Reviews

Belphegor – Black Magick Necromance (Nuclear Blast Records)

Come to think of it, is there a more hard-working band in the extreme metal sphere than Austria’s Belphegor? They put an album out nearly every year, tour their assess off, and there’s nary a dip in Read more […]

Abysmal Dawn – Leveling the Plane of Existence (Relapse Records)

The latest granite chunk of brutal death metal from Los Angeles’ Abysmal Dawn comes in the form of Leveling the Plane of Existence, a crusher of an album and the first solid album of the new year. While Read more […]

Elvenking – Red Silent Tides (AFM Records)

Elvenking’s last “proper” (and by “proper” we mean not acoustic like 2008’s Two Tragedy Poets) studio album The Scythe was a real charmer across the board, the type of modern power metal Read more […]

Hour of 13 – The Ritualist (Earache Records)

The scene changes often as the debate rages forth between the studio versus live experience in the metal realm. As a lifelong admirer of both, there’s something magical when all the elements align to Read more […]

Deadlock – Bizarro World (Lifeforce Records)

Often derided for their use of syrupy female vocals in the context of rather stock melodic metalcore, Germany’s Deadlock appears to have totally figured things out with their fifth album, Bizarro World. Read more […]

To Cast A Shadow – In Memory Of (Kolony Records)

When Gothic metal is on, its glow can be quite domineering. The hallmark works of Paradise Lost, Anathema, and My Dying Bride proved how versatile the sound can be, allowing bands like To Cast A Shadow Read more […]

Khors – Return to Abandoned (Paragon Records)

Not to be confused with the American beer with the same pronunciation (Coors is disgusting, by the way), Ukrainian black metal combo Khors return with the follow-up to 2008’s sturdy Mysticism in the Read more […]

Pristina – The Drought (ov Salt and Sorrow) (Trendkill Recordings)

Pretty big in scope, Pristina’s The Drought (ov Salt and Sorrow)brandishes the big ‘ole flamethrower that is near the likes of Today Is the Day and other metallic, post-hardcore aficionados. Anchored Read more […]

Ghost – Opus Eponymous (Rise Above/Metal Blade Records)

What Witchcraft was to 2006, is what Ghost will be to 2010/2011. Basically, this entails being the “it” band among those in-the-know (read: Fenriz of Darkthrone, various snobby metal journo types, Read more […]

Nails – Unsilent Death (Southern Lord)

Hey, let’s get in and get out, and while we’re at it, let’s steamroll some people. Methinks that’s the general thought process for Nails, who take bludgeoning death/grind to new levels on the all-too-quick Unsilent Read more […]

Arson Anthem – Insecurity Notoriety (Housecore Records)

Easy to get this mixed up with Outlaw Order, who are essentially Eyehategod without Jimmy Bower, yet Outlaw Order doesn’t have Phil Anselmo in the ranks like Arson Anthem does. Consider this just a notch Read more […]

Weapon – From the Devil’s Tomb (Ajna Offensive)

With last year’s face-melting The Drakonian Paradigm still fresh in everyone’s mind, Canadian black/thrash troupe Weapon return with From the Devil’s Tomb. Rare, but this is an album that demonstrates Read more […]

Kryoburn – Three Years Eclipsed (Candlelight Records)

Coming at you with an intriguing combination of industrial and melodic metal sensibilities, Kryoburn returns for their sophomore release Three Years Eclipsed. Their first album, Enigmatic Existence, Read more […]

Engel – Thernody (Season of Mist Records)

Boasting such a fantastic lineup of musicians – all of which have made considerable impact on the Swedish metal scene with their former groups – you’d think that Engel would be flowing with creativity Read more […]

Debauchery – Kill Maim Burn (AFM Records)

The inundation of trendy, “core”-based death metal is eventually going to swing the pendulum back in the direction of more simple-mindedbands like Debauchery. With Kill Maim Burn (originally released Read more […]

Intronaut – Valley of Smoke (Century Media Records)

Often buzzed-about, California’s Intronaut have been coddled by the metal press, who often claimed these guys were the next logical step from Isis and friends. ‘Tis hasn’t quite been the case, as Read more […]

A Forest of Stars – Opportunistic Thieves of Spring (Transcendenal Creations)

“A Forest of Stars.” Sounds celestial, doesn’t it? And yeah, it’s not a total stretch to say this United Kingdom-based black metal ensemble at least have some of those airy and poignant moments Read more […]

Wormrot – Abuse (Earache Records)

Not sure how Blistering let this one slip by since the summer; maybe it was all the shitty baseball being viewed. Or not. Getting to Wormrot’s debut album Abuse now, at the tail-end of 2010 does reveal Read more […]

Obsidian – Point of Infinity (Candlelight Records)

Dutch tech death metal Obsidian arrive with their second album, Point of Infinity. Hurling their sound of polyrhythms, thunderous grooves and roaring twisted death at audiences since their 2002 unveiling, Read more […]

Atlantean Kodex – The Golden Bough (Cruz del Sur Music)

As far as traditional metal offerings go, you’re not going to cull a more remote outfit than Bavaria’s Atlantean Kodex. Not having much to do with one particular scene or country works in the band’s Read more […]

Agalloch – Marrow of the Spirit (Profound Lore Records)

Nary a flaw in Agalloch’s discography, and perhaps one of the few bands in the underground who will remain unblemished, John Haughm and crew return with the much-anticipated Marrow of the Spirit. Read more […]

Shadows Fall – Madness in Manila: Shadows Fall Live in The Philippines 2009 DVD/CD (Everblack/Ferret Music)

Seriously, how long are Brian Fair’s dreadlocks going to get? They’re practically touching the floor, which makes one wonder if the dude has a good chiropractor or has a really strong neck. We’re Read more […]

Mushroomhead – Beautiful Stories For Ugly Children (Megaforce/Filthy Hands Records)

The debate whether Mushroomhead are more valid and better than Slipknot is now a long-gone proposition (for the record, they are), and it has allowed the Cleveland-based troupe to gradually carve out Read more […]

The Devil Wears Prada – Zombie EP (Ferret Music)

Widely considered one of the worst bands going (Blistering has avoided these guys like the plague, obviously), The Devil Wears Prada have enjoyed a continual upswing since their emergence in 2007, thus Read more […]

Grand Magus – Monument Reissue (Metal Blade Records)

Totally hate the fact these guys are lumped in with the stoner scene – they’re so superior to that, it’s not even funny. Frankly, in terms of straight-up traditional metal bands, there may be no Read more […]

Oceano – Contagion (Earache Records)

Oceano is such a predictable band and Contagion came across as such an obvious-sounding record, that Blistering debated on not even listening to the album at all prior to reviewing it (blast you, promotional Read more […]

Aborym – Pyschogrotesque (Season of Mist Records)

Like Red Harvest and Tidfall, both of whom could never manage to make cyber black metal click, Aborym has also suffered from the same indignity, even as the Italians truck in and out various “stars” Read more […]

Halford – Halford IV: Made of Metal (Metal God Productions)

The cover…is this a Nascar racing game for the PS3? You should know better, Halford. One can understand the cross-promotional aspect of having an actual race-car adorn the Metal God banner (which is Read more […]

Cradle of Filth – Darkly, Darkly Venus Aversa (Nuclear Blast Records)

There’s little debate over how increasingly extreme Cradle of Filth has become over the years, and it’s not a reach to say they’re heavier than their more black-like contemporaries (and rivals) Dimmu Read more […]

Magic Kingdom – Symphony of War (Limb Music)

Anyone remember the days of the original Metal Mania’s on MTV with Dee Snider hosting during the mid 1980’s? If so, you might remember like me, your first encounter with Sweden’s Yngwie Malmsteen. Read more […]