November 2023 Album of the Month: Sadus – The Shadow Inside
One of those Bay Area bands who straddled the thrash with speed and death angle styles starting in the early '80s, Sadus made a solid impression on the scene through albums such as Illusions,...
Six Foot Six – Beggar’s Hill (Scarlet Records)
Third albums for most artists tend to be benchmark releases. Shedding influences to cut teeth into a sound more unique or original, especially in metal it’s hard to argue with the track record of...
Trick Or Treat – A Creepy Night Live (Scarlet Records)
Together now for over twenty years with seven studio albums under their belts, it’s about time that Trick Or Treat captures a live record documenting the history of the band. A Creepy Night Live...
Satan’s Fall – On a Destructive Destination
Photo: Toni Salminen
Probably paying homage to Mercyful Fate in moniker, Finnish act Satan’s Fall delivers a classic heavy/speed metal style chock full of addictive axe chords, pounding rhythm section foundations, as well as the...
Ektomorf – Vivid Black (AFM Records)
Parading their heavy style in the European metal scene for over three decades, Ektomorf continues to execute a modern, groove metal platform on this latest platter Vivid Black. Consistenty fighting race-related, prejudicial ways as...
Miara – Hungering Inside (Inverse Records)
Born during the pandemic in 2022, Italian act Miara appears from brother musicians Antonio Grillo (guitar) and Francesco (bass), an initial single “Ascending to Second Life” putting them on the map. Filling out the...
Swansong – Awakening (Noble Demon)
Finnish melodic death metal is a staple in many aural diets – especially for numerous scribes at this site. Swansong comes onto our radar as a formation since 2020, issuing their Winter Maiden EP...
Hinayana – Beauty Within Aggression
Photo: Jackie Schutza
Continually developing their brand of melodic death metal with modern and doom touches, Texas’ Hinayana arrive at a pinnacle moment in their career for the latest album Shatter and Fall. Advances in...
Ershetu – Xibalba (Debemur Morti Productions)
Music with an authentic cultural direction is always of interest to these ears. Projects such as Blackbraid and Alien Weaponry are notable acts who have roots in their respective cultures, to which are integral...
Axenstar – Chapter VIII (Inner Wound Recordings)
Swedish power metal veterans Axenstar shifts back to their previous label Inner Wound Recordings who released Where Dreams Are Forgotten nine years ago for this eighth studio record Chapter VIII. Gaining another new drummer...