RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS
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AMBUSH – Firestorm
The Scandinavian scene continues to roll out new talent in all facets of metal – here is a quintet from Sweden in Ambush that started in 2013 and quickly released a demo and EP prior to this full length debut. "Firestorm" lives for an older time: when synchronized twin guitar parts careened into Lizzy Borden-like…
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NEPTUNE – Prelude to Nothing
Originally coming out on a self-released basis, Italian record label Earthquake Terror Noise saw the potential in this melodic death/ thrash metal band Neptune and re-issued their second album "Prelude to Nothing". An obvious affinity for In Flames in present (check out the "Colony" keyboard swirls during "Of Courage and Honor") but the band also…
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TESLA – Simplicity
It’s rare indeed to have four-fifths of an original lineup from a classic US hard rock band of the 1980’s still together and cranking out new studio albums in 2014 – but this is the case for Sacramento, California’s Tesla. Jeff Keith, Frank Hannon, Brian Wheat, and Troy Luccketta have Dave Rude as their second…
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VINTERBRIS – Solace
‘Solace’ is the second full-length from Bergen Melodic Black Metallers Vinterbris. It contains plenty of fast riffing and blasting but also plenty of slower, thoughtful passages that have a post BM feel. Guitar work is especially good in these, adding to mood and helping the listener on their journey rather than showcasing the pyrotechnic abilities.…
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PORTRAIT – Crossroads
Anyone remember the Mercyful Fate revival of acts that came on the scene a few years ago? Portrait would be one of those Swedish bands gaining a lot of credibility based on their two previous albums "Portrait" and "Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae" for taking the evil heavy metal influence of that 80’s band to a…
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RIPPIKOULU – Ulvaja
Finland’s Rippikoulu are probably best known for their monstrous 1993 demo ‘Musta Seremonia’ (recently re-released by Svart and reviewed on ET). There are many who hold this to be a classic of early Finnish DM, and rightly so. Sadly, Rippikoulu guitarist Marko Henrikssen died shortly after that was released and the band, unable to recapture…
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U.D.O. – Steelhammer – Live from Moscow
Released this May, the Steelhammer Live package includes DVD/Blu-ray and 2 CD. For this review I will be looking at the audio portion only but video clips are available from both links below. The first question fans will ask is why? After all, ‘Live in Sofia’ was only released in 2012. As to the that,…
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AGALLOCH – The Serpent and the Sphere
Although I was aware of this band, ‘The Serpent and the Sphere’ is my first encounter with Agalloch. For those who like me are unfamiliar with this act, I’ll do my best to describe their sound, but be warned, there are lots of different influences at work here. Firstly, there are the dreamy neo-folk acoustic…
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BURZUM – The Ways of Yore
I will be the first to admit that whenever the release of a new Burzum record is announced, I get all excited and impatient. Now that the album is out in most well-stocked record shops and stores, let us get down to business and discuss the man’s latest musical output, shall we? "The Ways of…
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RIPPIKOULU – Musta Seremonia
‘Musta Seremonia’ was originally released as a demo in 1993. At the time Swedeath and the Floridians were garnering the lion’s share of the interest in the death metal scene and this gem went largely unnoticed. Which is a pity – since this is the best Finnish Death Metal I have ever heard. If I…
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ENGLISH DOGS – The Thing with Two Heads
I have been a fan of English Dogs for many years now. I love the d-beat power of the early stuff like ‘Forward into Battle’ and still listen to the techno-moshing ‘Where Legend Began’ regularly. I even bought and spent long hours with their less well received pop punk ‘All the World’s a Rage’. So…
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TOMBS – Savage Gold
Tombs var for meg et helt ukjent band før jeg bestemte meg for å sjekke ut bandets nyeste skive "Savage Gold". Vel, helt ukjent var de ikke. Jeg hadde hørt navnet. Men musikken deres var ukjent for meg. Jeg var vel egentlig fortsatt like likegyldig til dem i alle fall etter de to første rundene…
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WITHERIA – Devastating Return
The fourth album "Devastating Return" from Finnish thrash act Witheria sees a couple of membership shuffles of instrumental responsibilities. Former bassist Mikko Lappalainen takes over the second guitar slot, as the band recruit new bassist Max Pekkonen – but do not fear the style and substance remain steadfast in heads down, crunchy thrash with all…
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OUTLOUD – Let’s Get Serious
The third album from Greek heavy metal/ hard rock leaning Outloud "Let’s Get Serious" elevates their sound a little more. But that really shouldn’t be surprising considering the talent within the band- anchored by Firewind guitarist/ keyboardist Bob Katsionis and the versatile pipes of singer Chandler Mogel, their first two albums "We’ll Rock You To…
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NOCTURNAL WITCH – Summoning Hell
‘Summoning Hell’ is the debut full length from German black thrash duo Nocturnal Witch. I generally like this genre, but this release is nothing more than ‘good’ as far as I’m concerned and I’m not sure that is enough for a field so crowded. There is nothing to dislike – the songs are ok, the…
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OBSEQUIAE – Suspended in the Brume of Eos
Some of you might have heard of Minnesota based pagan BM act Autumnal Winds. After several demos spanning over nearly a decade they went on hiatus and more recently have returned as Obsequiae. The band is comprised of ‘Blondel de Nesle’ and ‘Neidhart von Reuental’ who for all I know might really be called that…
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INFESTUS – The Reflecting Void
‘The Reflecting Void’ is the fourth full-length for German one man Black Metal act Infestus. This is modern sounding metal that is more about darkness and introspection than about Satan and his minions. The sound isn’t too cold or hellish, therefore. Instead we have a fairly balanced production and an emphasis on creating a nuanced…
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CEREMONIAL – Ars Magica EP
‘Ars Magica’ is the first official release from Chilean act Ceremonial. As an export from South America you’ll probably be expecting some bestial black death, and you wouldn’t be far wrong, but in this case the primitive is tuned down slightly in favour of some thrashing rage. It is a mixture that works well. The…
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TERAMAZE – Esoteric Symbolism
Progressive metal in 2014 has wide open connotations. Thanks to advances in technology, nuances of the modern world infiltrate the sonic outlook of the genre. Melody is still prevalent, but there are also heavier and disjointed aspects that can make things more spacious and complex in terms of colors. "Esoteric Symbolism", the latest album from…
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FINNTROLL – Natten med de Levande Finntroll
Jeg må innrømme at Finntroll er et band jeg aldri har hatt noe særlig forhold til. Ikke har jeg likt musikken og ikke har jeg likt konseptet deres. Kan til nød innrømme at jeg har likt en del av artworken, men det stopper dessverre der. Ei heller kan jeg forstå at folk liker musikken deres.…
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A LAND BEYOND THE SEA – Weltenwanderer
A Land Beyond the Sea is a very interesting band hailing from Finland, and I’ll be the first to admit that I had never heard about them prior to getting my filthy paws on this excellent 4-track EP of theirs. Stylistically and musically speaking, I would say that "Weltenwanderer", which contains 32 minutes of muisic,…
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CREINIUM – Project Utopia
Active for a brief two years, this Finnish band perform in a slightly technical dark death/black metal manner for this 5 song EP "Project Utopia". As a sextet, Creinium are able to spit out a multitude of feelings and moods dependent on the need of the individual song. Post-rock and doomy meets slightly black metal…
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ANUBIS GATE – Horizons
Danish power/progressive metal may not be the prevalent sub-genre in the country, but the bands that take on the complexity of the genre seem to mine pure gold from its elements. Anubis Gate rank at the top of my list, and "Horizons" proves once again that the quartet has a firm handle on developing first…
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CURIMUS – Artificial Revolution
A Finnish modern thrash band, Curimus is a quartet that with their second album "Artificial Revolution" could gain moderate appeal from a wider bank of metal fans. This 10 song record contains a lot of Machine Head type squeals and crossover grooves, while the vocals are in line with Soulfly/ Sepultura or older Pantera. The…
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INCUBUS – Incubus
Incubus did everything right on three songs for a demo and then split up and was never to be heard from again as a band. The first real death metal demo aptly titled "Incubus" (together with first Mantas release) saw the day of light back in 1987. The US trio then released the same three…
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VADER – Tibi et Igni
Polske Vader har gitt ut gode plater siden begynnelsen av dette årtusenet da «Litany» og «Revelations» kom ut. Stort sett har alle skivene bestått av rask god Vader metal, og det var også forventet med den nye «Tibi et Igni» som nå skal slippes. Den åpner glimrende med singlelåta «Go to Hell» og de to…
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MIASMAL – Cursed Redeemer
This second album from Swedish death metal quartet Miasmal is another exercise in old school ethics and execution. Recorded in a mere 7 days, "Cursed Redeemer" spits out 8 tracks in 37 minutes, raw to the bone and reminding the listener that early Entombed, Discharge, and Bolt Thrower has not vanished from this particular set…