TIMO TOLKKI’S AVALON – The Enigma Birth

"The Enigma Birth" by Timo Tolkki’s Avalon is the fourth album by the project and arguably the most accomplished and musically satisfying one in their discography yet. With an impressive cast of musically gifted people such as James Labrie, Caterina Nix, Fabio Lione, and Marina La Torraca appearing on the record, this is essentially a…

REDIMONI – On the Brink of Existence

This outfit offers relentlessly aggressive thrash metal from the Spanish underground, and these veterans have been spewing forth their vile brand of raw and pounding music for 21 years now under the ReDimoni moniker. "On the Brink of Existence" is a 5-track EP and it is not even remotely original-sounding if that is what you…

ALMOST DEAD – Brutal Onslaught

The US outfit known as Almost Dead blends modern thrash metal with groove metal and subtle hints of metalcore, and this twelve-track output is some wildly aggressive and energetic stuff. Whenever I spin this disc, acts ala Machine Head, Pissing Razors, and Devildriver come to mind, so that should tell you a little about where…

RUPHUS – Manmade (2021 Remaster)

The musical journey of the seemingly ever-changing Norwegian act Ruphus is an incredibly interesting one and while their first couple of outputs were rooted in heavy, adventurous prog rock, later albums leaned more toward jazz rock (or jazz prog, if you will, or perhaps even progressive rock with prominent jazz overtones to it?). "Manmade" is…

Psychonaut / Sâver – Emerald

Consisting of two lengthy tracks, one by each of these original-sounding artists, this is a strong and rather intense record that draws on psychedelic rock, sludge, stoner rock, doom metal, desert rock, minimalism, Americana, and ambient. Having the powerful Belgian outfit Psychonaut team up with the Norwegian purveyors of apocalyptic music known as Sâver is…

INTERLOPER – Search Party

Interloper members claim they have created a new genre of music every metal fan can enjoy and, in this respect, I have to agree as "Search Party" is a unique album. The Californian trio featuring former members of Rings Of Saturn and current live The Faceless members are basically a melodic hardcore band with some…

MORIBUND OBLIVION – Endles

Moribund Oblivion is a Turkish black outfit and these guys have been it at for years and churned out a whole string of full-length releases since the band’s inception in 1999. Their latest onslaught, which is entitled "Endless", contains aggressive black metal with melodic sensibilities to it, and it is deliciously rough around the edges…

BARNEY HOSKYNS – God is in the Radio: Unbridled Enthusiasms 1980-2020

"God is in the Radio: Unbridled Enthusiasms 1980-2020" by renowned writer Barney Hoskyns is an incredibly insightful and thought-provoking collection of various essays and articles on songs and albums that have had a profound impact on the author. This passionate blend of memories, anecdotes, music history, and biographical details is bound to make you sit…

AIRBAG – Identity (2021 Remaster)

Originally released back in 2009 but now remastered by the talented Jacob Holm-Lupo (The Opium Cartel, White Willow) and reissued by the ever-reliable Karisma Records, "Identity" was the debut album by the Oslo-based prog rockers Airbag. Now, the thing about this superb Norwegian group is that their grand, sweeping soundscapes are not that far removed…

BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER – Brother Against Brother

There was something alluring and exciting about glancing at the amazing artwork to this self-titled effort by the sparkling new outfit named Brother Against Brother and it just so turned out to be an excellent pairing of two exceptionally gifted and skilled vocalists, namely Renan Zonta (Electric Mob) and Nando Fernandez (Sinistra). Backed by a…

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