ALBUM REVIEWS

RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS

  • LOCH VOSTOK – From These Waters

    Swedish extreme progressive metal back again to tear limbs and expand minds- Loch Vostok return for their sixth studio album "From These Waters" and haven’t lost any sense of finesse or adventurous, anything goes attitude to these 10 tracks. Opener "Like Poison to the Stars" has a series of pummeling riffs and spider web guitar…

  • VIPER SOLFA – Carving an Icon

    Coming together in 2013 as a result of ex-Trail of Tears vocalist Ronny Thorsen, Norwegian band Viper Solfa perform in a gothic/extreme metal fusion, a quintet that features the rhythm section from Ronny’s previous band, Dimension F3H guitarist/keyboardist Morfeus, and Ram-Zat female singer Miriam Renvag. Symphonic elements appear for additional support in terms of accentuating…

  • QUARTZ – Too hot to handle

    Quartz is one of those NWOBHM band you probably have heard about but never gotten really into. The name have "allways" been there but as in my case, I´ve never gotten around to really give them a proper chance during the years.MY MISTAKE! Quartz is one of the pioneers of the NWOBHM debuting back in…

  • NEIL DANIELS – Reinventing Metal – The True Story of Pantera and the Tragically Short Life of D

    I was very much looking forward to reading this unauthorized biography on Pantera by author Neil Daniels as I thoroughly enjoyed his excellent and highly recommended book on the early days of Iron Maiden, the one entitled «Killers – The Origins of Iron Maiden: 1975-1983». I should probably start off by saying that Pantera were…

  • THE CROWN – Death is Not Dead

    Omsider kommer "The Crown" med ny skive, hele 5 år siden sist ("Doommsday King" – 2010). Jeg har hørt mye på disse gutta, spesielt skiva (Crowned Unholy – 2004), så dette så jeg frem til. På denne utgivelsen er den originale vokalisten Johan Lindstrand tilbake for å tømme lungene og han gjør en god figur…

  • DAN REED – Transmission

    Probably best known for his work in the funk rock outfit the Dan Reed Network who gained acclaim in the 1980’s, "Transmission" is the third solo album from guitarist/vocalist Dan Reed. These 13 songs are more light melodic rock in context, Dan’s vocals very serene and a lot of the chord choices possess a hypnotic…

  • WOLFPAKK – Rise of the Animal

    The brainchild of Mad Max vocalist Michael Voss and ex-Crystal Ball vocalist Mark Sweeney, Wolfpakk is a project record stylistically going for the heart of 80’s hard rock and melodic metal. 28 guests on vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards, and drums tackle these 11 Sweeney/Ross compositions – it would be difficult to list them all, but…

  • MERCILESS ATTACK – Back to Violence

    Dette er nummer 39 i serien Back to Thrash fra det meksikanske selskapet EBM Records. Denne gang får vi italiensk kjappriff thrash fra bandet Merciless Attack. Bandet ble dannet i 2010 og har kun en offisiell demo utgitt fra 2013 fra før. Riffmessig kan dette tidvis minne litt om Infant Death og kanskje også tempomessig…

  • DYING GORGEOUS LIES – First World Breakdown

    Thrash will not die, given the number of veteran acts entering the charts and bands from all across the globes packing clubs, arenas, and festivals these days. German act Dying Gorgeous Lies on their second album "First World Breakdown" straddle the melodic thrash template, while vocalist Lisa ‘Liz Gorgeous’ Minet has a slightly raspy delivery…

  • UHRIRISTI – Haudankylmä

    Uhriristi hails from Finland and performs symphonic and epic black metal inspired by the likes of Old Man’s Child, Thyrane, and Darkwoods My Bethrothed. Uhriristi, which roughly translates to «Sacrificial Cross» according to Metal Archives, is comprised of six members and the 8-track effort entitled «Haudankylmä» is the band’s second full-length assault. While the band…

  • INVINCIBLE FORCE – Satan Rebellion Metal

    Invincible Force spiller mørk og skitten death/thrash. Bandet kommer fra Chile. Dannet i 2007. Har fire demoer og ett par splitter på samvittigheten før denne, som er debutalbumet. Litt småkaotisk black/thrash der det nok kan høres litt grøtete ut ved første lytt. Du legger mer merke til detaljene etter noen forsøk. Det er hektisk og…

  • MESSENGER – Captain’s Loot

    As a special treat for the fans, German heavy metal quintet Messenger have decided to issue "Captain’s Loot", an 8 song effort that features rare cuts and cover songs from some of their favorite artists through the years. 3 originals including an updated version of their second album title track from 1994 "Asylum X-T-C" and…

  • CAULDRON OF HATE – Emperor

    Finnish death metal act Cauldron of Hate appears to possess the right vitriolic attitude and execution on their second EP "Emperor". Deep growls, speedy trills, and punishing transitions sure to stir up the crowd give "Slaughterfest" and the 9 minute plus "Abyssal Ascension" all the desired outcomes imaginable for those into Morbid Angel, Nile, and…

  • NIGHT – Soldiers of Time

    The younger generation crave acts today that embody a lot of the essence of late 70’s and early 80’s heavy metal: guitars that empower through their chord progressions and twin melodies, a bass pumping out a groovy low-end which often helps galvanize and give tracks gallop plus steady drumming and high octane vocals to deliver…

  • ETERNAL SOLSTICE – Remnants of Immortality

    Nederland er kjent for å ha en del gode death metal band. Eternal Solstice er ikke av de mest kjente, men de kan være gode for det. Noe de er. Bandet ble startet opp så langt tilbake som i 1989. De ga ut tre fullengdere i 94, 95 og 97 før de la inn årene…

  • FATEFUL FINALITY – Battery

    Winners of the German Wacken Metal Battle in 2012, Fateful Finality signed a record deal with SPV for their second album "Battery". These 11 songs mix thrash and modern metal – vocally very much in line with Phil Anselmo of Pantera, while the music contains ripping riffs and plenty of punch in terms of the…

  • MORBID EVILS – In Hate with the Burning World

    A year under their collective belts as a band, Finnish quartet Morbid Evils lay down a sick death-doom-drone-sludge sonic combination on their debut full-length "In Hate with the Burning World". Placing shorter arrangements like the under 5 minute "South of Hell" and a touch longer "Pollute" mid-sequence around the epic 7-10 minute cuts gives the…

  • GOD MACABRE – The Winterlong.. – re-issue

    God Macabre should not need any introduction.But if so..GM was one of the first death metal bands in Sweden.Started out in 1989 as Macabre End.Only released one full-length.That album was named "The Winterlong.."."The Winterlong.." was released in 1993.It´s one of the most celebrated Swedish death metal albums of all time.The album still delivers on all…

  • AXEL RUDI PELL – Magic Moments- 25th Anniversary Special Show

    So last year at the Bang Your Head festival in Germany, guitarist Axel Rudi Pell celebrated his 25th year as a solo artist with a special 3 hour show. "Magic Moments- 25th Anniversary Special Show" is a 3 CD/ video set containing a number of surprises and special guest appearances, which is typical in Europe…

  • AT THE HOLLOW – What I Hold Most Dear

    This Finnish trio is more of a post-rock/ atmospheric act than anything remotely metal-oriented, and yet their debut album "What I Hold Most Dear" engages on a subconscious level better than the average act in this burgeoning style. Vocally subdued and morose, often using whispering or quieter melodies, the percussion is very sparse and throwback…

  • FACESHIFT – All Crumbles Down

    The second album "All Crumbles Down" is a modern heavy metal record that occasionally veers into doomy territory. Faceshift hail from Sweden and perform in an American-ized way: down tuned guitars, power grooves galore, and melodic vocals more in line with modern rock radio than anything super heavy. Everything from Alice in Chains and Nevermore…

  • CAVEAT – Kobayashi Maru

    Doom metal has always been a fascinating genre too me. It has the capacity to drag you into a melodic world that transfers you to another plane of existence, while simultaneously having the capacity to validate all the stereotypes people that don’t like the genre will throw in your face. The American band Caveat seems…

  • ECLIPSE – Armageddonize

    Sweden is certainly one of the top countries running out a long line of impressive melodic hard rock bands these days, and Eclipse needs to be the main group near the apex of the conversation. "Armageddonize" is their third full-length, coming on the heels of 2012’s "Bleed & Scream" which won accolades across the globe…

  • NO RETURN – Fearless Walk to Rise

    My approach to significant lineup shifts in metal bands still brings about trepidation, because you never know what you are going to get in the final outcome on that follow up record- especially if a band has an established sound. France thrash/death act No Return on their ninth studio album "Fearless Walk to Rise" still…

  • AVORAL – War Is Not Over

    This Italian quintet Avoral have been active since 2012, releasing "War Is Not Over" on an independent basis last year before being picked up by Club Inferno Entertainment for a wider release. This 7 song record crosses the lines of epic heavy metal and power, as the band also isn’t afraid to include folk or…

  • INCULTER – Persisting Devolution

    Inculter (no) is debuting with "Persisting Devolution" and this is it! Blacende speed/thrash done in a modern way but with a massive amount of nods to the past. The duo delivers on all accounts. Everything from the vocal, drumming to the production works well and the quality of the material just grows on me after…

  • EVIL – Shoot the Messenger

    Originally a part of the Danish 80’s heavy metal scene, many in the underground probably remember "Evil’s Message" as an important EP for their spin on NWOBHM helped put this country on the map along with Mercyful Fate. Splitting up in the mid 80’s, drummer Freddie Wolf felt the need to put out more material…

  • TOTAL DEATH – The Pound of Flesh

    An Italian thrash act with death nuances, Total Death are a four-piece that on their second full-length album "The Pound of Flesh" mince no words in their attack. Heads down speed and quick hitting transitions recall early Slayer meets 90’s era Exhorder and Forbidden – except the vocals of guitarist Paolo Azzimonti come from more…

  • HEAVING EARTH – Denouncing the Holy Throne

    Often in death metal, there will be distinctions based on where you are from in terms of the style you pursue. American acts have a tendency to be more aggressive, intricate, and technically minded, while European acts incorporate atmosphere, heaviness, and musicality for the most part. So when the script becomes flipped, the ears perk…

  • NETTLECARRIER – Black Coffin Rites

    NettleCarrier is a Norwegian black metal outfit that was spawned by Ciekals and Mannevond way back in 2005. By 2007 drummer Dirge Rep (Orcustus, Djevel, Gehenna) had joined the band, which, obviously, was a great move in that Rep is an awesome drummer. Anyway, the band released an EP in 2007 and then a full-length…