ALBUM REVIEWS

RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS

  • MYON – Vitalworks

    An 8 year absence on the recording front makes "Vitalworks" interesting solely from a perspective of can this Finnish melodic hard rock/metal act still deliver the goods? The fifth studio album contains 14 songs and almost an hour of music – sitting between the charm of Marillion, the musicianship of 80’s-era Rush, and also leaning…

  • GOATSNAKE – Black Age Blues

    Reuniting with most of the original lineup, Los Angeles, California’s Goatsnake return with a new studio record in "Black Age Blues". Doom and stoner metal may be the foundation of these 9 songs, but there is also a natural bluesy and psychedelic demeanor to the work of vocalist Pete Stahl, who doubles on harmonica. Ian…

  • PERZONAL WAR – The Last Sunset

    Certain bands hover in that netherworld, you aren’t quite sure if they are one genre or another – and that can clearly be the case for German power/thrash band Perzonal War. It’s safe to say on their new album "The Last Sunset" the band still profess a love for all things Metallica, especially in terms…

  • EVERSIN – Trinity: The Annihilation

    For their third full-length go around, Italy’s Eversin release "Trinity: The Annihilation". Continuing their trend for special guests on "Fire Walk With Me" (vocalist James Rivera) and "We Will Prevail" (guitarist Glen Alvelais), this is an 8 song, 40 minute record in the progressive, power/thrash mold. Vocalist Angelo Ferrante has this slightly raspy Italian accent…

  • DARKTRIBE – The Modern Age

    France’s Darktribe return on a new label Scarlet Records with their second album "The Modern Age". Melodic power metal with modern touches is the style this quartet employs, and I’m sure many will be able to pick out many of the Hammerfall, Stratovarius, and Sonata Arctica elements in terms of the high pitched vocals, guitar/keyboard…

  • INQUISITOR – Walpurgis – Sabbath Of Lust (re-release)

    Inquisitor came, destroyed and left. The Dutch death/thrash act released their sole but deadly album "Walpurgis – Sabbath Of Lust" back in 1996 and this masterpiece have now been re-released by HammerHeart Records for your listening pleasure. 11 tracks of relentless and ugly death/thrash that borrows from both Sadus technicality and Kreator´s full force ahead…

  • NUNSLAUGHTER – Burn The Cross

    Nunslaughter should not need any introduction. Don of the Dead & Co have kept the death metal flame burning bright the last 30 years or so and their endless catalogue of albums and splits must have gotten in your musical path at least once in all this time. "Burn The Cross" is a new EP…

  • STARQUAKE – Times That Matter

    German progressive hard rock that definitely contains a lot of that 70’s Hammond Organ / Bluesy sheen – "Times That Matter" is Starquake’s second studio album, and should be delightful for those into throwback sounds and longer arrangements. Putting the 21 minute epic "Rise and Fall" as track 4 on an 11 song record speaks…

  • SHIT – Scavengers Of A Dying Sun

    Mexican Shit started out as a one-man project back in 2009, and after a few member changes, border issues and demos, they are now unleashing "Scavengers Of A Dying Sun", a 36 minute tale  of dark and chaotic death metal. The band blast its way through 7 surprisingly catchy and raw songs, taking no prisoners, with…

  • OBESE – Kali Yuga

    An appropriate name for such a hefty sound, Obese on this album "Kali Yuga" serve up 9 thick pieces of sludge-oriented stoner metal. Expect a bass that rattles rib cages and bones, an equally throaty vocal attack, and a sound that contains a lot of Crowbar / Red Fang qualities, with a touch of High…

  • AMANITA VIROSA – Asystole

    Hospital metal is a new term to this journalist – and the promo photo from Finland’s Amanita Virosa contains band members in wheelchairs as well as holding medical supplies, so kudos to their aim to live their craft. "Asystole" as a debut album straddles the lines between modern and melodic death, occasionally hitting Children of…

  • SPEEDTRAP – Straight Shooter

    Speedtrap hails from Finland and plays a formidable form of heavy/speed metal with a modern twist. Their debut from 2013, "Powerdose" was an powerladen disc with a lot of nice riffing and on their follow-up, "Straight Shooter" they continue on the nice trend. This is modern speed metal with an ok vocal on top. It´s…

  • INTO THE DIVINE – Harbringer of Energy

    Indianapolis, Indiana’s Into the Divine possess the right balance of musicianship and aggression in their new 6 song EP "Harbringer of Energy". Containing a dual clean/extreme vocal attack courtesy of guitarist Cole Chavez and bassist Wesley Holland respectively, expect a lot of whirlwind riff combinations and drop on a dime blast to groove tempo maneuvers,…

  • FALL OF CARTHAGE – Behold

    Consisting of Arkadius ‘Akki’ Antonik from Suidakra on guitars and Martin Buchwalter of Perzonal War on drums (plus Sascha Aßbach on vocals), Fall of Carthage release a debut album "Behold" that has a lot of that American modern groove/thrash template in these 11 songs. Machine Head-like stomp, squeals, and power comes burning through "Imperfection", the…

  • TEN – Isla De Muerta

    The 12th studio album from UK melodic rock band Ten, "Isla De Muerta" hits the streets rather quickly after last year’s "Albion" (which came out in November). The seven-piece act are fairly keen on churning out a steady stream of hooks in the musical and vocal department, sometimes exotic for "Karnak – The Valley of…

  • ASIA – AXIS XXX Live in San Francisco MMXII

    This 2CD/DVD combo package contains a live show captured back in late 2012 at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco featuring the original line-up of ASIA, which is to say Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer, and John Wetton. The setlist consists of tracks off the first two albums as well as some of the…

  • VALKYRIE – Shadows

    The third album "Shadows" from Virginia’s Valkyrie comes seven years after their last release- but it’s understandable the gap between records, especially due to guitarist/vocalist Pete Adams other duties for the higher profile act Baroness. The quartet straddle the lines of traditional heavy metal and southern doom, never getting too stoner-oriented for their own good.…

  • OSUKARU – Transition

    An appropriate title as "Transition" from Sweden’s melodic hard rock/ AOR act Osukaru contains a mixture of older songs re-recorded along with new material. Their last album "Triumphant" didn’t sit well with me, probably due to the weak vocal performance from singers Fredrik Werner and Cecilia Camuii. Guitarist/ keyboardist Oz Osukaru went to work crafting…

  • GRAHAM BONNET BAND – My Kingdom Come

    Legendary vocalist Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Alcatrazz, MSG, etc.) recently released this rather awesome 2-track EP containing some great new material that I feel pretty fucking confident will blow your tiny minds. To me, Graham Bonnet is a brilliant vocalist, and "Down to Earth" by Rainbow is one of my all-time favorite albums. In some ways,…

  • CARNALATION – Ghosts

    This Finnish band set their sights on brutal destruction mode, playing a style of death/grind that features insane double bass frenzy, speedy riffs, and bellows from the grave vocally. "Ghosts" is Carnalation’s latest offering, a 5 song EP that resonates well for those into Carcass, Napalm Death, and possibly a touch of At the Gates.…

  • IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC – Honk Machine

    Ex-Entombed drummer Nicke Andersson is the vocalist/guitarist for this rock ‘n’ roll oriented Swedish act Imperial State Electric. Their latest album "Honk Machine" is another raw, primal affair that contains a lot of early root elements, keeping the material in tighter 3-4 chord, three minute arrangements. Songs like "Let Me Throw My Life Away", "Maybe…

  • DISTANT SUN – Dark Matter

    Forming in 2010, Russian trio Distant Sun perform an entertaining power/thrash blend on this debut full-length album "Dark Matter". Speedy and crunchy yet full of many exotic twists, bends, and rhythms – Metallica, Rage, and Annihilator would be the three biggest aural points to launch onto regarding their songwriting, musicianship, and execution. "Kill the Fremen"…

  • MY REFUGE – A Matter of Supremacy

    Starting as a solo project from guitarist Mauro Paietta in 2010, two EP’s later My Refuge has developed into a full-fledged group, signing with Bakerteam Records for this full length album "A Matter of Supremacy". This Italian quintet perform in a familiar semi-power meets heavy metal manner, vocalist Davide Vella possessing helium lung capacity it…

  • DAWN OF AZAZEL – The Tides of Damocles

    New Zealand may not be hot on the global radar screen for heavy metal, but Dawn of Azazel are one of its finest exports. "The Tides of Damocles" is the quartet’s fourth album, and shows no signs of relinquishing its groovy death metal stance. Occasionally throwing in jagged chord combinations against the caustic vocal roar,…

  • DENDERA – Pillars of Creation

    This UK band’s debut album "The Killing Floor" from 2013 is an impressive traditional power metal effort, making me think of the greatness of Megadeth and Iced Earth while also having that English charm we’ve come to know and love through and through. To say the follow up "Pillars of Creation" is highly anticipated may…

  • MARUTA – Remain Dystopian

    Amerikanske Maruta vet jeg at jeg var så vidt innom for noen år siden, men ser i mine arkiver at skiva som ble utgitt i 2011, «Forward Into Regression», aldri ble anmeldt her i vår lille snille terrorverden. Litt rart egentlig, siden jeg har forelsket meg helt i bandets nye opus «Remain Dystopian». Men men,…

  • DEATHHAMMER – Evil Power

    If you are into thrash and haven’t heard Norwegian two-piece Deathammer, you are seriously missing out. They have been around 10 years or so, releasing plenty of EPs etc and with ‘Evil Power’ under their bullet belts now have 3 full-length albums to speak of. I remember interviewing Nekromantheon a few years ago for ‘Rise,…

  • BONEHUNTER – Evil Triumphs Again

    Bonehunter from Finland have a couple of splits and EP´s in their catalogue to show for before their debut "Evil Triumphs Again" is released this summer on Hells Headbangers.Bonehunter goes all in on the thrash/punk thing and it works out quite well. This is no Midnight but the sound and feeling is somewhat related to…

  • GORGOROTH – Instinctus Bestialis

    Although I have been a great fan of Gorgoroth over the years, I have never had any time for the latest, post Gaahl and King, version of the band. I bought and hated ‘Quaint Possum’ and I walked out of one of their gigs after two or three songs. I am happy to say that…

  • U.D.O. – Navy Metal Night (DVD/ double CD)

    The man with the Teutonic metal roar returns in a different double CD/DVD collection, capturing a special show in February 2014 where U.D.O. would perform a selection of songs from his discography with the German Navy Orchestra (Marinemusikkorps Nordsee). So for those ready to decry ‘another live DVD/CD collection from U.D.O.’ (this is his third…