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October 12th, 2023 Features

Hanabie. – Rising Superstars

…s about fashion, music videos, trendy words that younger people are using, abbreviations, and things of that sort.” Inevitably, the band’s stylish music videos have brought them a wider audience, both at home and abroad. Yukina stresses the integral nature of the songs and their potential videos to come. “When we come up with a song, we come up with a basic theme. When we make that theme, we also envision what would happen if we made the song into…

October 11th, 2023 Reviews

Sadistic Force – Midnight Assassin (Goat Throne Records)

…edings the listeners will take in musically for these nine tracks. A short, 80’s-oriented synth-horror “The Unseen Force” intro soon gives way to Oliver’s heads down speed riffs that burst forth during “Corpsewood Curse”, his playing injecting a mix of melodic runs against some progressive measures, while the rhythm section moves between steady metal grooves and speedy/blackened transitions. His lead skills are quite exemplary, intertwining a flur…

October 11th, 2023 Reviews

OWDWYR – Receptor (Self-Released)

…f shortened grind time-span and goes directly for the throat with reckless abandon. Lastly, the final track “The Sputtering Torch” doubles down on the band’s sense for grandeur – tapping into the classical influences without overdoing the symphonic side – making an extreme metal attack while embedding some melodies and power to it to provide a fittingly epic yet brainmelting finish. Receptor shines because it manages to combine all of these extrem…

October 9th, 2023 Reviews

Isiliel – Moonbow Genesis (Setsuzoku Records)

…rome, as well as Necronomidol. The latter being one of the most unique idol-based acts to stem from the country with their imaginative mashing of jpop, black metal, darkwave, and folk (amongst others). With Necronomidol going into indefinite hiatus last year, Isiliel is Tsukishiro’s solo outlet (which did start before said hiatus), and Moonbow Genesis is her first full-length release after releasing a few singles last year. Those expecting somethi…

October 9th, 2023 Reviews

Svalbard – The Weight of the Mask (Nuclear Blast)

…t that there’s anything wrong with those, of course). Svalbard have been a band about providing voice to the socio- and political themes of our times, but with their newest album, The Weight of the Mask, the band decided to take a look inwards and it turns out it has provided an entirely different but certainly equally important voice. That voice being a genuine understanding of what it’s like to live with depression. No sugar-coating it, no metap…

October 7th, 2023 Concert Reviews

Hanabie. – September 24, 2023 – Gramercy Theater, New York, NY

…els of genre-blending, and recent energetic live performance hype, it’s probably no surprise that the band’s first visit to NYC ended up in a sold out show. Arriving early for an interview, taking a stroll to see the number of fans lined-up nearly two hours early in a nasty bout of rain clearly demonstrated the passion the crowd would later present as it wrapped around and down a full-block. As a point of comparison, I entered a line for Beast in…

October 5th, 2023 Features

Nervosa – Ready for Jailbreak

…r Nervosa that we recorded and composed together was a huge challenge – probably the biggest challenge in my entire career. Because I never was a singer, I’ve always been a guitarist. In the entire life of Nervosa, I’ve always been doing some backing vocals. My specialized thing was more in the deep growls, the extreme vocals, the low vocals. I had to learn how to sing properly – not only in the low voices, because Nervosa is historically thrash m…

October 4th, 2023 Reviews

Iron Savior – Firestar (AFM Records)

…in riffs, the right accents for twin guitar harmony spots, and those larger-than-life choruses (given a boost through family supported choirs through Piet Sielck’s 17-year-old daughter Frida and her boyfriend) continual become retention factors through the first to successive passes. Battle-tested marching strains rhythmically carry “Demise of the Tyrant”, allowing Piet to mirror the atmosphere through tough as steel Teutonic-oriented vocal melodi…

October 4th, 2023 Reviews

The Hirsch Effekt – Urian (Long Branch Records)

…itely cause some damage. That’s no slight to the band though, as they track-by-track unveil different musical pathways while attempting to keep some sort of semblance of unity. The lengthy “Otus” lands firmly in proggy and rock-ish territory, with a certain melodic sense to it (that unfortunately goes just a little too long) – just don’t expect it to last over the album. “2054” follows it up with a number that’s much more lively and frenetic. Bits…

October 2nd, 2023 Reviews

PassCode – Groundswell (Universal)

…n. A four song release, their second EP since screamer Emily Arima (ex-Ladybaby) joined the ranks following Yuna Imada’s departure in 2021, continues to see the band swirl around their hybrid mixture of metalcore, EDM, trance, jpop, and much more. While long time fans more or less know the drill by now, the band’s unique and pulsating sound continues to raise the flags high and it never ceases to bring copious amounts of energy. For those who have…

September 29th, 2023 Reviews

Asinhell – Impii Hora (Metal Blade Records)

…ty – similar to what we’ve heard on the early 90’s Death efforts going head-to-head with current Carcass. Let’s hope that Impii Hora is not a one-off outing for Asinhell. Sure, listeners may have to wait longer than normal to get a follow-up on the streets given Volbeat’s global status as a premiere heavy groove metal band – but when the quality songwriting and performances melt faces like this, you can’t help but want more servings. https://www.y…

September 29th, 2023 Reviews

Altarage – Worst Case Scenario (Doomentia Records)

…be hired to write a horror film soundtrack – that was a significantly enjoyable departure. They’re now back with a more ‘traditional’ record via Worst Case Scenario, which was actually preceded by the Cataract EP, of which contains a different mix of the song of the same title (also on this record), along with two exclusive tracks that served as a haunting appetizer for this main course. Whereas Succumb was a long 1-hour plus jaunt, including the…

September 28th, 2023 Concert Reviews

ProgPower USA XXII – Day 2 – September 7, 2023 – Center Stage Theater, Atlanta, GA

…tlanta based restaurant, The Vortex! If you’ve never had the pleasure of grabbing a delicious meal and/or drink here, I can’t recommend it enough. We’ve eaten here many times and have yet to try something we didn’t absolutely love. The atmosphere is amazing with plenty of rather metal decor, and if you’re at the Midtown location, there’s even a wooden carving up front you can rub for luck. What is the wooden carving of? Well, it’s called the Dick…

September 26th, 2023 Features

Skull & Crossbones – Under Tyrant’s Rule

…or force of soaring vocals, twin-guitar harmony/riff action, plus the rock-solid bass/drum foundation to bring everything home. That’s what we have in newcomers Skull & Crossbones – forming out of the ashes of Stormwitch’s 2018 Bound to the Witch record, where four of the five musicians left that group. Arising with an addictive debut album in Sungazer, these gentlemen appear poised to make that climb up the ranks – developing killer melodies, ho…

September 24th, 2023 Features

Primordial – The End Is Near

…fully some decent news to come play in America. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5poXFWbKkHY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxeZbd2QbAw Primordial on Facebook…

September 22nd, 2023 Reviews

Cannibal Corpse – Chaos Horrific (Metal Blade Records)

…ob Barrett and Erik Rutan occasionally reminiscent of the dive bomb, whammy-bar enhanced proclivities of the King/Hanneman team. Fortunate to also place trust in the production/mixing/mastering duties within the seasoned, capable hands of Mr. Rutan ensures these gentlemen can put the focus on sinister songwriting and powerhouse performances – which they deliver in spades here. Establishing their lane early with gore/horror-influenced subject matte…

September 22nd, 2023 Reviews

Terra Builder – Solar Temple (Transcending Obscurity)

…o along with Buck can be heard with I the Unlord, guitarist Ben Guddorf (ex-Steel Death), bassist Lutz Lambert (ex-Neorite), and drummer Yannick Bussweiler (Ferndal). Violence commences immediately via “End of Orbit” and its stomping explosion of grueling guitars and gigantic snarling vocalizations that dial up the intensity with haste. “Interplanetary Portal” and “Constant Cosmic Failure” emit black metal tremolos mixed with a prominently grind s…

September 15th, 2023 Reviews

Thorn – Evergloom (Transcending Obscurity)

…ere is one’s pleasure, “Hypogean Crypt” and “Gaze of the Seer” flow back-to-back with a thick mist of droning guitar work. The beginning of Evergloom especially highlights that grandiosity that was absent in Thorn’s previous works, and they’re much the better for finding it. Harkening back to the grindcore background of Westermeyer, there’s a relatively large bit of that chaotic quickness in “Wastelands Dimly Lit” and “Sapien Death Spiral,” stompi…

September 14th, 2023 Features

XFEARS – Investment in Change

…at have to be in an XFEARS composition to make the final cut? How does the band balance the musicianship/technical qualities while also creating great hooks or melodies for the listeners to latch onto? Carvalho: I think that what makes us a bit different is our background in Brazilian music! We have a lot of influence of styles that have a lot of groove! So, we tried not to be so straightforward when playing our instruments. We don’t want to sound…

September 13th, 2023 Reviews

Mortal Factor – Where To From Here? (Darkstorm Records)

…iginal. Perfect in length at under forty minutes, this is a record that probably gains more appreciation the deeper into the night you listen (with a few alcoholic beverages flowing). Twenty years together as a group, Mortal Factor isn’t going to reach top tier groove metal/thrash status through Where To From Here? – which is probably neither here nor there to its long-term appeal. It’s a working-class, blue-collar outing that could garner modest…

September 12th, 2023 Concert Reviews

PassCode – September 5, 2023 – Gramercy Theater, New York, NY

…ure due to following anime like Love Live and Zombie Land Saga, outside of Babymetal there wasn’t much that really merged the two sounds together that I had found. Enter PassCode’s blurring mix of metalcore, EDM, and jpop/idol music and it was like I’d hit the jackpot on both of my areas of interest. While I would eventually dive into many groups after PassCode, none really hit that same sweetspot. Needless to say, I hold them to a very high regar…

September 11th, 2023 Reviews

Huronian – Beyond Frozen Heights (Gruesome Records)

…ly. Huronian incorporates the best elements of early Scandinavian death/black metal to Beyond Frozen Heights for this to be a sweet, short yet satisfying effort. Hopefully the band is hard at work on the next full-length, as there’s plenty of ability/talent at this style for these gentlemen to explore. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQHWiPoUfzY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PASTFyeYRHo Huronian on Facebook…

September 7th, 2023 Features

Outergods – Enter the Catacombs of Madness

…Maybe have some more additional layers as well. People who like our debut will be sure to like the next one we’ve got. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g3G-MDSnIw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb2smP8DKyA Outergods on Facebook…

September 6th, 2023 Reviews

Fossilization – Leprous Daylight (Everlasting Spew Records)

…e been especially proficient in these areas in 2023, and Fossilization certainly have put their best grime-ridden foot forward. Truth be told, Fossilization isn’t changing the game with Leprous Daylight, and they don’t have an overwhelming need to. What they’ve manufactured is a crushing, well-written, and memorable debut album that hits just right in all of the important moments. From the suffocating Dead Congregation inspired forcefulness, to th…

September 1st, 2023 Reviews

Timechild – Blossom & Plague (Mighty Music)

…Lizzy, Opeth (during their last few progressive rock releases), and Black Sabbath as “Hands of Time” most exemplifies their bluesy to heavier versatility. Somber, reflective parts cast shadows next to the electric bursts and bass heroics of Daniel Bach to give “The Sign” deeper another left field highlight, the instrumental sequence very bouncy in that Sabbath/Ghost swinging doom/gloom ambience. Even with “The Dying Tide” three-part saga opening t…

August 29th, 2023 Features

Terminalist – Beware of Crisis

…eased. Dead Rhetoric: The lyrical content this time around was more reality-based, especially focusing on contemporary crisises that you feel are not temporary but more permanent based. Discuss the importance of the subject matter you wanted to explore, and how it complements the technical thrash-oriented musical components? Hansen: I usually like when there is a strong connection between the sound of the music and the lyrical content. In my mind,…

August 28th, 2023 Reviews

The Unity – The Hellish Joyride (Steamhammer/SPV)

…Van Halen-like break action. To break up the normal metal proceedings, the band place two diverse ballads at the midway/finale points with “Something Good” and “You’re Not Forced to Stay” – the latter a showcase for all facets of Jan Manenti’s silky smooth voice in multiple ranges. The Hellish Joyride showcases a set of musicians enjoying their craft, embracing their abilities as performers and adept songwriters. The Unity continually strive for h…

August 25th, 2023 Reviews

Conquer Divide – Slow Burn (Mascot Recordings)

…in the songwriting and a sense of urgency that made it a massive winner. Grabbing more ears with an entertaining cover of Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy,” it was 2021’s emotive single “Messy” that brought Conquer Divide into ‘must hear’ status for yours truly. Now in 2023, we are finally seeing the album follow up to their debut, and it was well worth the wait. The long and the short of it is that regardless of whether Conquer Divide was already on your…

August 22nd, 2023 Features

Grand Cadaver – Crawling in Decay

…one band that could be on that kind of stage again. Slayer is gone, Black Sabbath is gone. The music scene in general doesn’t have a place for the big metal acts anymore. Dead Rhetoric: What are some of your hobbies, interests, and passions that you have away from music that you like to engage in when you have the free time and energy to do so? Stjernfeldt: Oh, I’m such a video game nerd. I play a lot of video games; in my house some people may sa…

August 21st, 2023 Reviews

Rană – Richtfeuer (Breath:Sun:Bone:Blood)

…ans have proven to have all of the tools and songwriting chops to stand toe-to-toe with their contemporaries, while constructing immaculate sounds that are all their own. The hard hitting black metal foundation, the constantly in motion song structures, and the poignant crust rawness combine take one on a thumping journey that is gripping as it is perilous. One won’t tame the beast that is Richtfeuer, so best to simply embrace the acrimony. Rană o…