Devildriver – More Demons Ahead

Back in 2020, Devildriver released the first part of a double album in the form of Dealing with Demons. At the beginning of the onset of COVID-19, and at a time where touring was not happening. It was Read more […]

Fires in the Distance – Pensive Elegance

Photo credit: Matty Thrash Having put the metal world on notice with their brand of dreamlike melancholy, Fires in the Distance have worked hard to refine their sound to achieve a higher level of potency. Read more […]

Vomitory – All Heads Are Gonna Roll (Metal Blade Records)

The original run for Swedish death metal act Vomitory went from the late 80’s until 2013 – with eight fine studio albums assaulting the airwaves. Most ardent followers have their favorites (put Blood Read more […]

Olkoth – At the Eye of Chaos (Everlasting Spew Records)

Newcomers Olkoth have been teasing listeners for a while now with their brand of blackened death metal, starting with a well received demo back in 2019 that piqued more than a few ears. A single “Eidolon Read more […]

Cattle Decapitation – Terrasite (Metal Blade Records)

Editors note: Introducing our latest wordsmith Stephen Calligan Cattle Decapitation is a group that is ever in metamorphosis; much like the concept thrust forth on the cover of their latest album Terrasite. Read more […]

Thulcandra – Enter the Abyss

Successfully delivering extreme metal in two distinct outfits, guitarist Steffen Kummerer has been able to establish both Obscura and the current band under the microscope Thulcandra to a global community Read more […]

Moonreich – Amer (Les Acteurs de l’Ombre Productions)

The nation of France has given us a plethora of varied metal black acts to enjoy over the years. Blut Aus Nord immediately comes to mind as one of the best both historically and currently, along with a Read more […]

Bloody Nightmare – Pillars of Chaos (Fighter Records)

South America has been an underground hotbed when it comes to heavy metal as of late. Hailing from Bogota, Columbia, Bloody Nightmare started their ascension in 2013, releasing a demo and single before Read more […]

Terrifier – Trample the Weak, Devour the Dead (Empire Records)

Vancouver, Canada’s Terrifier returns to the scene six years after their previous release Weapons of Thrash Destruction (reviewed by this scribe for the site), modified to a power trio lineup from a Read more […]

Trespass – The Wolf Comes Knocking

When it comes to influence across the metal landscape, most artists draw inspiration from the classic elements that started it all – including the strong wave of bands across England that served as the Read more […]

dEMOTIONAL – Scandinavian Aftermath (AFM Records)

In today’s modern metal marketplace, exposure is king. The court of public opinion has more weight than ever – especially through the social media/ streaming options available to all at their fingertips. Read more […]

Speedwhore – Visions of a Parallel World (Dying Victims Productions)

Originally active from 2006-2013 as Speed Whöre (umlauts add that extra sinister touch), German band Speedwhore produce a primal, raw blackened thrash sound on their second-full length Visions of a Parallel Read more […]

Frozen Soul – Glacial Domination (Century Media)

It must seem like this Texas death metal act shot out of a cannon in terms of underground success in such a short period of time. Arriving on the scene in 2018, their debut demo Encased in Ice got the Read more […]

Midnight / Spirit Adrift / Spiter – May 6th, 2023 – The Orpheum, Tampa, FL

Photos by: Brittany Barkasi Speed metal has made quite the resurgence in the last decade plus. These days, you’ll find plenty of festivals with a large focus on this style of metal – with Hell’s Read more […]

Lankester Merrin – Riding the Storm

Together now for four years, German quintet Lankester Merrin (based on a fictional character from the 1971 novel The Exorcist) produce a killer blend of melodic heavy metal that contains numerous influences Read more […]

Craving – Call of the Sirens (Massacre Records)

Sporadic releases usually occur in the metal realm for a variety of plausible reasons: lineup shifts, business turmoil, general work/life issues, coupled with a global pandemic for the first time in our Read more […]

Tardigrade Inferno – Arrival of a Train (Self-Released)

Unique amalgamations of influences these days can pay huge dividends in separating artists from the pack. Russian band Tardigrade Inferno has developed an intriguing blend of avant-garde metal that they Read more […]

Darklon – The Redeemer (No Remorse Records)

If there’s a specific country perfect for epic heavy/power metal to develop from, that would be Greece. The history/mythology base alone ideal for lyrical content – inspiring musicians to craft sturdy Read more […]

Oryad – Artistic Authenticity

Creating a sound that contains opera, jazz, and metal elements into this progressive, symphonic-oriented kaleidoscope, Oryad contains members from Colorado and Tennessee – making this a true cross-country Read more […]

Hasard – Malivore (I, Voidhanger Records)

The journey of an artist, and what leads to an epic breakthrough, can be important to understand to see how we’ve arrived at this moment in time. The story of the eclectic composer known as Hazard is Read more […]

Heir To Madness – Nightflyers (Self-Released)

Probably not as rare a story to hear as most in the music world when it comes to the latest album release for Texas-based progressive metal/rock act Heir to Madness. Under the helm of Jason Wiscarson, Read more […]

Magick Touch – Cakes & Coffins (Edged Circle Productions)

Power trio lineups present unique possibilities as far as putting the focus on the abilities of the musicians on hand. Less is more they say – building that musical telepathy to know where to take basic Read more […]

Chronicle – Revel in Chaos

Hailing from Denmark, Chronicle contains a quartet of younger musicians content to push parameters within the thrash/death realm, intertwining aspects of old school twin-infused guitar harmonies with blackened Read more […]

Ascended Dead – Evenfall of the Apocalypse (20 Buck Spin)

Death metal is a genre with many faces, certainly being a major reason of why it’s so attractive. When it comes to the heavier variety, this scribe prefers a hefty bite, big memorable riffs, and a large Read more […]

Mystic Prophecy – Hellriot (Rock of Angels Records)

Reliable purveyors in the power, speed, thrash-oriented metal realm, Mystic Prophecy show no signs of putting the creative accelerator on cruise control. Even through inevitable lineup changes, record Read more […]

Screamin’ Demons – The New Era (Pure Steel Records)

Although a new band in essence, Screamin’ Demons contains three-fifths of its members who have been a part of the iconic Italian metal act Death SS. Founded in 2021 by bassist Andy Barrington, the sound Read more […]

Roadwolf – Running with Lightning

Another entry in the classic heavy metal/ hard rock style, Austria’s Roadwolf possesses those requisite hooks, melodies, and raw power that we’ve come to know and love in this genre. Their second full-length Read more […]

Moonspell / Eleine / Oceans of Slumber / Somnent – May 3, 2023 – Conduit, Orlando, FL

Photos by: Brittany Barkasi Being forced to cancel their summer 2022 North American run with Swallow the Sun and Witherfall due to a variety of unfortunate issues, it was unclear when the mighty Portuguese Read more […]