A contrast to the normally broad, expansive (and reliable) releases unearthed by France’s Debemur Morti, Finland’s Archgoat serves as a reminder of how simplistic and single-minded certain forms of Read more […]
You know you are in for a long haul when a band’s “Intro” track is over four minutes in length. Most bands settle for something around the range of 10 seconds to maybe two minutes, but not Desolate Read more […]
Transforming themselves from folk metal to power metal over the years, Orden Ogan set their sights on larger headlining stages as they appear to take a layered gauntlet Blind Guardian set up during their Read more […]
Sometimes you just have to laugh at the level of genre-fication that we have come to. Dethlehem classifies themselves as “RPG melodic death metal.” Does this mean that as you listen to it, you will Read more […]
It’s usually the other way around with Shadow Kingdom: They dig into the past to find ultra-hard-to-find albums, demos, EPs, and the like. This time, they’re working with a new(er) band (by their standards) Read more […]
My first exposure to this infamous UK act would be as an early teen through some obscure K-Tel vinyl compilation on metal… as they decide to add “Witching Hour” to the mix of otherwise pedestrian Read more […]
If it can be claimed that there is a singular cradle for black metal, Bergen Norway would be the obvious location. Truly, it’s never a surprise to come across yet another release from yet another impressive Read more […]
The undisputed dinosaurs (we say that lovingly) of instrumental metal, West Virgina’s Karma to Burn celebrated their 20th quasi year of existence last year. It hasn’t been without its bumps, naturally, Read more […]
Just as there are many who swear by the overall quality of a label like Profound Lore, another label that has been earning that same sterling reputation is that of Dark Descent Records. Enter one of their Read more […]
Four albums in at this point, British thrashers Sylosis continue their progression towards the top of the neo-thrash heap. Building a ton of momentum after 2012’s Monolith and frequent tours, Dormant Read more […]
The easy thing for Scotland’s Falloch would be to hide behind the looming behemoth that is UK post-black metal, ensuring them a spot in the genre safe-zone. Frankly, no one is going to pick up the pace Read more […]
Greetings Earthlings and welcome to Planet Satan! Its first impression (e.g. title, theme, track #1) might come off as rather sci-fi geeky and maybe even a bit hippy-dippy, considering the idea began with Read more […]
Being avant-garde is fine…it’s just that you have to be convincingly avant-garde without the need to toss the kitchen sink out of the window. Black metal, as has usually been the case, is the most Read more […]
Originally released in 2014, Hateful Abandon where picked up by Candlelight shortly thereafter. Hence the reissue of Liars/Bastards, while the band starts concocting some new material. An interesting Read more […]
Hailing from a traditional/power metal hotbed such as Germany has its perks as far as establishing a presence in an active scene – and that’s where Alpha Tiger call home. Developing in 2007 under the Read more […]
Well, he’s no Mike or Pete, but he passes as Bloodbath material by most standards. We all know that Bloodbath’s not-so-secret vocalist is now Nick Holmes (Paradise Lost) and the worldwide response Read more […]
Long standing death/thrashers The Crown aren’t exactly pushing out the releases anymore (Death is Not Dead is their first in 5 years and second in 10) but maybe that just makes them all the more special. Read more […]
Such a typical Moribund release…which is probably why it works on so many levels. Vardan, a one-man black metal band from Italy, is up for another ‘go-round with his supposed 22nd album, Verses from Read more […]
Head back in your mind ten years to 2005. Subterranean Masquerade’s last full-length album, Suspended Animation Dreams, had just been released. Encompassing a huge range of influences and musical genres Read more […]
One thing that has often kept this scribe from fully embracing a number of power/traditional metal bands is the sheer level of goofiness and shtick present (yes, the irony is not lost that there is that Read more […]
A bunch of kiddies, no doubt not quite at drinking age, who probably would rub uptight metal dorks such as this scribe the wrong way with their inability to name a metal album before 1990, but, are competent Read more […]
The word “kult” or “cult” or “kvlt” in black metal is pretty ubiquitous. It’s the favored term of bands looking to cement their status in what is metal’s most treacherous social pecking Read more […]
Originally developing as a side project during Arch Enemy down time, guitarist/vocalist Christopher Amott reignites Armageddon following his departure from the Swedish melodic death veterans in 2012. Considering Read more […]
Isn’t it great when bands look at themselves and acknowledge that one gaping flaw and actually do something about it? One such case is that of Soen, whose debut Cognitive was shelved by many as Tool Read more […]
From Hell, not exactly a name that strikes innovation, but we’ll cut this Indonesian duo some slack – they’re really on the outside looking in if we want to discuss who is from where/trying to do Read more […]
Kyoto, Japan’s Nameless One, a new band formed in 2013, deliver their first EP, a six song, twenty-eight minute burner with Thousand Memories and Nameless Sword. A safe bet this would be most people’s Read more […]
Some bands within the old school death metal movement are starting to get it. We just don’t need any more straight-up retro bands okay with sitting around and playing Autopsy, Entombed, or Incantation Read more […]
Another tail-end of the year discovery through Bandcamp, Neurotech plays the type of metal that may not be for everyone. Electronic/industrial metal seems to be a dividing line for many, and the percentage Read more […]
Stargazer is a name that has been held on a pedestal for many, and was this scribe’s first exposure to the band. Despite their twenty year legacy, the band has only released three full-length albums Read more […]
A name like Shredhead really puts the band’s full intentions right out there to start. But having three and five year old children, it’s hard to see that name and not think of some sort of action Read more […]
