Reviews

Beyond Fallen – As the Spires Fall (Self-Released)

Intangible quality can be difficult to pinpoint in correct, easy to relate terms. Given decades of intense exposure to the genre of metal, you just feel in totality when bands elevate their game to high Read more […]

Motorowl – Om Generator (Century Media)

In a sign that not all labels care about Facebook likes and social media presence, independent giant Century Media signed Motorowl, a band who hasn’t even reached 1,000 likes as of press time. Like, Read more […]

Daniel Lioneye – Vol. III (The End Records)

“I will kill myself just to see you cry.” What is this? A Sentenced album? (Now there’s a sorely missed band for you.) To the uniformed, Daniel Lioneye is the metallic side project of HIM guitarist Read more […]

Virvum – Illuminance (Self-Released)

At this point in 2016, the groundwork has been laid by a fresh slew of bands that introduce atmospheric melodies into otherwise brutal and technical death metal. Bands like Fallujah, Inanimate Existence, Read more […]

Brujeria – Pocho Aztlan (Nuclear Blast)

Brujeria’s every-other-year single release schedule has kept the band active, but they’re hardly front and center in the extreme metal discussion. Best known as a fictitious gang of Mexican drug lords Read more […]

Sevenpoint – Sevenpoint (Self-Released)

Starting to find out more about bands from the Salt Lake City, Utah scene – Katagory V were veterans of the progressive metal scene from 1999-2014, while Visigoth rides the power/heavy metal crest currently Read more […]

Seven Kingdoms – In the Walls (Self-Released)

Fortunate to watch the steady development of this Florida power metal band from their 2007 Brothers in the Night debut full-length to now, it’s not surprising that followers have been patiently chomping Read more […]

Unfathomable Ruination – Finitude (Sevared Records)

Like it or not, brutal death metal does usually come with a pre-conceived notion (as with much music sadly). With an emphasis on slam/groove above all, a number of metal fans tend to look down on the Read more […]

Lesbian – Hallucinogenesis (Translation Loss)

More often than not, a strong effort is made within the sludge/stoner realm to not over-complicate things. It’s supposed to be music to chill out to, for lack of a better term, or, get blazed, again, Read more […]

Falaise – As Time Goes By (Aeternitas Tenebrarum Musicae Fundamentum)

It is with utmost confidence we can say An Autumn for Crippled Children are the preeminent “blackgaze” metal band. For a variety of reasons, Deafheaven and certainly not Ghost Bath can hold AAFCC’s Read more […]

DGM – The Passage (Frontiers Records)

Progressive metal has certain pockets of the world that gain instant appeal – probably due to culture, heritage, and a keen ear on musicianship. Little surprise that Italy is one of those countries – Read more […]

Hannes Grossmann – The Crypts of Sleep (Self-Released)

Anyone who has spent some time in the extreme scene is no doubt already familiar with Hannes Grossmann. The man played drums with some of tech-death’s finest (ex-Necrophagist, ex-Obscura, and Alkaloid Read more […]

Imperium Dekadenz – Dis Manibvs (Season of Mist)

With its two most recent albums—2013’s Meadows of Nostalgia and now Dis Manibvs— Imperium Dekadenz has accomplished more than any other German black metal band in recent memory. We won’t go into Read more […]

Kamelot – Where I Reign: The Very Best of the Noise Years 1995-2003 (BMG)

Dormant since 2007, ardent metal followers are familiar with the healthy roster of artists that gained acclaim in the 1980’s and 1990’s through Noise Records. Major label BMG purchased Sanctuary Records Read more […]

Hostis – Hostis (Miner Recordings)

Usually when many (this writer included) think about thrash/death, the sound seems to be more in tune with a modern production and sentiment. Occasionally with a more Swedish tone to accompany it, per Read more […]

Expired Utopia – Expired Utopia (Self-Released)

Winnipeg power metal band Expired Utopia formed in late 2014, honing in on a power metal style that has more in common with homegrown North American influences than anything more Euro-happy oriented. This Read more […]

Moanaa – Passage (Arachnophobia Records)

Moanaa’s first full-length, 2014’s The Descent, was one this scribe stumbled upon while scoping out Bandcamp one afternoon. The blend of post-metal with sludge/doom/groove tendencies was one that Read more […]

Solidity – An Abnormal Collection (Self-Released)

What does constitute an abnormal collection nowadays? Thinking of the title in terms of what Hungary’s Solidity have accomplished wouldn’t be abnormal such as eclectic, with a broad stroke of influences Read more […]

Devin Townsend Project – Transcendence (InsideOut Music)

What’s left to really introduce about Devin Townsend at this point? Through all of his various iterations (Strapping Young Lad, Ocean Machine, Casualties of Cool, etc) he’s covered a massive amount Read more […]

Exiled On Earth – Forces of Denial (Punishment 18 Records)

Technical metal and its power/progressive/thrash offshoots may not be in vogue like it was a couple of decades ago when Coroner, Realm, Toxik and Watchtower awed audiences – but their influence has spread Read more […]

Frigoris – Nur ein Moment… (Hypnotic Dirge)

Seeing things move against the current grain is always satisfying. In our worldwide culture of instant gratification and song-driven (as opposed to album-driven) appeal, we can count on metal bands to Read more […]

Allegaeon – Proponent for Sentience (Metal Blade)

Of the North American bands that picked up the melodic death reigns from Sweden’s finest (when many shifted towards more commercial territory), one of the strongest has always been that of Allegaeon. Read more […]

Marsh Dweller – The Weight of Sunlight (Eihwaz Recordings)

Fun fact about Marsh Dweller main dude John Owen Kerr: he collects Cold Lake cassettes. Meaning, the much-derided Celtic Frost album, known for its dramatic sonic and visual shift into glam rock territory. Read more […]

Kambrium – The Elders Realm (NoiseArt Records)

Melodic death metal that hits on the symphonic and power metal side is by no means uncharted territory. But that doesn’t stop bands like Germany’s Kambrium from giving it their all, honing in on what Read more […]

Darkher – Realms (Prophecy Productions)

Is it a reach to suggest Myrkur, Sylvaine, and Darkher team up for a show? All three are leading the charge in isolated one-woman bands, each having their own distinct identity, certainly prone to the Read more […]

Pain – Coming Home (Nuclear Blast)

Initially coming into the scene in the late ‘90s as a side project for Hypocrisy mainman Peter Tägtgren to delve into less deathly and more industrial and electronic waters, it didn’t take long for Read more […]

Cognizance – Illusory (Self-Released)

Blooming UK tech death band Cognizance has managed to make a name for themselves with only delivering a few EPs and a demo to date. The band’s latest EP, Illusory, is bound to continue the band’s Read more […]

Sodom – Decision Day (SPV)

Part of the original 80’s Teutonic thrash triad (Kreator and Destruction complete the pyramid), Sodom plug along much like a tank that makes its presence felt due to presence and overall strength. Limited Read more […]

Youdash – Astrophobia (Self-Released)

It’s a pleasant surprise to find music that genuinely defies classification. You can listen to it and it’s consistent enough that you aren’t scratching your head at what has just come through the Read more […]

Void King – There is Nothing (Self-Released)

Both Glenn Danzig and Vince Neil do the same thing live with their microphones: instead of finishing whatever vocal line they’re on, they purposely pull the mic away from the mouths so they don’t have Read more […]