Originally released on tape three years ago via super-small BM indie label Scythe of Death Productions, Ormgard’s Ormblot has been repackaged and re-released through Forever Plagued. Because Ormblot is Read more […]
The primary beneficiary of Killswitch Engage’s forever immobile, but highly successful songwriting formula, ex-KSE singer Howard Jones has returned from a multi-year hiatus with a new outfit, the presumably Read more […]
Dwelling in depths of darkness and flickering sparks of light amidst shadows, the mighty Schammasch unleash Contradiction. As the title forewarns, Contradiction is a perplexing array of mirrors, reflections, Read more […]
Is Pennsylvania becoming a metal hot bed? Within the last year, we’ve had some breakout successes from Rivers of Nihil and Black Crown Initiate. If Infallible does anything for fellow PA’ers Fisthammer, Read more […]
Never really getting out of relative obscurity despite a growing back catalogue, Spain’s Noctem have nonetheless retained status as one of the flag bearers of the Spanish scene. Following their Dimmu Read more […]
The “kids” may not find a great deal of value with a band like Las Vegas’ Dinner Music for the Gods, yet progressive old-timers, still mingling about the Dream Theater-Rush-Yes courtyard should something Read more […]
Curious listener that you are, surely you’ve too wondered what kind of sound you’d get if you mashed together Nevermore and Silverchair, right? Sure, we all have. Before I hang myself with that statement, Read more […]
For one’s bang for their buck, hard to get any better in the poppy female-fronted metal annals that Delain jams “April Rain” and “Frozen.” They’re the exact type of songs this subgenre was Read more […]
Death metal reference check: Morbid Angel, Anata, Hate Eternal, Immolation, Gorguts. Chances are if you enjoy any of those bands listed above, you’ll enjoy Evolving Towards Extinction, Near Death Condition’s Read more […]
Formerly known as Gollum, North Carolina’s Hadea re-branded themselves after the passing of drummer Hunter Holland, who was not only the band’s rhythmic backbone, but their founding member. Such tragic Read more […]
Quite unsure where to notch Finnish whippersnapper thrash. Thrash, as a viable subgenre of metal, has been largely ignored by Finland, mainly because the proven success rate lies in folk and melodic metal Read more […]
By the name alone, DR thought this would be one of those ultra-silly, not-so-serious grind romps that hover between respectability and novelty. It’s inevitable when your name is “King Parrot” and Read more […]
A slurry of all things modern, Israel’s Ferium immediately grab one’s attention with their killer album artwork. The colors really pop and the style really helps it standout among other metal releases, Read more […]
When ‘ole Zakk says the new BLS is “Completely the same as the last nine records, except just different songtitles,” it’s like, what is the record company supposed to think? “Gee, thanks Zakk Read more […]
Centurian is a deadly force from Netherlands. I remember when this album originally came out in 1999. It was ahead of its time in a sense with its overly blasphemous and in-your-face attack. The closest Read more […]
Probably the biggest selling point for Monument of Misanthropy is that of drummer Romain Goulon (Necrophagist). Well, that and the wicked looking creature on the cover! Rounding out the remainder of Read more […]
Caution: Neo-music. Darkish neo-folk to be more precise. Does that even make sense, neo-folk? Regardless of genre, any with the word “neo” in front of it is bound to be either interesting in creativity Read more […]
Somewhere along the way towards being tr00er, grimmer, and darker, metal lost its sense of joy. Sure, there are a number of bands in the folk metal genre that convey a feeling of carefree and “happy”, Read more […]
Alas, the retro warriors of today have their female counterparts – time to hit the shower boys, your stank isn’t going to fly around the ladies of The Oath! Comprised of the German-Swedish duo of Johanna Read more […]
Deemed a worthy commodity not only because Monster Magnet skin-basher Bob Pantella is among the ranks, but also because the song “Crossfade” from 2011’s Invisible Empire ROCKS MONDO HARD, New Jersey’s Read more […]
Straight out of the Arizona desert, Godhunter give their take on the heavy stoner doom thing and at nearly an hour long, City of Dust is a tiring and ultimately forgettable listen. The opening track, “Despite Read more […]
It’s usually a good thing when something wastes no time in getting straight to the point. A common facet of many cultures outside of the English-speaking world (especially here in the States) is to let Read more […]
Instantly a player in the extreme metal game thanks to the addition of ex-God Dethroned mainman Henri “The Serpent King” Sattler, Netherlands-based Winter of Sin make good on their lineup expansion with Read more […]
The unfathomably dark black metal of Thantifaxath casts ambient shadows and conjures cold auras, explicitly in the band’s first full-length album, Sacred White Noise. As rooted in this record, their Read more […]
Arising from the ashes of grindcore vets Crowpath, Henrik Ivarsson (vocals) and Erik Hall (drums) have gotten together with John Ronnerblad (guitars) and Robert Fuchs (bass) to form Tellusian. After Read more […]
It was previously established that the technical prowess of England’s Conan is on par with Swiss bunker rehearsal room era Hellhammer. Translation: Those guys couldn’t play, and neither can Conan. Read more […]
Ever-so-steadily climbing up the European progressive metal ladder, Denmark’s Anubis Gate might have encountered a bit of stumble on their forgettable 2012 self-titled effort, but look to be in better Read more […]
Despite their extensive back catalogue and revolving door of top notch drummers (including Derek Roddy, Tony Laureano, and Tim Yeung), Aurora Borealis have yet to really reach that upper echelon of death Read more […]
One the several long-form, post(ed)-out, atmospheric metal bands jostling around Europe, France’s Dirge have origins in the industrial metal scene, where they had a far less barren and enticing canvas Read more […]
If there is one country whose floodgates have been opening up over the past few years with some truly great material, it’s Australia. This year alone, we’ve already heard some strong material from Read more […]
