For all of the endless pontificating we do about how God-awful Christian metal is, it takes a band like The Showdown (and let’s not forget Believer) to give the niche at least some credibility. Since Read more […]
Usually ganged up on by critics for their blissfully unaware portrayal of cheesy power metal, Denmark’s Iron Fire are far from the worst thing power metal has to offer. Actually, they have popped out Read more […]
A good two years prior to the release of their comeback album All Shall Fall, Immortal had the presence of mind to do some live dates to put their pretty faces back in the metal public eye. And like most Read more […]
They’re all coming back, aren’t they? Guess it was only a matter of time before Forbidden jumped into the act, which is fine – they were one of the few Bay Area thrash bands with the gall to use Read more […]
Seriously, how do you knock a band like Withered? They’re everything most North American bands aren’t, which in essence, is forward-thinking, hard-working, and under the aid of an unlimited scope. Read more […]
Discovering this fine Swedish traditional doom metal trio back on their 2005 Wolf’s Return album, Grand Magus have quietly made their ascent into the hearts of critics and fans with their addictive, Read more […]
For this scribe, the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about All That Remains is the sight of Phil Labonte stage-diving during the band’s opening stint with Shadows Fall in 2004. Given how Read more […]
‘Ole Dave Wyndorf is back, sans the drugs (apparently), which in some odd, twisted way, has resulted in Monster Magnet popping out their best album in eons. Yeah, eons, which means that could stretch Read more […]
One of the more unheralded bands in all of the underground, October Falls have made a career out of doing what so many are doing, but better. And by better, we’re referring to the highest-caliber Read more […]
A stopgap release for the Finns, who are coming off yet another barnburner of an album in the form of Skyforger, Magic and Mayhem – Tales From the Early Years is a 13-song re-working of the band’s Read more […]
If the band Melechesh remains an unknown quantity, than a mighty amount of shame shall be bestowed upon you. They are easily one of the most unique, powerful, and talented bands in existence. In the era Read more […]
Four years after Blue Miasma, crucial USBM one-man band Krieg have returned with The Isolationist. While the Candlelight Records banner may run against the band’s long-standing rep in necro BM circles, The Read more […]
California consistently produces a boatload of musicians hoping to turn the music industry upside-down and carry their songwriting and performance wares to all sides of the globe. Holy Grail from Pasadena Read more […]
If pondering the output of Savatage members in the 2000’s, one could argue that Zak Stevens and his group Circle II Circle has been the most productive as well as adhering to his emotional, confident Read more […]
This may only matter to anal-retentive scribes like yours truly, but 7 Sinners is a heavily-penned Andi Deris Helloween album, which for those who live and die by the Keeper albums, is a different Read more […]
Album cover of the year. Hands down. Like, why can’t more death metal covers be this classy, non-gory, and have such a great play on words? And it’s not that complicated – death metal bands just Read more […]
Much better than the half-assed In Sorte Diaboli, Dimmu, in spite of shedding half its line-up has managed to bring their overly-symphonic sound into the new decade, drawing an instant parallel to its Read more […]
German metalcore instantly evokes the brutal, but heavily Gothenburg-infused musings of Caliban, Heaven Shall Burn, Maroon, etc. They’re all pretty close cousins, interchangeable and frankly, not at Read more […]
Wasting little time after last year’s totally killer Static Tensions, Georgia’s Kylesa return with the not-as-awesome Spiral Shadow. Whereas its predecessor was practically gift-wrapped with a handful Read more […]
Since Dawnbringer mainman Chris Black has his foot in several camps (Nachtmystium, Pharaoh, High Spirits, to name a few), it’s not a reach to find that Nucleus dips from a similar, wide-sized pool. Read more […]
If you’re familiar with the band Drudkh, you should be in the know about Blood of Kingu. After all, three of the four current members of said Ukrainian black metal group are in this band, as well as Read more […]
For those unfamiliar with Nightfall, they’re one of the more important bands that have risen from the Greek scene. The band has been around since 1991, and has seen many incarnations – both in style Read more […]
When Star One first hit in 2002, it was a near-revelation, mainly because us journalistic-types got all excited about “space metal,” which frankly, sounds really dumb now, but hey, we’re still the Read more […]
Boy, 2006’s Aurora Consurgens feels old, doesn’t it? And since it didn’t have the flair of its predecessor Temple of Shadows, Angra suddenly isn’t the enticing, 3rd World power metal prospect Read more […]
Going heavier after 2008’s very progressive, Pink Floyd-intensive Vertebrae was easily the smartest move Enslaved could have made. Then again, the band have been all about making smart decisions for Read more […]
Dawn of Ashes’ scary/horror-inspired/highly cinematic blend of black and death metal has fallen out of favor for more primitive means of late, which explains why the band’s third album, Genocide Chapters comes Read more […]
Best known for his totally unique wails, howls, pleas for order, love for nature, etc., Primordial’s Alan Nemtheanga Averill sounds every bit as tortured against the backdrop of sloppy, buzzing primal Read more […]
Ninth album for this veteran dark power metal act, who have reached headline status the world over thanks to the charismatic vocal presence of Roy Khan, the unyielding work ethic and vision of guitarist Read more […]
A natural sounding snare drum…can’t deal with it. It’s so passé to play extreme metal of any form without some type of triggering that when something like Woe comes along, it throws the ears for Read more […]
All eyes are on Gus G., especially from the casual mainstream heavy music follower who probably just discovered this axe-slinger’s skill set taking over for Zakk Wylde as Ozzy Osbourne’s guitar man. Read more […]
