RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS
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MORTUALIA – Mortualia
"Mortualia" comes from the barren depths of the uber-prolific Shatraug (Horna/Sargeist). Originally released in 2007, this re-issue is brought to us by Moribund Cult who seem intent on finding little known gems such as this and bringing them back to the public conscious. If gloomy, desolate Black Metal is your thing, then this definitely something…
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CIPHER SYSTEM – Communicate The Storms
Gothenburg Sweden’s Cipher System take a 7 year break between albums while retooling half their six man lineup. I have to be honest that back when their debut album “Central Tunnel Eight” came out in 2004, I don’t remember anything really special sticking to these ears with their sound. Possibly the long break could pay…
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DEADEND IN VENICE – See You On The Ground
“Me, myself and I can trust each other, sad but true…trust me you die first!” preaches Deadend In Venice in “Personal Decay” and who would disagree, he or she who had been around the block for a while? That track is one of the more interesting on what is, essentially, a catchy and great melodic…
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BRUTAL TRUTH – End Time
Brutal Truth have been around long enough to know how they want things done, and the approach taken on "End Time" reflects their firm commitment to doing things their way. What this means is an album of 23 songs that push the boundaries in terms of dynamism… but is it all in the best interests…
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DARK REFLEXIONS – Beyond Obscurity
Dark Reflexions are a decent modern/melodic death metal band. But decentness just isn’t enough these days. Song structures, melody lines and instrumentation that you have heard a dozen times before might be okay if the overall impression exudes confidence and is at the peak of what has been done previously. Sadly for Dark Reflexions they…
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ANTICHRIST – Forbidden World
Starting in 2007 and recording two demos over the course of the next three years, it’s always good in today’s market to receive any ringing endorsement you can from metal musicians in the know – especially for a newcomer band like Antichrist. So most in the underground will perk up their ears as Darkthrone’s Fenriz…
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FURZE – Reaper Subconscious Guide
Just when it seemed like Black Metal was finally running out of alternatives, along comes the fourth full-length album from Furze to prove that there are still plenty of options available to songwriters and musicians who are willing to think outside the box and try something new. Eschewing the paths laid down by his Norwegian…
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NIGHTRAGE – Insidious
Greek melodic death metal band Nightrage assault the eardrums again with their fifth full length “Insidious”. Leader/guitarist Marios Iliopoulos knows the band has moved beyond the early Gus G assisted years into their own explosive act, gaining the services of Dragonland guitarist Olof Morck to shore up the double electric attack. Of the 15 tracks…
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MELIAH RAGE – Dead To The World
For a local Massachusetts metal head growing up in the 80’s scene, there were two names to know if you wanted your thrash fill locally. Wargasm would be the bigger name, but initially out of the gates the band who received bigger support through Epic Records was Meliah Rage. Even with ideal touring situations opening…
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VESEN – Goat Carcass Rising
The door to black n’ roll was opened to me, as to so many others, through the fandom of Norwegian folk metal band Windir. Following Windir’s dissolving the remaining members formed Vreid, which since day one was thought by yours truly to be the best black n’ roll act in existence. That is until I…
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CRIMINAL – Akelarre
Transplanting from Chile to a more formidable UK a few years ago (especially for touring opportunities), the thrash quartet Criminal follow up 2009’s exciting “White Hell” with their seventh studio record “Akelarre”. A word from the Basque language and literally translated as ‘witches sabbath’ in English, the band also have a new lead guitarist in…
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GROMTH – The Immortal
Let me first tell you that even though I’ve written lyrics for this album, I have had nothing to do with the music. I am not a part of the band per se. I’ve always been a sucker for symphonic extremities, such as Tartaros ("The Red Jewel" is still one of my favourites), Limbonic Art,…
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GROMTH – The Immortal
After really getting into black metal during the last ten years, I became more and more puristic and, going along with that, there was a scorn for any type of instrument other than guitar, bass and drums. Then Gromth came along and changed all! Their orchestral black metal integrates classical instruments with the aforementioned in…
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OPETH – Heritage
Damn… …nation. Heri… …tage… Clean vocals. No, them two albums are not two for the price of one. Where the premium is an amazing journey through silent darkness, "Heritage" is an excellent progressive rock album. The sound is impeccable, Åkerfeldt’s singing is immaculate and the songs are ear candy for those who give it more…
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OPETH – Heritage
I’m a late bloomer to the Opeth express. Causally taking in their first few studio efforts, a touring escapade with God Forbid, Angel Dust and headliners Nevermore made me a believer in their distinctive progressive metal music. These Swedes aren’t complacent nor sedate in their style. They choose to challenge themselves and in turn challenge…
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OPETH – Heritage
So, where do I begin..? Opeth started as a death metal band back in 1990, developed into a progressive death metal act unlike anyone else, released "Damnation" in 2003, the first album without any growling, which most fans loved, but it also made them loose quite a few followers. (Me? I LOVE it!) This magnificent…
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SUPREME PAIN – Divine Incarnation
How do you define a perfect death metal album? Fine, you see the score before the review: how do you define a NEAR perfect death metal album? Well, it depends on how heavy, brutal and/or catchy and melodic you like it. As in all of metal everyone has different preferences. But it basically revolves around…
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NIGHTBRINGER – Hierophany of the Open Grave
Colorado act Nightbringer have carved a seriously dark and malignant slab of evil here. "Hierophany of the Open Grave" is 60 minutes of pure skull-fucking hell. Tempos flick from languid to raging. Riffs slice flesh in one moment and cauterize the wound the next. The vocals drip vitriolic fury in what is perhaps the foulest,…
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NOTHGARD – Warhorns of Midgard
That which once was just folk metal has the last decade sprung into a multitude of subgenres. The two biggest of these genres would be folk metal (Equilibrium, Faanefjell, Månegarm) and warrior metal (Amon Amarth, Obscurity, Balfor). The biggest difference being that the former forms their riffs more in tune with traditional folk song structures,…
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DØDHEIMSGARD – 666 International
The year 1999 marked Black Metallers Dødheimsgard transition from Black Metal to industrial/avant-garde metal. Or so I have heard. As I was listenting, I thought to myself that some leads reminded me of 1349 and it comes as no surprise to note that this album was originally released on Moonfog productions. The year 1999 was…