As quickly as one can sour on brutal death metal, such an affliction has never hit Cannibal Corpse. Granted, they’ve utilized practically the same formula since 1996’s Vile, but where Cannibal Corpse Read more […]
From the “Where Are They Now?” file comes Absu. The Texas mythological occult metallers were an underground staple in the late 90’s and early part of this decade, culminating with the dastardly, Read more […]
For a band that’s traditionally been a tough sell to the power metal crowd, Denmark-based Iron Fire appear to have all the right pieces in place: a take-charge vocalist in the form of Martin Steene, Read more […]
Not the first name uttered when discussing the now widespread Pagan/epic metal scene, Sweden’s Thyrfing have been at it since the late 90’s with a batch of wholly respectable albums to their name, Read more […]
Long, long, long-running German power metallers Grave Digger have always been a bit of choice commodity in trad metal circles. The X-factor with the band has always been singer Chris Boltendahl, whose Read more […]
Sure, Dimension Zero’s melodic death metal approach isn’t going to split the world in two. And yeah, they trace over familiar path once tread by At the Gates, In Flames, and the like, but wow, He Read more […]
Once regarded as the future of melodic death metal, Sweden’s Darkane have never gotten their just due. Without the pop measures that In Flames and Soilwork so readily adopted, the quintet (who comprise Read more […]
nitially, Conclusion of An Age rubbed this scribe the wrong way. You know, kinda how deathcore or cop-out thrash does to just about anyone, but repeated inspections reveal a band teetering on thrash Read more […]
Not even two years removed from the excellent Inner Sanctum, long-running NWOBHM act Saxon return with Into the Labyrinth and it’s business as usual for Biff and the gang. More arena-ready than ever, Read more […]
With little or no staying power to the Derrick Green era, Sepultura finds itself with a perpetual uphill battle, made all the more daunting now the band is totally Cavalera-less. Sure, new drummer Jean Read more […]
Never one to stand still, Satryicon mainman Satyr (aka Sigurd Wongraven) has made another personal affront to moving his dastardly duo forward with The Age of Nero. Sure, a rehash of 2006’s gleaming Now, Read more […]
Phil Anselmo post-Pantera has been a mess. Outside of Down’s capable, but hardly world-beating III from 2007, the man’s work in the awful Superjoint Ritual and Arson Anthem has been pretty below Read more […]
In theory, an album like Manifesto belongs in the garbage can. It’s over-polished, uniformly produced, and blatantly formulaic. Purveying the brand of modern melodic death metal that Scar Symmetry Read more […]
Pagan metal bands…they don’t die, they multiply. The year has seen a rash of bands emerge in this realm that gives weigh to the notion that this trend is sure to die out in no time. That’s just Read more […]
That horseshit saying that black metal is supposed to have no rules is rarely applied when discussing the bulk of current BM bands. The scene is so fragmented and divided, it doesn’t really matter who Read more […]
In the live setting, Opeth are pretty stationary, but man, that Mikael Akerfeldt sure is a hoot on the mic! But no, seriously, the band can faithfully recreate their deep and often challenging brand of Read more […]
Odd sight seeing the Poles on Metal Blade, this, after an immensely successful run on Century Media where the band for all intents and purposes, was shot into the extreme metal stratosphere. Now on a much Read more […]
Not too enthused about having to give this an 8/10, especially considering how monumental and fresh 2001’s Violent Revolution and 2005’sEnemy of God were. Yet, here are Mille and the gang, back Read more […]
In a career spanning nearly 15 years, this is the first proper visual documentation of Nevermore and true to form, it’s top-notch, supremely-performed and captivating across the board. From strictly Read more […]
Isn’t it strange how different the career paths of Cannibal Corpse and Six Feet Under are? Seriously, wasn’t Barnes and co. supposed to be the break out, massively commercial death metal band? And wasn’t Read more […]
Deathcore is still getting a fair amount of air time, which means that its time is almost up and thank Sweet Jesus for that. While we’re at it, it’s probably important to pick up on the bands that Read more […]
The first territory to embrace post-Carcass Michael Amott and Arch Enemy, it is only fitting our neighbors in the land of the rising sun get the live concert DVD treatment from the Swedes. Professionally Read more […]
The type album that can really make one sour on progressive metal,When Time Fades…, the third offering from New Jersey progsters Suspyre is as vanilla as they come, made all the more tepid by the fact Read more […]
Some lightbulb had to have gone off in the collective brain of Samothrace, as this might be the first legitimate combo of sludgy, c-r-a-w-l-i-n-g to a s-t-a-n-d-s-t-i-l-l doom that is so melodically competent, Read more […]
Grind doesn’t have a great deal of actual characters, save for Napalm Death’s Barney Greenway and the man and band in question, Rich Hoak and Total Fucking Destruction. Hoak, already a grind veteran Read more […]
One of the few bands that were still plugging thrash before the current revitalization, Los Angeles-based Hirax are rightfully reaping the rewards of this second wave. While they never cracked the upper-tier Read more […]
Recalling a time when Hatesphere was actually writing melodic, knife-in-the-throat thrash (i.e. Bloodred Hatred), Finland’s Dead Shape Figure eschew the trappings of new/old-school thrash for the razor-sharp Read more […]
The great thing about Enslaved Mach II is that they’re toying with us and laughing all the way to the golden halls of Valhalla. Actually no, they abandoned that Viking nonsense for something more intellectual, Read more […]
Kai Hansen and the gang keep rolling, just like their now partners in crime, Helloween. The two are forever linked, but let’s just focus on Gamma Ray at the time being and their marvelous 2-CD/DVD live Read more […]
Rejuvenated after their signing with Candlelight for last year’s Xecutioner’s Return album, long-running Florida death metallers Obituary hit us with another slab of no-frills death metal in the Read more […]
