ALBUM REVIEWS

RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS

  • SONATA ARCTICA – Ecliptica Revisisted: 15th anniversary edition

    Jeg starter ganske enkelt med det mest åpenbare spørsmålet jeg kan stille meg når band velger å spille inn skiver på nytt 5, 10, 15 eller 25 år etter at den ført ble utgitt; hvorfor? «Ecliptica» står som en påla i Sonata Arcticas katalog. Det er i mine ører bandets beste utgivelse, så hvorfor skal…

  • LONE WOLF – Cult of Steel

    Rare is the day that you’ll find a band releasing three consecutive studio albums in back to back to back years – and that’s the case here in French heavy metal band Lonewolf. Shifting to a new record label, this seventh studio platter "Cult of Steel" continues their true, classic style that makes no apologies…

  • EPITAPH – Crawling Out of the Crypt

    Originally active in the 1980’s like many bands of the past, Italy’s Epitaph gains a second lease on life, thanks to the recruitment of new guitarist Lorenzo Loatelli and German record label High Roller Records. "Crawling Out of the Crypt" is their debut album, decades in the making – and proof that doom metal is…

  • ORANGE GOBLIN – Back From the Abyss

    The eighth studio album from London, England’s Orange Goblin, "Back from the Abyss" is another British record that elevates stoner metal because of its classic rock and groove vibe. Channeling the best in Danzig, Thin Lizzy, and Motörhead, songs such as "Sabbath Hex", heavy hitter punk offering "The Devil’s Whip", and monster stoner groover "Bloodzilla"…

  • UNKURED – Mutated Earth

    Delivering an uncompromising brand of deathly thrash, Cincinnati Ohio’s UnKured on their second album "Mutated Earth" punish in the stripped down power trio format through these 8 songs. Semi-technical riff-wise, vocally in line with Chuck from Death, songs such as "They Live, We Sleep" and "Anti-Terraforming" see-saw between older Demolition Hammer, Slayer, and newer acts…

  • HEMINA – Nebulae

    The follow up to the excellent 2012 debut "Synthetic", Australian progressive metal act Hemina has a lot to live up to as right out of the gate that record impressed in terms of harmonies, dynamics, and mood modulation. "Nebulae" continues that versatility – in terms of dual male/female vocals, a boatload of harmonic possibilities, and…

  • STARKILL – Virus of the Mind

    The second album from Illinois’ symphonic/ melodic black/death metal band Starkill is "Virus of the Mind" – a more mature offering where the quartet temper their early adrenaline raced, virtuoso tendencies with some new found semblance of power and songwriting force. Songs like "Be Dead or Die" and "Skyward" prove that if Starkill wants longevity…

  • BJØRN RIIS – Lullabies in a Car Crash

    Lullabies in a Car Crash is the debut solo album of Airbag guitarist Bjørn Riis, and I will be short and to the point and state that this is a very solid and pleasant album to listen to from start to finish. Musically, the songs are progressive, dynamic, and varied, but despite their different twists…

  • MORTUARY DRAPE – Spiritual Independence

    Iron Tyrant took charge and now we finally get to see a new release from cult act Mortuary Drape. It´s been 10 years since the somewhat dissapointing "Buried in Time" was released so it was quite exciting getting "Spiritual Independence" in the mail.Mortuary Drape hails from Italy and startet out back in 1987 so you…

  • ANCESTRAL LEGACY – Terminal

    Active since 1995 and releasing a series of demos before their debut album "Of Magic Illusions" hit the market a decade later, "Terminal" is their third full-length but first exposure for this reviewer to the quintet’s style. Apparently shifting from a more symphonic black metal sound early on into something more gothic/doom oriented, the 12…

  • DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT – Z2

    I recently conducted a phone interview with Devin and due the wonders of modern technology it didn’t get properly saved so it just got lost. And now that I finally received my copy of Z2 (plus it is available on various streaming services), I can’t get some of that chat out of my head each…

  • VOICES OF DESTINY – Crisis Cult

    The third album from German symphonic metal band Voices of Destiny is another logical continuation from their previous two albums – of which 2012’s "Power Dive" impressed me more than their "From the Ashes" debut. Adding in a lot of aggressive modern/ death touches in terms of riff choices, tones, and extreme growls from keyboardist…

  • DEATHRONATION – Hallow the Dead

    Ah, sweet old school death metal… the type that gets the blood boiling, hair whipping, and squeezes every ounce of a bad day into the good. Germany’s Deathronation on their debut album "Hallow the Dead" live up to the task, crushing skulls on these 8 songs. Names such as B.S. Goathammer, Stiff Old, S. Muerte,…

  • CRAIG DUSWALT – Welcome to My Jungle

    Craig Duswalt will probably not be a familiar name to most, but he used to work for Guns N’ Roses as Axl Rose’s personal manager during the years 1991-1993, and Welcome to My Jungle is basically his account of how life on the road with the aforementioned band was during the Use Your Illusion Tours…

  • ESCAPETOR – Fear

    Active since 1999, Escapetor is a Norwegian quintet who fuse together elements of thrash, speed, and heavy metal on their second album "Fear". Their first full length "Moments…" came out in 2005, and since then they’ve released a couple of EP’s and gone through some member changes. Vocalist Claudius Bormuth joined in 2012, and their…

  • KREYSKULL – Tower Witch

    "Tower Witch" is the second full-length album from this Finnish band Kreyskull – a foursome intent on delivering some heavy doom oriented rock ‘n’ roll, throwback 70’s style. The band has a distinct manner of jamming sometimes on dynamic, quieter sections – making the heavier parts that much more impactful once they kick in. "Abomination…

  • ANGELS OR KINGS – Kings of Nowhere

    Resurrecting themselves after a twenty year hiatus, British melodic rock band Angel Or Kings feel very blessed to get a second chance – as their debut album "Kings of Nowhere" contains 12 songs of rich vocal harmonies, lighter keyboard strains, and guitar play reminiscent of the late 80’s period of the AOR/ melodic rock genre.…

  • RUINSIDE – 10 Forms of Dominion

    Fortunate to hear this Finnish heavy/thrash metal act’s debut record "The Hunt" from 2012, curiosity abounds regarding the follow up "10 Forms of Dominion". I remember their sound straddling the old school and new philosophies – artists such as The Haunted, Megadeth, and Sepultura came up, and you always wonder given a little more seasoning…

  • BLACK CROWN INITIATE – The Wreckage of Stars

    Det har seg sånn at det hvert år dukker opp et og annet band fra intet som feier deg av stolen. Du vet sånne band som blander det beste av det meste du liker til ei herlig smørje som overgår det meste og som du ikke hadde noen forventninger til i det hele tatt. Jeg…

  • BULLETRAIN – Start Talking

    Climbing up the ranks over their eight year career, Sweden’s Bulletrain are a five-piece act taking over the airwaves in another glam/sleaze-oriented hard rock offering through their debut album "Start Talking". Big choruses, hard hitting happy chord combinations and 12 songs that remind me of the Sunset Strip 80’s heydays meets Scandinavia’s current crop of…

  • HELL IN THE CLUB – Devil on My Shoulder

    Today musicians feel it’s more important than ever to get all of your creative ideas out into the public eye – even if it means forming side projects or bands to run concurrently against your main bread and butter offering. Italy’s Hell in the Club are a four piece hard rock/ heavy metal act that…

  • SOULBURN – The Suffocating Darkness

    For those who worship at the altar of Asphyx, a new Soulburn release should come quite pleasing to the ears. The last Soulburn album from 1998 "Feeding on Angels" can be considered an Asphyx release due to the circumstances sourounding Asphyx at the time. Now some 16 years later the world can withness the second…

  • MAUSOLEUM GATE – Mausoleum Gate

    Traditional heavy metal has always lurked underneath the surface of whatever appears to be the new ‘hot’ trend in heavy rock/ metal. You can be evil, extreme, the fastest or sickest, but in the end bands like Mercyful Fate, Iron Maiden, and Black Sabbath remain timeless – and will continually inspire younger musicians to develop…

  • MOON LAND – Moon Land

    A studio project featuring the female voice of Lenna Kuurmaa from pop/rock act Vanilla Ninja. That band being on hiatus, Frontiers president Serafino Perugino wanted to pull together a melodic rock record with some of the best musicians and songwriters he could assemble and cast her beautiful singing to a wider berth of fans. Alessandro…

  • SCAR SYMMETRY – The Singularity (Phase I – Neohumanity)

    These Swedes have always looked to expand their melodic death horizons – employing two vocalists in the clean and extreme realm, and now on their sixth studio record "The Singularity (Phase I – Neohumanity)" dabble into vocal harmony horizons plus outer world keyboards more familiar to 1980’s AOR acts than metal bands. Per Nilsson throws…

  • LORD OF PAGATHORN – Nekros Philia

    Lord of Pagathorn performs somewhat old-school black metal with a few hints of thrash metal added for good measure. The band was actually formed way back in 1992, but Nekros Philia is the band’s debut album. A couple of demos were released back in 1993 and 1994 and then no outputs were spawned again until…

  • GHOST BRIGADE – IV – One with the Storm

    Finland is never devoid of quality music, and the offerings in the doom metal realm have been steadily improving over the years. Ghost Brigade is one of those acts, though they’re a certain mix of doom, death and melancholic rock. A remarkably consistent group, this sextet has set a standard of quality that thus far…

  • PERDITION WINDS – Aura of Suffering

    Perditions Winds were spawned back in 2010 and Aura of Suffering is their debut album. Musically, we are talking somewhat fast-paced, intense, and violent black metal not entirely unlike certain French black metal outfits. However, Perdition Winds do vary their songs by means of slower sections and melodic riffing from time to time, which adds…

  • NO MERCY – Widespread Bloodshed (Love Runs Red)

    Before this file came into my mailbox, I had no idea about the existence of No Mercy, even though I have been a fan of Suicidal Tendencies since the mid-80’s. For those of you in the same boat as me, No Mercy were basically a punk/crossover act featuring Mikes Muir and Clark. Their debut ‘Widespread…

  • NE OBLIVISCARIS – Citadel

    If the name Ne Obliviscaris doesn’t ring a bell, you’ve either been living under a rock, or much pity should be bestowed upon you – possibly both! These Australian’s have been taking the metal world by storm since their "The Aurora Veil" EP, and their picture perfect debut full-length, "Portal of I," back in 2012.…