star guitarist Gus G.’s burst of productivity has carried over into ’08, barely a year after Allegiance was released. Sorta surprising why more bands don’t do this – it was commonplace in the 70’s and 80’s and now a mini-milestone when it happens today. Nevertheless, The Premonition is front-loaded with some quite Dio-esque numbers (i.e. “Head Up High” and “Angels Forgive Me”), especially in vocalist Apollo Papathanasio’s delivery. G. is top …

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Kreator – At the Pulse of Katipulation DVD (SPV)

Kreator. Pre Coma of Souls, post Berlin Wall. Shot in early 1990, right after the fall of Communism, At the Pulse of Katipulation shows a very hungry and inspired Kreator, who were just getting ready to jump off the pure thrash bandwagon a mere two years later. However, we’re treated to a scorching live set with 15 of the band’s early classics in front of a rabid audience. From a pure quality standpoint, Katipulation is professionally done, even …

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Engel – Absolute Design (SPV)

Static-X and several key players from the Swedish metal scene just don’t mix. It won’t work in Sweden, Germany, and definitely not in the States, where boneheaded Nu-metal is on the outs for the time being. The lineup itself, featuring ex The Crown axeman Marcus Sunesson, former In Flames/Gardenian guitarist Niclas Engelin, bassist Michael Hakansson formerly of Evergrey and former Lord Belial drummer Mojjo is enough to make any fan of Swedish met…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Burzum – Lord of Darkness: Anthology (Candlelight Records)

Ole Varg is still hanging around some jail in Norway, as his sentence for slaying Euronymous has been extended thanks to a failed escape in ’03 that saw our Pagan lunatic brandish a bazooka and other honing devices sure to ravage a Third World Country. Nevertheless, this is not the first Burzum compilation bearing the Anthology tag (the first appearing in late 2001) and quite frankly, this one misses the mark by a lot, begging to ask, who put thi…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Children of Bodom – Blooddrunk (Spinefarm/Universal)

Three years removed from one of ’05 best albums in Are You Dead Yet?Alexi and his boys of Bodom return with Blooddrunk, yet another high-profile Euro metal album to hit the shelves for April. In relation to Are You Dead Yet?,Blooddrunk is a tad more spikey, aggressive, more akin to Hatecrew Deathroll, but a worthy addition to the Bodom pantheon nonetheless. Over the years, Laiho has gradually drifted away from his early classical metal leanings, …

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Indian – Sights and Abuse/The Sycophant (Seventh Rule)

More or less a watered-down version of Mastodon and any other well-serving sludgy doom band, Chicago’s Indian don’t appeal on a whole lot of levels outside of the fact they make a lot of noise and rumble and tumble and bumble. Those looking for dynamics in their sludge (see Saviors, Black Cobra and about 80 million other bands) aren’t going to find it here – this thing just hits the wall like a bunch of cookware and never cleans up. Indian’s grit…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

In Flames – A Sense of Purpose (Koch Entertainment)

Few can polarize like In Flames; the band’s once flawless underground pedigree has been smeared via a handful of less-challenging and ‘true’ albums, the result of the band growing tired with the simple melodic death metal formula. Fact of the matter is, there are plenty of bands who have picked up that ball and ran with it (most notably Nightrage and The Duskfall), so the notion of In Flames ever making a return to the days of The Jester Race and…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Unearth – Alive From the Apocalypse DVD (Metal Blade Records)

Not your run-of-the-mill DVD release, Alive From the Apocalypse is a two-disc set featuring a live set and a cool documentary that takes us from Unearth’s beginnings in the Massachusetts metalcore scene to where they are now – undisputed heavyweights of arguably the worst style of metal since Nu metal. Nevertheless, (and we’ll let that be the only negative aside towards the ‘core’) Alive From the Apocalypse is worthy viewing, especially the docum…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Farsot – IIII (Lupus Lounge/Prophecy)

Previously known for covering “I Break” by Katatonia for a recent tribute album (yep, Katatonia rules all in this house ), Germany’s Farsot have a bit of an unconventional approach to modern black metal. Aside from their pseudonyms that are numbers as opposed to real names, Farsot takes several satisfying detours over the course of this platter, often working around the traditional BM framework, but always coming back home when they have to. On I…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Helrunar – Baldr Ok Iss (Lupus Lounge/Prophecy)

A formula that is as proven as any in metal, epic black metal can do little wrong when performed with the type of care and dare we say, “honor” that it rightly deserves. The marriage of atmospheric bliss and BM intensity is as glorious as they come, and when a new participant comes along, it only serves to galvanize the sound even more. Germany’s Helrunar are now onto album #3, the first with new North American imprint Prophecy. Baldr Ok Iss as i…

March 14th, 2013 Uncategorized

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 base there to support them, which meant it could have just been an off night. A few weeks later they popped up again supporting The Locust in Whelan’s and pulled out all the stops. Maybe it was down to the fact that they were supporting a bigger, more m…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

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 liquidates both Nothingand Catch Thirty-Three, but in other spots, it seems like the band is standing still, not quite sure if it wants to go bananas or sit around trying to con…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

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 ‘power’ metal band to a threatening, devious death/black combo that is hard to top. Buoyed by the success of the reissue of 2004’s Burning the Born Again, Satan’s Host are enjoying a monstrous resurgence and Great American Scapegoat 666 should only further that cause…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

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 off and do one of his solo projects. Joined by drum lord Gene Hoglan and vocalist Satan aka “The Heathen,” Zimmers Hole is by all intents and purposes the substitute for SYL and frankly, When You Were Shouting At the Devil is a pretty fun and enthralling li…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

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 1997 all over again when their Century Black imprint ruled the roost. Their newest effort, Eidolon (no, not the band that gave Mustaine two more ‘yes-men’) is a slightly above-average affair of modern black metal, devoid of any real hooks or outsta…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

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 infectious and classy albums to emerge from the prog rock scene. Hardly metal, 3 has those 70’s flavored prog/arena rock sensibilities that has the potential to break these guys big and frankly, The End Is Begun is the type of album to savor and enjoy, rail…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

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 in the more up-tempo segments), topped off with a little Finntroll jig, Eluveitie have conjured up a very memorable, satisfying debut withSlania. If there was one thing that continually sucks the wind o…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

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 the long-lost son of Forbidden. Interesting. For Landmine Marathon, vocalist Grace Perry’s throat-scraping provide a vitriolic front for the three numbers included – “Skin From Skull,” “Rise with the Tide” and “…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

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 for the last decade. This is the catch – Dead to Fall realizing the metalcore jig is up and it’s time to try something new and for once, it works for the most part, although like any other blasted metalcore album, the results may vary. Opener …

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

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 excellent Transcendental debut. Led by the ethereal vocals of Julie Kiss (ex Without Face; resident hottie), To-Mera’s full-fisted, almost avant-garde approach is certainly not without merit; it just fails to resonate after repeate…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Agalloch – The White (Vendlus Records)

Limited to only 2,000 copies, The White is an EP featuring various ditties Agalloch has recorded the past three years. ‘Tis a cool thing because their latest few length, Ashes Against The Grain one was one 2006’s shining moments, a picture-perfect collage of atmospheric dark metal, augmented by Agalloch’s penchant for dreary and horrid acoustic guitar work and leader John Haughm’s attention to detail. One would have to be remiss to say Agalloch c…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Hellhammer – Demon Entrails (Century Media Records)

For anyone in search of a good read and some of the most honest and bare-bones insight on the 80’s metal underground, check out Tom G. Warrior’s Are You Morbid? – Into the Pandemonium of Celtic Frost. Said book is a regular read in the Gehlke Metal Compound and when taken into context of the subject at hand, it adds some much-needed color and foresight. As 98% of you should know, Hellhammer was the precursor to Celtic Frost, the band borne out of…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Iron Maiden – Live After Death DVD (Sony BMG)

The second part in Maiden’s “Story Of” series, the Live After Death DVD not only features the live concert in which bears its name, it also contains a 60-minute documentary detailing the recording of the Powerslave album and the massive world tour that ensued. Now finally on DVD after years of bootlegging, this two-disc set is literally spews some cool odds and sods from Maiden’s glory years. Shot live at the Long Beach Arena during a four night …

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Vader – Lead Us! (Regain Records)

Although Lead Us! contains no new material, it’s pretty kewl, as Vader has always been reliable in terms of churning out something new at least once a year with some odd quirk. This time, it’s the inclusion of three videos – “This Is the War,” “Helleluyah!!!” and “Sword the Witcher” that warrant the purchase or cursory glance of this four song, three video EP. Vader’s evolution has been marked with a greater emphasis and groove and pounding rhyth…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Biomechanical – Cannibalised (Earache Records)

Live, Biomechanical may be notoriously hit and miss, but on record they’ve never been known to under-perform. Cannibalised continues in that vein, this time offering up much more of a challenging, furious listening experience than on previous outings. Sound-wise, main-man John K, has upped the ante on all fronts and gone for a steep wall of sound approach, filling almost every possible corner with a sheer, sometimes impenetrable covering of noise…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Stuck Mojo – Southern Born Killers (Napalm Records)

Sheesh, it really was 10 years ago when Stuck Mojo were all over the place on WCW Wrestling? My God, where does the time go? Their Rising album was their arguable peak, the album that allowed the band to have some very minor crossover appeal, becoming Century Media’s biggest selling artist in the late 90’s. It would all come to a gradual crawl, as tensions between singer Bonz and guitarist/songwriter Rich Ward came to a head, resulting in the ban…

March 14th, 2013 News

BLACK SABBATH: First North American Tour Date Announced

BLACK SABBATH will launch its world tour with a series of dates beginning next month in New Zealand, Australia and Japan. Later this summer, the band will kick off its North American tour which will keep the band on the road from late July through September and includes one Canadian stop, on August 14 at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. Tickets for the Toronto concert go on sale on April 13. BLACK SABBATH has confirmed the title and release date of t…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Martriden – The Unsettling Dark (Candlelight Records)

Matriden’s home state of Montana has about as many palm trees as metal bands, which is why Matriden is quickly earned a rightful position amongst the North American modern black metal scene. The band’s self-titled EP was a throttling blend of post-Enthrone Darkness Triumphant-era Dimmu and recent God Dethroned, so anticipation and desire was there for The Unsettling Dark. At first glance, it appears the band has toned their melodic black metal ap…

March 14th, 2013 Reviews

Various Artists – Pagan Fire (Nuclear Blast Records)

A compilation of the best-of-the-best epic folk metal bands (sans Borknagar and Tyr), Pagan Fire is an excellent introduction into another one of metal’s niches that is only picking up steam. Heading up the roster are luminaries Bathory, who are arguably the band who set the template back in the early 90’s with the Hammerheart and Twilight of the Gods album, Enslaved who are coincidentally more prog than folk, Amon Amarth, Finntroll and highly un…