RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS
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IN SOLITUDE – In Solitude
This first outing for these Swedish classic metallers received heaps of praise when it was originally released back in 2008, quickly selling out and ensuring that it retained a cult status. Now, for 2013, Season of Mist are putting it back out with 2 bonus tracks so everyone can have a chance to check out…
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FURNAZE – None More Black
It’s very refreshing when other power/thrash musicians make band recommendations for your reviewing enjoyment. Guitarist /vocalist Krimson of the three piece UK thrash act Furnaze sent this album "None More Black" due to my correspondence with Charly from Paradox- showing the networking aspect that keeps the metal movement alive and kicking from generation to generation.…
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PAGANIZER – Carve….
This compilation is actually the two releases Paganizer did when Paganizer was on hiatus and recorded under the moniker Carve. Rogga Johansen & Co put Paganizer on ice for a couple of years and released (with almost the same lineup) "Stillborn Revelations" and "Revel in Human Filth". Music wise its Paganizer and the formula is…
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THRUSTOR – Abysmal Fear
The Sardo brothers may not be well known to the mainstream metal scene, but those who love the 80’s underground tape trading circuit know all too well their impact on the California scene. Their appearance on "Metal Massacre 4" from Metal Blade with the band Sceptre included future Agent Steel vocalist John Cyriis- then known…
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INFINITE TRANSLATION – Masked Reality
Starting in 2004, the French thrash quartet Infinite Translation worked on their old school sound, releasing their debut demo "The Anger Of Gods" in 2006 and eventually recording their debut album "Impulsive Attack" in 2010. "Masked Reality" is the follow up full length, a 9 track, 38 minute plus offering sure to please those into…
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UNSPOKEN – Requiem Aeternam Deo
Death metal can come in many different shapes. You have the (happy, go lucky) melodic approach, the primitive approach, the fast combined with the technical approach and then you have the dark, heavy and evil way of doing it. Unspoken from Oslo clearly falls into the latter department with their second full length release since…
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IN AEVUM AGERE – The Shadow Tower
A side project for Annihilationmancer’s Bruno Masulli, In Aevum Agere is a power/ doom metal band in every classic sense of the word with this debut album "The Shadow Tower". Filling out the trio is lead guitarist Marco Ruggiero and drummer Andrea Cannata, as Bruno handles the bass, rhythm guitar and vocal duties. The 11…
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LIONVILLE – II
Recipe for success in the AOR business: establish your ability as a songwriter or session musician, network your skill set on recording and touring projects, repeat until services rendered pay it forward. For Italian singer/ songwriter/ multi-instrumentalist Stefano Lionetti, he assembles all the best working parts in the melodic rock/ AOR business for Lionville and…
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EVERSIN – Tears On The Face Of God
Epic thrash metal from Italy here with Eversin. Guests include Atomikraft/ Venom vocalist Tony Dolan as the evil voice on "Nightblaster" and DGM/ Empyrios guitarist Simone Mularoni for a solo spot on "The Tale of a Dying Soldier". The main vocals from Angelo Ferrante sound like a fever pitched Dee Snider if he was only…
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GRAND SUPREME BLOOD COURT – Bow Down Before The Blood Court
Absent for 9 years from the death metal scene, former Asphyx guitarist Eric Daniels put out the call to many of his Asphyx band mates to record an album in the tradition of obscure mid to late 80’s death metal. Recruiting Martin van Drunen on vocals, Alwin Zuur on second guitar (switching off from his…
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BLOODREDSKY – A Cross To Bear & Hell To Harness
Forming in 2008, eastern Finnish quintet BloodRedSky performs an energetic form of stoner metal here on this debut album "A Cross To Bear & Hell To Harness". Imagine Kyuss and Danzig meeting musically, and Glenn Danzig intertwined with Lemmy from Motorhead vocally, and you’ll get most of the band’s sound on songs like "Rolled The…
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KAMELOT – Silverthorn
When a veteran headlining band like Kamelot makes a major lineup shift, people ponder not only who the new member will be but how the subsequent studio effort will be received. When Roy Khan announced his departure, guitarist Thomas Youngblood still had touring obligations to fill for their previous album. Fabio Lione from Rhapsody (Of…
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MARDUK – Dark Endless (re-issue)
Ok, so many of you have heard Marduk’s ‘Dark Endless’ debut before, but this is the 2012 reissue by Century Media. This version contains six bonus tracks, including ‘The Eye of Funeral’ intro, which didn’t make it on to the original release and has been fully remastered. I don’t own the original, so I can’t…
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NO SIGN OF LIFE – Embrace Your Demons
Currently a three piece (the band is seeking out suitable replacements as both guitarists left the band during the recording of this album), Finland’s No Sign Of Life sign on with Mighty Music for the release of this second album "Embrace Your Demons". Usually when I read in background information sheets the words ‘abnormally blend…
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GOLD – Interbellum
Retro rock seems to be in vogue in many European countries these days. And as long as the musicians behind the movement appear to be sincere in their approach, I’m all for it. We need real musicianship, blood, sweat, and tears to come out of the young rock scene, or we will have to depend…
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INFERNAL TENEBRA – New Formed Revelations
The Croatian quartet Infernal Tenebra began in 1999 with a black metal sound, evolving into death metal over the years. "New Formed Revelations" is their third studio effort, an 8 song, close to 39 minute record that doesn’t sacrifice in its melodic moments for the sheer extreme forcefulness at hand. For every serene acoustic opening…
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SARATAN – Martya Xwar
Rising up the ranks from My Kingdom Music to Massacre Records, Polish death/thrash band Saratan appear to add a couple of fresh twists to their style plate on this third album "Martya Xwar". Oriental instrumentation enters the scene on a few tracks, intertwining with the conventional electric parts on "The Sacred Path of Martya Xwar"…
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DUNDERBEIST – Songs of the Buried
‘Songs of the Buried’ is the latest full-length from thieving bastards Dunderbeist. Behind the raccoon thief masks lurk some pretty savvy musical minds. Dunderbeist lift, steal and borrow elements from other acts – a lyric here and a riff there, but to be honest it all sounded pretty original to me! The sound presents an…
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PARADOX – Tales Of The Weird
Back in the 1980’s when thrash and power metal reigned the underground, somehow my ears sought out the balance between crunchy riffs and this jackhammer precision of execution- along with the underlying sense of melody be it vocally or musically. When others wanted to see how much faster or technically out there the movements could…
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INCANTATION – Vanquish In Vengeance
To be honest, I had never heard Incantation before ‘Vanquish in Vengeance’ made it into my inbox. Yes, I am a death metal fan, but as a reviewer, I am acutely aware of how oversubscribed the genre has become and I feared opening the door to a band who might well prove to be just…
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THE GATES OF SLUMBER – …The Awakening (re-issue)
Originally this debut album came out in 2004 on Belgian label Final Chapter Records. Given the recent upswing in popularity within the traditional doom/ heavy metal community for this Indiana act- especially over the course of their last three studio albums "Conqueror", "Hymns of Blood and Thunder" and last year’s "The Wretch"- the band (and…
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REVOLTING – Hymns of Ghastly Horror
You actually can’t count all the bands/projects Rogga Johansson is a part of. Besides death metal trio Revolting he also participates in Ripspreader, Pagaziner, Demiurg, Bone Gnawer and Putrevore just to name the most known.Personally I find Paganizer and Demiurg to be be the two most interesting of the lot but this Revolting release took…
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DECEASED – Supernatural Addiction (re-release)
Death thrashers Deceased with King Fowley in front has managed to stay the course since their inception back in 1984.Their thrash (early), thrash/death (later) has found an cult following and their debut "Luck of the Corpse" has an unique space in many head bangers hearts. Personally I have never really figured out Deceased. I remember…
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AEON – Aeons Black
Sweden’s Aeon return with their fourth full length "Aeons Black"- a 15 track, 50 minute excursion into the land of fierce death metal. The shorter 1 minute elements of "Aftermath" or "The Voice of the Accuser" serve a sense of transition as the quintet volley furious, relentless riffs and speedy blast beats against equally vicious…
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CLOCK PARADOX – Egotheism
Melding the best of technical death metal with progressive tempo changes, Finland’s Clock Paradox will spin your brain upside down and inside out on this debut album "Egotheism". Jouni Koskela employs growls and impassioned screams with nary a trace of clean melodies in sight- while his four musician compatriots level the airspace with speedy blast…
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REVENGIA – Lake Of Fire
The third album from Sweden’s Revengia "Lake Of Fire" appears five years after their last studio offering- which should give them plenty of time to offer a killer product. Intertwining traditional power drumming and riffing with a modern vocal and groove edge, songs like "The Day I Die" and "Bloodline" have that Morgana Lefay meets…
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STANDING OVATION – The Antikythera Mechanism
Beginning in 2006, the progressive metal sextet Standing Ovation spent a number of years getting their musical style in place- recording a 5 song demo in 2011 prior to this debut album "The Antikythera Mechanism". Ethereal, left field musical thoughts spring forth amongst these 9 songs – including a breath taking three part title cut…
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DEATHMARCHED – Spearhead Of Iron
3 ex-God Forsaken and Putrid members get together with a new bassist (Esa Pennala) and form a new death metal act Deathmarched. Steeped in the old school movement and traditional sounds, this debut album "Spearhead of Iron" will be an immediate 37 minute rebel rousing effort to those who miss old Death, Bolt Thrower, Asphyx…