Although four years have passed since releasing a killer debut album for Halls of Extinction, Canadian thrashers Invicta haven’t sat idly by when it comes to issuing some cover material during the downtime. Read more […]
Having been a Dead Rhetoric staff favorite since their debut album Quiescence, Italy’s Shores of Null have carved out a specific niche for themselves within the doom metal spectrum. The most defining Read more […]
Viscera’s debut, Obsidian, was one of those rare treats where your expectations were blown away easily (mostly due to the use of the word ‘deathcore’) and it only gained traction as 2020 continued on. Read more […]
With deathcore hitting more of a ‘grown up’ period in the last year or so (with Lorna Shore’s Pain Remains being a bit of a benchmark), it’s not surprising that other bands have also been moving in that Read more […]
For those curious souls wondering how these Germans got their name – Lankester Merrin comes from the fictional character Father Lankester Merrin in the novel The Exorcist. A quintet of musicians that Read more […]
Single member projects have become a norm, and is an awe-inspiring feat to accomplish. Black metal is a genre that breeds a sizable number of such musical endeavors. One particular project that has had Read more […]
Lovebites, the frantic Japanese power metal band who all but dances around at high-octane tempos and leaving a pile of dust in their wake, have returned once more with Judgement Day. Approaching with Read more […]
Whether some want to admit it or not, political themes and music will always be intertwined. None more so than in the punk and metal genres, from calls to action on the less fortunate to pure anarchy and Read more […]
A large amount of the music yours truly, and likely some of those reading this as well, tend to gravitate towards is relatively complex and grandiose in scope. However, one must also embrace the boisterous Read more […]
Melodic death/doom is a subgenre that continues to expand and grow. With long term heavy hitters including Swallow the Sun, Draconian, Saturnus, Helevorn, and Enshine to the next wave of bands like Tribunal, Read more […]
Even veteran bands can slip through the cracks from knowledgeable writers just due to the sheer number of releases in any given year – or the lack of exposure from a specific record label / promotional Read more […]
With all of the different styles of black metal – symphonic, atmospheric, post, progressive, depressive, etc. – there’s a lot of directions one can go. The number of quality black metal bands of all Read more […]
The parameters within progressive metal have blurred over the decades. The infusion of diverse styles beyond the approach expands what can fit that definition – although there are certain artists upon Read more […]
Japan is known for an eclectic and unique twist on many styles of music. What the country isn’t typically known for are incessantly smashing, angsty death/doom/hardcore amalgamations. In reality, there’s Read more […]
Familial bonds got the ball rolling with brothers Cristian and Daniel Juárez starting up Dawn of Extinction in 2014. The two guitarists developed an interest in multiple genres across the thrash, death Read more […]
You can always get a leg up on the competition if you have elite musicians even in guest spots. Case in point – Italian melodic death metal band Embryo, who recruited Nile drummer George Kollias for Read more […]
Iceland is a country known for many things. Beautifully varying natural landscapes, unique culture, a sustainable and a high quality of life. How to sign up, right? For the purposes here, however, the Read more […]
Italian trio Bad Bones have packed a ton of adventures over the course of their sixteen-year plus career. Including a move to Los Angeles, California for 2009-10, major festival appearances in the USA/Europe, Read more […]
Generally speaking, symphonic death metal has had its ups and downs. The worst entries are an overreliance on the symphonic with less emphasis on the metal, leaving albums that are ultimately unbalanced Read more […]
Based on album title and moniker alone, most will know we are dealing with death metal of the old school variety in Bastard Grave. Swedish roots elevate the credibility factor – together since 2012 and Read more […]
Post metal is quite the creatively freeing style. Having become more prevalent in the last five years or so, there’s a seemingly infinite number of genre combinations. One of the earlier purveyors is Hamburg’s Read more […]
While most people look to the United States, Germany, or the UK for many leaders in specific heavy music categories, there are diamonds in other countries. Greek act Riffobia originally started in 2004, Read more […]
Our first exposure to Gorod was their booking at Maryland Deathfest 2010 – 13 years ago, sheesh – with a scintillating performance that was one of the better ones at the fest. That led to grabbing Process Read more […]
Part of the Magna Carta roster during the late 90’s/early 2000’s, Ice Age flew the flag for progressive rock/metal in the New York area at a time when internet bulletin boards were all the rage to Read more […]
As an unabashed melodic death metal lover, these ears are always open for the latest band to give the famed sound a spin. The last few years have had a large number of newer bands releasing quality albums Read more […]
There’s something endearing about fun-loving musicians continuing to stick to their guns for 16 years in an old school, traditional form of heavy metal as you’ll hear instantly when taking in Canada’s Read more […]
Hailing from Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada, Nomad is a four-piece outfit that have been woodshedding their material while solidifying the ideal lineup over the years. They’ve been able Read more […]
Full of Hell, Maryland/Pennsylvania’s filth Hounds of Hades and Primitive Man, Colorado’s death sludge titans, have finally released a collaborative record aptly named Suffocating Hallucination and it’s Read more […]
See is the debut album for Texas three-piece Temptress, in the making since late 2019 and finally arriving on the marketplace. Completing the album in late 2021, they would sign with Metal Assault the Read more […]
Most would agree that instrumental mastery is an important trait for a band. When it comes to the technical death metal spectrum, though, a lot of it misses the mark for yours truly. Too much guitar wankery Read more […]
