ALBUM REVIEWS

RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS

  • BLUT AUS NORD – Memoria Vetusta III: Saturnian Poetry

    The well-known French avantgarde/experimental black metal band known as Blut Aus Nord have been extremely productive and creative ever since the turn of the millenium and have released a number of highly fascinating, captivating, and memorable albums and releases, most notably the 777-trilogy. The latest output, Memoria Vetusta III: Saturnian Poetry is, in a sense,…

  • MANES – Be All End All

    The Norwegian shape-shifters known as Manes recently released their 9-song effort entitled Be All End All, which is filled to the brim with experimental soundscapes and otherworldly atmospheres. There are references to experimental jazz music, dark ambient, industrial music, and trip hop scattered throughout the album while the clean vocals and singing add a melancholic…

  • MINDCRIME – Checkmate the King

    Shouldn’t really be a shock to the system that this Italian metal act has a lot of Queensryche qualities on their debut album "Checkmate the King". Especially based on name alone… we get 11 songs of very strong Tate-oriented vocals and music that has that climbing/ traditional quality. Unfortunately, lack luster production values (a very…

  • OBITUARY – Inked in Blood

    The legendary death metal outfit Obituary have finally struck again, and what a joy that is to behold! It has been 5 years since their last album, Darkest Day, graced our scummy lives, and, given that I like that album, I was very much looking forward to checking out this new opus of theirs entitled…

  • OBITUARY – Inked in Blood

    Obituary should not need any introduction, if so then stop reading now and run to your nearest place for purchasing music and get "Cause of Death". The legends of death metal are back (once again) with their 9th album since their formidable debut "Slowly we Rot" back in 1989."Inked in Blood" does not shy away…

  • ANAAL NATHRAKH – Desideratum

    Ny Anaal Nathrakh plate betyr mange nye forventninger her i gården. Det britiske extreme metal bandet fra Birmingham leverte et kongealbum sist med «Vanitas» og da er det lov å ha store forventninger. Spørsmålet jeg stilte meg selv før jeg hørte en tone var om dette var like bra eller bedre. Etter et par gjennomhøringer…

  • BEYOND CREATION – Earthborn Evolution

    ‘Earthborn Evolution’ is the second full-length release from Canadian technical death-metallers Beyond Creation. I’m not a great fan of Canadian DM in general so I am happy to report that the sound of ‘Earthborn Evolution’ owes more to German acts Necrophagist and Obscura than it does to fellow North Americans Cryptopsy and Gorguts. A look…

  • SCOTT IAN with Jon Wiederhorn – I’m the Man – The Story of That Guy from Anthrax

    I will be the first to admit that I have never been a big fan or admirer of Anthrax as such, but I do like some of their early material, and they were one of the very first metal bands I ever came across way back in the day before puberty and pimples and all…

  • BLOODTRUTH – Obedience

    Brutal death metal purveyors Bloodtruth unfurl their debut album "Obedience", and those who choose to succumb to the savagery will not remain in the same state after each 33 minute playback. This is unrelenting, blast beat heavy music thrown over the top by dizzying neck runs and amazing stop/ starts – while the vocals are…

  • DECAPITATED – Blood Mantra

    Decapitated´s first two albums "Winds of Creation" (2000) & "Nihility"(2002) are considered milestones in what we call teach death today. What those polish youngsterts managed to create back then has yet to be replicated both by them self and others to this date. The band suffered from an terrible accident in 2006 and their comeback…

  • EXODUS – Blood in, Blood out

    Exodus var et av de aller første thrash metal bandene som bølget ut at Bay Area på begynnelsen av 1980 tallet. De holder fortatt koken og på sitt ellevte studioalbum har de nok en gang fått Steve «Zetro» Souza på vokal. Dette er Zetros tredje periode i bandet og denne gangen kan det virke som…

  • NORTHERN CROWN – In the Hands of the Betrayer

    Here we have a 5 song debut EP from Florida’s Northern Crown, a band that straddles the fence between classic doom and epic heavy metal. "In the Hands of the Betrayer" contains 4 originals plus a Candlemass cover of "Crystal Ball" from their debut "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus". Vocalist/ guitarist Frank Serafine has a lot of…

  • AMULET – The First

    Checking out previous work from this London, England quintet, you’ll notice an underground theme running strong. Their first demo "Cut the Crap" in 2011 would be a 4 song, limited edition cassette release. Two years later we get DVD footage from those sessions. And here we have the debut album – a 13 track effort…

  • STRYPER – Live at the Whisky

    Religious glam rockers Stryper have had an long and (for some) interesseting musikal journey. They started out back in the early 80´s and debuted with in 84 with "The Yellow and the Black Attack" (these colours became their trademark in the dress-up).Their music have never really interessted me but from a historical perspective they should…

  • NIL ABYSS – Nil Abyss

    Nil Abyss is an Australian outfit performing somewhat mid-paced, simple and and hateful black metal with a very raw edge to it, and this 4-track release of theirs came out on the ever awesome Regimental Records some months ago. I have very little info on the actual band itself and I have no idea how…

  • WARGRINDER – Erased Seeds of Ignorance

    As the bandname strongly suggests, Wargrinder from Greece is a fucking intense and insane black/death metal outfit from the deepest and ugliest pit of hell. Musically, Wargrinder brings to mind bands such as Conqueror, Revenge, Blasphemy, Unholy Archangel and Beherit, which should tell you all that you need to know, really. Erased Seeds of Ignorance…

  • AMARANTHE – Massive Addictive

    90-talls techno der den kvinnelige melodiøse vakre vokalen regjerer blandet med litt metal. Der har du Amaranthe. Låtene er veldig fengende og nesten umulig og ikke like. Clean vakker damevokal, clean herrevokal og litt growl. Bandet lykkes best når de holder seg til den suksessoppskriften. Når de derimot heller mer mot metallen, dvs prøver seg…

  • CRUCIFIED BARBARA – In The Red

    In life, you need the yin and yang between serious pursuit of one’s career and then time to just relax and let loose through your hobbies and outside interests. Sweden’s Crucified Barbara since their 1998 start aim to provide a soundtrack of hard rock/ metal that doesn’t command intricate exposure – just raw, down ‘n…

  • GRAVEYARD SHIFTERS – Brainwashed by Moonshine

    Finnish quintet Graveyard Shifters are ready with their debut EP, Brainwashed by Moonshine. It is a five track musical journey into a world where punk, hardcore and fast-paced hard rock inspired riffs all live side by side. Sadly, this interesting sound doesn’t always play well with the vocals, which lean more towards a metalcore-ish sound.…

  • MR. BIG – …The Stories We Could Tell

    The eighth studio album from Mr. Big is another textbook case of four experienced musicians executing fine melodic hard rock full of stunning musicianship and catchy hooks/ harmonies. Bassist Billy Sheenan currently has to split his time between the progressive hard rockers The Winery Dogs and this act, fleshed out with vocalist Eric Martin, guitarist…

  • HOLY DRAGONS – Dragon Inferno

    Kazakhstan heavy metal band Holy Dragons perform in an 80’s speed/power style once again on their latest record "Dragon Inferno". Rough and tumble melodies, heads down riffing, a boatload of dual harmony runs, and drumming that appears to be more cyber-oriented than pure ‘metal’ is the order of the day on these 11 songs. Whether…

  • DEF LEPPARD – Viva Hysteria – Live at the Joint, Las Vegas

    "Viva Hysteria – Live at the Joint, Las Vegas" is (as I am sure you already understood) a two disc live album by long time running hard rock icons Def Leppard. The band plays "Hysteria" in its entirity on the first disc and various tracks from Ded Flatbird plus some added goodies on disc 2.This…

  • MUTAGENOCIDE – Devolve

    A 6 song EP from UK’s Mutagenocide, this is aggressive modern thrash with a load of Lamb of God influence in the mix. Songs like "Remeron Nightmares" and "Hysteria" have the razor sharp crunch, up beat charge, and caustic vocals that bleed for the cause – steamrolling anything pretty in its path. Being their second…

  • JADED HEART – Fight the System

    Veteran German/ Swedish hard rock band Jaded Heart doesn’t seem to stop their creative train from rolling down the track, as "Fight the System" is their 12th studio album in their 23 year career. Vocalist Johan Fahlberg and guitarist Peter Östros maintain the Swedish side of the quintet, while bassist Michael Müller, drummer Bodo Stricker…

  • THE PROPHECY 23 – Untrue Like a Boss

    The third album from Germany’s self-proclaimed ‘thrash death party action metal’ band The Prophecy 23, "Untrue Like A Boss" is all about having fun, not taking themselves too seriously, and occasionally injecting outside metal/ hardcore influences into the mix. Be it congas, acoustic guitars, clean vocals, you can’t help but chuckle at titles like "Video…

  • RINGS OF SATURN – Lugal Ki En

    Rings of Saturns forrige skive «Dingir» var mitt første møte med bandet og jeg erindrer så vidt at jeg likte mesteparten av det de gjorde på den skiva. Nå er de ute med et helt nytt album av det ekstreme slaget og jeg må bare få si en ting; dette er et album som i…

  • BREITENHOLD – Secret Worlds

    Struggling to find much information regarding the lineup of this band – outside of the fact that they are Swedish, play a form of ripping speed/ power metal and contains Rocka Rollas guitarist/ vocalist Ced among its membership. No matter though, as based purely on these 11 tracks alone for "Secret Worlds" this is prime…

  • TYRANT’S KALL – Dagon

    ‘Dagon’ is the debut release from Belgian doom thrashers Tyrant’s Kall, originally put out in 2012 independently, but now available via the good folk at Witches Brew. Stylistically, we are looking at something heavy and rocking – something like Funerus but with more touches of speed and a greater influence on groove-laced epic metal that…

  • TRIPTYKON – Melana Chasmata

    Triptykon formed in the aftermath of Tom G. Warriors departure from the mighty Celtic Frost in 2008. For many (me included), Triptykons debut "Eparistera Daimones"(2010) can be best described as an direct follow up to CF´s last album "Monotheist" (2006). Yes, it´s that good!Tom´s ability to create formidable music is for many no wonder, but…

  • CALM HATCHERY – Fading Reliefs

    Polish Death Metal crew Calm Hatchery may not be on many people’s radars, but perhaps ‘Fading Reliefs’ will be the record to change all that. First off, you have to overlook the rather understated cover. Not only is it not pretty, it also isn’t very ‘death metal’. Secondly, you might have to battle with the…