ALBUM REVIEWS

RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS

  • KREPUSKUL – Hybrid

    This Romanian melodeath/groove metal (no idea where encyklopedia metallum got the black metal reference) presents an interesting, sometimes original blend of styles and progression which works more often than not, but their similarity to Lamb of God can give you a start, although, overall they are better songwriters than post-Sacrament Virginians. The introductory riffs of…

  • SCIENCE OF DISORDER – Private Hell

    The Swiss death thrashers known as Science of Disorder (who used to go by the name Soulless) are about to unearth and unleash their sophomore album in the shape of this 11-effort entitled "Private Hell". First of all, there is plenty of groove and a lot of intricate and cool details to this fucker, but…

  • BORNBROKEN – The Years Of Harsh Truths And Little Lies

    While BornBroken’s nearly flawless debut “The Healing Powers of Hate” knocked me on my tail with a combination of inventive songwriting and aggression, the new album impresses with double the aggression and not much else, leaving me longing for the intricacies, ebbs and flows of the debut. What was once barely under the surface while…

  • FOREIGNER – Foreigner with the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra & Chorus

    Legendary rockers Foreigner are still going strong and putting on great live shows all over the globe. Their magnificent tunes have withstood the test of time and have turned into timeless anthems for multiple generations of rock music lovers. This new effort of theirs is in actual fact a live album albeit not in the…

  • ARABS IN ASPIC – De Dødes Tjern/Step Into the Fire

    The Norwegian ensemble Arabs in Aspic will soon release this splendid 2-track EP of theirs on glorious vinyl via Apollon Records Prog and you ought to pay attention here if warm and strangely soothing prog rock with a melancholy vibe to it appeals to you. The two compositions that constitute the EP intensify as they…

  • TIEFLADER – Apocalypse Jetzt

    Ok so obviously these guys love their Pantera. German Pantera? Why not, the band is defunct, after all, and we could probably use a successor. Or the German public could since not everybody speaks German. Well, these guys may have a lot to do with Pantera, particularly from “Reinventing the Steel” but they do have…

  • BOREALIS – The Offering

    Borealis is a Canadian heavy/power metal band whose sound appears to be the meeting point of Evergrey and Symphony X with some latter In Flames and Killswitch Engage melodic tendencies.The Offering is their fourth full length, and the arrangements, melodies and overall concept are mostly impressive but the occasional reliance on keyboard melodies rather than…

  • TAKE OFFENSE – Tensions On High

    The first impression with these American West Coast crossover thrashers is that they are a Suicidal Tendencies tribute band. However, after a few listens to “Tensions On High” which comes after two full lengths, influences from Prong (strong) and mid-90s Megadeth (weaker) are also noticeable. All these are incorporated in a seamless and brilliant fashion…

  • LYZZARD – Savage

    Lyzzard are a Portuguese heavy metal band who plays something between old Judas Priest and the first two Iron Maidens, with a touch of more modern metal. The overall impression I have is that, despite undeniable skills of the musicians and the powerful, robust production, the overall songwriting is of severely low quality and the…

  • ISSA – Run With the Pack

    The talented Norwegian vocalist named Issa recently released her fifth solo output through Frontiers and the album is very much in the vein of her past releases and treads the same path as those. Melodic hard rock with easily digestible riffs and pleasing vocals are the order of the day here. The eleven compositions that…

  • DIMMU BORGIR – Eonian

    The renowned Norwegian metal ensemble known as Dimmu Borgir have been hard at work on this latest opus of theirs evocatively entitled "Eonian" for a long time now. In fact, eight years have passed since the release of "Abrahadabra", which has obviously made the fans and adherents of the band highly curious as to what…

  • SENSE OF FEAR – As The Ages Passing By

    At their core the Greek Sense of Fear may be a heavy metal band inspired by the likes of old Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Dio but on close introspection they have their feet planted in more than one river. References are made to the very beginnings of thrash metal bands, whose thrash was still…

  • CENTRIPETAL FORCE – Eidetic

    This just a 3 song, nearly 17 minute EP reveals fascination with latter Death, Control Denied, Atheist, Sadist and early Into Eternity, with mixed songwriting ability, while the musicianship can hardly be questioned. Still, as it’s often the case in similar endeavors, the tendency to overindulge on technicality and constant change of pace can rob…

  • CORROSION OF CONFORMITY – No Cross No Crown

    It would seem that with the return of the legendary singer Pepper Keenan, combined with a compelling lyrical concept, the no less legendary heavy metal outfit COC could not fail this time. Indeed, this impression is reinforced by the first track proper, "The Luddite" followed by equally satisfying "Cast the First Stone", as Pepper &…

  • AVERSIO HUMANITATIS – Longing For The Untold

    Aversio Humanitatis (latin: Aversion to Humanity) is an interesting fast black metal of death. While the opening title track is an enjoyable if standard black metal fare, the subsequent "Prison of Shattered Glass", exudes the confidence, weirdness, catchiness and pinch harmonics of Deathspell Omega or Ulcerate, for the best track on the EP, while "Evershifting…

  • THE DEAD DAISIES – Burn it Down

    Boasting one of the most impressive line-ups in rock ‘n’ roll consisting of Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Ted Nugent), Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Revolution Saints, DIO), John Corabi (Motley Crue), Deen Castronovo (Journey, Revolution Saints), and founder David Lowy, it is no wonder that the Dead Daisies have become such a renowned and highly respected…

  • INNER CORE – Soultaker

    German outfit Inner Core recently unearthed and unleashed this symphonic metal opus guided by singer Anna Rogg’s dynamic, passionate vocals and melodic albeit bombastic riffs. The music spawned by this 5-piece is very much driven by the keyboards, which is to say that it is somewhat pompous in tone and style, but luckily it never…

  • DYSCARNATE – With All Their Might

    These Britons waste no time for pretty melodies but pummel you over the head relentlessly with the double Vulgar Display of Power, Demanufacture and Misery Signals altogether, seamlessly melding groove, death and hardcore in an explosive cocoction as you run from invisible demons like the Biblical Sceva’s sons, leaving you naked and severely beaten. Look…

  • DIZZY REED – Rock ‘N Roll Ain’t Easy

    Renowned Guns ‘N Roses keyboardist Dizzy Reed is an extremely talented fella, of that there can be no doubt. This 12-track solo effort of his (well, 13 if you count the bonus track that comes with the digital edition) is a delightfully uplifting and life-affirming collection of kick-ass rock tunes firmly rooted in the sort…

  • ANIALATOR – Rise to Supremacy

    Classic thrash metal in the vein of old Slayer and Kreator with modern sound, great solo work, distortion, and doomsday yet intelligent lyrics without need for profanity, always a bonus in my book. Every track has something different to offer, with various pace and ideas packed into one song that could fill up an entire…

  • TUSMØRKE – Fjernsyn i Farger

    The Norwegian prog rockers known as Tusmørke are at it again, this time with a brand new 6-track album entitled “Fjernsyn i Farger”, which basically translates to “Color TV”. The thing about Tusmørke’s eclectic and eccentric bag of musical tricks is that their sound and expression are playful rather than dark and dense. It is…

  • BLACK STONE CHERRY – Family Tree

    Southern hard rockers Black Stone Cherry released their sixth album last week, more specifically “Family Tree”, and as some of you out there already know, these dudes are all about groovy, loose, and spirited music influenced by everything from blues, country, Americana, and classic rock. There is usually a sense of depth and texture to…

  • RING VAN MÖBIUS – Past the Evening Sun

    The Norwegian prog rockers Ring Van Möbius are a highly captivating and interesting musical ensemble capable of conjuring up sublime and otherworldly soundscapes reminiscent of pioneering acts such as King Crimson, ELP, and Van Der Graaf Generator. There is something magical about the way in which Ring Van Möbius weave their intricate yet strangely pleasant…

  • NO HOT ASHES – No Hot Ashes

    The Northern Irish rockers in No Hot Ashes have finally released their debut album and if you consider yourself a fan of either classic rock or melodic rock then I strongly suggest that you pay attention to this one. The opening track “Come Alive” has to be one of the strongest AOR/melodic rock tunes that…

  • PISSED REGARDLESS – Feed The Birds

    San Diego’s crossover/thrash metal hybrid Pissed Regardless, whose entire discography consists of one demo and two EPs, including this short monument (10:10), is another one of those run-off-the-mill ilk whose sole purpose is to just let off some pent up steam in a matter patented by the likes of Suicidal Tendencies or D.R.I. who already…

  • FORTE RUIN – Rebuilding the Machinery

    The Finnish six-piece named Forte Ruin recently released this cool EP of theirs entitled "Rebuilding the Machinery". Musically and stylistically speaking, we are dealing with melodic death metal with a modern sheen to it. Quite a few progressive metal as well as thrash metal elements sneak into the mix too.   The EP is comprised…

  • THE ABSENCE – A Gift for the Obsessed

    It is good to be a metalhead and I pity the fool who can’t stand metal because this is what it’s all about, this is the stuff your Ride the Lighting/Master of Puppets/Rust in Piece/Arise was made of, and above all, Death from their last three albums. To be sure, there’s plenty of old In…

  • JAMES CHRISTIAN – Craving

    House of Lords frontman James Christian released this fourth solo output of his through Frontiers Records quite recently and the result is a fairly good one although it lacks an adventurous spirit. Christian is obviously a gifted songwriter with a knack for coming up with strong melodies and infectious vocal lines, which is as evident…

  • TEMPERANCE – Of Jupiter and Moons

    Now, I am not usually the kind who gives a rat’s rear end about bands changing vocalists unless the vocalist happens to BE the band, as is the case with Chiara Tricarico and Temperance. All of the charm and everything that made Temperance uniquely stand out from the pack, along with the very soul of…

  • PESTILENCE – Hadeon

    Right off the bat, I have to admit that I have never been a tremendous fan of these guys. I do own and enjoy both "Consuming Impulse" and "Testimony of the Ancients" on CD but neither the weird-if-ahead-of-it’s-time "Spheres" (probably influenced by Cynic) or the post-reunion albums, with the exception of "Obsideo" have really captured…