One thing that never gets old is finding a band that just popped out of the wordwork and delivers an album that blows you away. Ukranian act Nordwitch has simply done that on their debut album, Mørk Read more […]
Bless this version of Cancer, for they not know of the first, semi-legendary Cancer who have enjoyed an on-and-off career since 1987. The first rule of thumb when thinking of a band name is to do a Google Read more […]
Initially catching wind of Chiasma due to vocalist Katie Thompson adding some guest vocals to the last Fallujah album, Chiasma easily found their way into a Sifting Through Bandcamp column with a pre-release Read more […]
The ongoing success of Red Fang has demonstrated the obvious: Few current bands write better straight-up heavy rock songs. And no, we’re not going to take the metal bait and toss these Portland gents Read more […]
Always one of this scribe’s favorite Metallica tracks on …And Justice For All, it’s not really surprising to see Blackened used as a thrash band name through the years (almost nearing double digits Read more […]
Ever since witnessing this Boston-based melodic death metal band live last year opening for Armageddon, anticipation increased for new studio material from Aversed. Expanding to a quintet through the addition Read more […]
Witchery has been pushed off the thrash radar, perhaps deservedly so after the so-so offerings that were 2006’s Don’t Fear the Reaper and 2010’s even more average Witchkrieg. Both were a semi-surprising Read more […]
After a four year wait, Long Island’s Car Bomb have returned with their third full-length album, Meta. Continuing to push forward is the name of the game for this act, who have earned a reputation for Read more […]
Perhaps the utter definition of a “What could have been?” band, Watchtower very easily could have been the more complicated complement to Dream Theater in the ‘90s. The band’s 1989 Control and Read more […]
When it comes to power metal (or any metal type really), everyone has perceived stereotypes. So if you are going to play into those stereotypes, you might as well go at it 110% and just do it as over-the-top Read more […]
Props given here for the album title in terms of its creativity – one can only imagine the denizens of the metal world having fun saying “Deathmethyltryptamine.” Unfortunately, outside of the clever Read more […]
The Greek Goatwhore might be a proper starting point for Ravencult. Formed in 2001 and with a handful of demos, EPs, and two full-lengths to their credit (the last being 2011’s Morbid Blood), the Greeks Read more […]
Succumbing to a quicker turnaround because of impending tour obligations, Dim Days of Dolor keeps the Norwegian band Sirenia churning along even as another vocal change takes place. Due to health issues, Read more […]
Hailed as the antidote to the “tepid dross that modern music has become,” Crippled Black Phoenix are guided by one Justin Greaves, who initially made a name for himself in the ‘90s with noise-bashers Read more […]
After two rather well-received releases, Saor is arguably one of the leaders of the atmospheric black metal movement. Few can rival Andy Marshall’s vision for writing folk/black material that takes Read more […]
While technical death metal and old school death metal seem to be the way that many are gravitating in the metal world as of late, a few bands have been happy to skirt the edges and go more into their Read more […]
With a voice you can pick out from a mile away, Root singer Jiri ‘Big Boss’ Valter has been the primary constant in a career that has spanned nearly three decades. As perhaps the most notable black metal Read more […]
Establishing themselves worldwide since 2012 through a debut self-titled album and the follow up The Undying Season (the latter gaining approval from our esteemed co-editor last year), it’s always exciting Read more […]
Nestled somewhere between the fuzzed-out tones of stoner rock and deeper-down drone of shoegaze lies Dallas’s True Widow. As if more evidence was needed to show how differentiated Relapse’s roster Read more […]
Sometimes life needs a little bit of bombast. Some soaring through the clouds and into the sky following some death metal that culls itself from the most depraved and cavernous. Perhaps that’s one Read more […]
Sites like Bandcamp have been integral to pushing the metal underground above ground today – a fertile talent pool to wade through in the hopes of discovering the future of the genre. Sort of like an Read more […]
It’s been three years since Craving released their second full-length, At Dawn. Sure, there’s been a more recent EP (two of the songs re-appear here) but with a three year wait, fans are no doubt Read more […]
Bands will often state they pay little or no attention to what’s going on around them. It’s a diversionary tactic when in fact, most bands are aware of what their contemporaries are doing, hence why Read more […]
A ten-plus year existence and three previous albums in the bag already, Netherbird have had plenty of time to hone and harness their sound. Something that is made quite clear as you listen to The Grander Read more […]
Most in the death metal realm use gore and horror-themed lyrics – its par for the course in aggressive music. But just by looking at the cover of Echoes of Dismemberment, you can tell that Scorched Read more […]
“Only for the Weak,” in its saccharine, bouncy glory—hereby copied by Omnium Gatherum on “Skyline,” but not quite on the same level—has proven to be In Flames’ Pandora Box. Prior (as in, Read more […]
At a recent summer festival, it was uttered to this scribe that Mastodon has three singers, none of which can actually sing. Now, this idea isn’t anything new; Mastodon’s vocals—or lack thereof—have Read more […]
Certainly one of the more buzzed about bands in the underground in the last few years, Bölzer have finally graced us with a full-length album. The back to back EPs of Soma and Aura made them into near Read more […]
Brutal and slamming death metal is often more fickle than one might expect. There’s a certain level of intensity that must be maintained in order for the sound to really hit home properly. Particularly Read more […]
Coming off of the crazed and off-kilter swaying of Are You Kidding Me? No, it’s hard to see the band becoming more intense or spastic. Luckily, the band saw this as well, and decided to continue their Read more […]
