ALBUM REVIEWS

RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS

  • ACHERONTAS – Amarta (Formulas of Reptilian Unification Part II)

    Six full length and a decade in and Greek esoteric crusaders Acherontas have unearthed the treasure once again. Amarta showcases all that Acherontas does so well – beautifully melodic guitar work, crushingly brutal blasting, mesmerising control over rhythm and pacing, otherworldly atmosphere and a ritualistic feeling that is both uncomfortable and a good place to…

  • HOUSE OF LORDS – Saint of the Lost Souls

    The renowned hard rock/melodic heavy metal act that is House of Lords recently released this 11-track album of theirs via Frontiers and the result is a satisfying one. Boasting strong melodic hooks and some really cool song arrangements, there is very little not to like about House of Lords’ 11th album. Guitarist Jimi Bell is…

  • TRAUMER – The Great Metal Storm

    The Brazilian power metal outfit TraumeR is about to unleash this 13-track album entitled "The Great Metal Storm" via Fastball Music. Quite the over-the-top title, eh? Actually, "The Great Metal Storm" is an expanded re-issue in that it was originally released back in 2014, but it is now being given wider distribution by Fastball Music…

  • VTTA – My Sickle

    The twisted Russian trio named VTTA impressed me quite a lot last year by means of its "On the Vortex of Chasing the Abyss of Despair" EP, so naturally I was looking forward to this new EP of theirs entitled "My Sickle", which was released via Nomos Dei Productions back in April. While VTTA is…

  • GENTLE KNIFE – Clock Unwound

    Progressive rock has been a part of this journalist’s life since childhood. Acts like Genesis, Yes, Kansas, and Rush made an indelible imprint, opening horizons in what could be achieved musically. Norwegian act Gentle Knife embody the spirit of diverse progressive rock cut from that similar 70’s-oriented cloth on their second full-length "Clock Unwound". Incorporating…

  • WOLOK / ROTTING HEAVEN – The Anatomy of Madness

    I was fortunate enough to get my crippled hands on this excellent split album consisting of three songs by the French black metal outfit known as Wolok and three songs by the Russian black metal horde named Rotting Heaven. Musically and lyrically speaking, this album is indeed a foul journey though otherworldly spheres. Dark, twisted,…

  • AGE OF DISCLOSURE – To the Universe

    This 13-track effort entitled "To the Universe" by the Swiss act Age of Disclosure was a welcome surprise for sure. Spearheaded by guitarist Ben Sollberger and a cast of talented musicians, this debut album of theirs is a strong and solid effort containing a lot of well-written and memorable songs. Granted, not every tune is…

  • BLIND SEER – Apocalypse 2.0

    Daring to go where no other group has gone before, Belgian act Blind Seer live up to the experimental metal tag on "Apocalypse 2.0". With influences ranging from industrial to jazz, alternative to classic metal, and a bit of electronic/outer space themes in between, it’s little wonder that these 12 songs may cause a bit…

  • INSATIA – Phoenix Aflame

    Combining members from Arizona and Canada, Insatia develop a melodic metal outlook that straddles symphonic and power textures on their second full-length "Phoenix Aflame". Between Zoë Federoff’s soaring, angelic vocal range and the grandiose symphonic embellishments, you get the feeling that songs such as "We Are the Grey" as well as the triplet-filled title cut…

  • GOATWHORE – Vengeful Ascension

    Relentless is an apt description for Goatwhore. Celebrating 20 years together as a group, "Vengeful Ascension" as their seventh studio record keeps their abrasive thrash/death/punk/black juggernaut wall of sound chugging along – adding another 10 tracks to their coffers. What’s always exciting about the quartet’s approach is their ability to inject melodic sections at surprising…

  • MUNICIPAL WASTE – Slime and Punishment

    Delivering 14 cuts in a whirlwind 28 minutes, "Slime and Punishment" wastes no riff or quick-hitting transition in its crossover thrash appeal. Expanding to a five-piece as second guitarist Nick Poulos (Bat, Vulture) enters, punky efforts like "Enjoy the Night" prove the youthful energy hasn’t subsided, while the gang mentality launches "Shrednecks" into future set…

  • FALLEN MANKIND – Bleak Ocean

    Fallen Mankind is a relatively new heavy metal from Sweden. Actually, maybe it is not so new after all. Apparently, the band was formed back in 2010, but up until now only a single and then this debut album of theirs have appeared. Entitled "Bleak Ocean" and consisting of ten songs, it sounds as if…

  • AKROMA – Apocalypse (Requiem)

    Akroma, which is a symphonic black metal horde hailing from France, recently released its fourth full-length opus in the shape of this 6-track album entitled "Apocalypse (Requiem)". While the emphasis is on symphonic, orchestrated, and epic black metal, these guys have incorporated a lot of progressive elements into their musical universe, which provides the songs…

  • SICKROOM – The Dualism

    The Spanish death metal outfit bearing the fitting name of Sickroom recently released this 6-song EP of theirs entitled "The Dualism" via Blood Fire Death. Boasting a dark and punishing sound, the EP kicks off with the crushing and catchy "Rivers of Blood" and ends with the pummeling "Xalera Fosca". While "The Dualism" is primarily…

  • STEVE NEWHOUSE – Loopyworld – The Iron Maiden Years

    I was lucky enough to get my filthy paws on this excellent book by Steve "Loopy" Newhouse, which chronicles the early years of one of the greatest heavy metal bands to ever grace the face of the earth and their meteoric rise to fame, namely the legendary and seemingly indestructible force of nature that is…

  • DARK MATTER SECRET – Perfect World Creation

    Dark Matter Secret er et instrumentalt teknisk og progressivt death metal band fra Russland. Dette må være det perfekte bandet for de som elsker teknisk prog death metal, men som ikke liker at musikken blir besudlet av en vokalist som ikke helt holder mål. Jeg sier ikke at det ikke finnes gode vokalister i denne…

  • OBSOLETE INCARNATION – Eradication of Society

    Obsolete Incarnation er et tysk death metal band av den mer brutale sorten. Bandet ble startet i 2009 og «Eradication of Society» er dere andre EP. De har i tillegg en fullengder på samvittigheten. Musikals sett er dette en mer utviklet og variert form for brutal death metal / grindcore enn hva band som for…

  • CRAZY LIXX – Ruff Justice

    The Swedish five-piece Crazy Lixx released this hugely entertaining album of theirs entitled "Ruff Justice" a few weeks ago and there is absolutely no reason not to dig this stuff if hard rock, sleaze rock, and glam rock appeal to you. Inspired by everything that was awesome in the 80s, Crazy Lixx chronicles that decade…

  • AYREON – The Source

    The innovative and progressive musical force that is Ayreon, or rather multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen, is back with yet another highly complex and captivating concept album that is downright mindblowing at times. This 2CD release consisting of 90 minutes of Ayreon’s original and characteristic progressive metal is a return to the "Forever" saga that was chronicled…

  • HAWKWIND – Into the Woods

    The legendary space rockers that are Hawkwind still reign supreme! 2017 saw the release of "Into the Woods, their 30th album so far, and the band sounds as strong and vital as ever. While the psychedelic tendencies and otherworldly vibes are still very much present in Hawkwind’s material, "Into the Woods" is in fact a…

  • SECRET SPHERE – The Nature of Time

    The talented and renowned Italian melodic power metal outfit that is Secret Sphere has returned with an excellent album consisting of eleven highly solid and evocative tunes that possess all the trademarks of the band, which is to say passionate vocals, epic atmospheres, majestic riffs, and rock-solid musicianship. Michele Luppi’s (Whitesnake) vocals are strong and…

  • PLEASURE AGONY – Pleasure Agony

    The German outfit named Pleasure Agony released this self-titled album of theirs sometime last year. Musically, the band is rooted in modern thrash metal with lots of groovy and bouncy parts to it. In terms of riffs and melodies and so on, everything is rather straightforward and easy to digest. There are no convoluted arrangements…

  • THE FERRYMEN – The Ferrymen

    The brand new outfit named The Ferrymen, which features Ronnie Romero (Lords Of Black, Rainbow), Magnus Karlsson (Magnus Karlsson’s Free Fall, Primal Fear) on guitars, and Mike Terrana (Tarja, Rage, Axel Rudi Pell, Vision Divine) on drums, is a most welcome addition to the power metal genre. With an emphasis on epic melodies, soaring vocals,…

  • HOLYCIDE – Annihilate… Then Ask

    Avulsed vokalist og labelboss i Xtreem Music, Dave Rotten, er med i en haug med band. Et av hans nyeste prosjekter er thrash bandet Holycide. De spiller en progressive type av thrash metal naturlig nok med en del death metal-flyt i låtene. Teknisk er det og en haug med temposkift i låtene finnes også. Ikke…

  • THE DOOMSDAY KINGDOM – The Doomsday Kingdom

    When the creative pool overflows, you must dip in and squeeze out what you can, while you can. Bassist Leif Edling is probably best known for his work in Swedish doom metal band Candlemass – but he also has Avatarium and now The Doomsday Kingdom recording on a regular basis. Following a demo that Nuclear…

  • NORSETH – Face of the Shade

    Originally together from 2000-2005, melodic death metal act Norseth issued "The Hexed Enigma" EP in 2004 before going on an indefinite hiatus. Feeling the need to play together again by 2012, Kevin Carr and AJ Grimes recorded songs together and issued them online – setting the stage for the recording of this 12-song full-length "Face…

  • DOMINHATE – Emissaries of Morning

    Italia har en hel haug med death metal band, men det er veldig få som har slått igjennom i undergrunnen, i alle fall utenfor landets grenser. For nordmenn er nok Hour of Penance og Fleshgod Apocalypse med hver sin variant av sjangeren mest kjent. Her har vi et av de mindre kjente death metal bandene…

  • BLISS OF FLESH – Empyrean

    Franske Bliss of Flesh hadde jeg ikke hørt om før Steffie i Listenable Records anbefalte meg dem for meg. Jeg er vanligvis ikke veldig mottakelig for anbefalinger fra plateselskap, da dette veldig ofte er et velkjent salgstriks. Men noe sa meg at dette kunne være interessant og dermed valgte jeg å sjekke ut Bliss of…

  • NORD – Play Restart

    When I first glanced at the album cover and band name, i.e. Nord, my first thought was that this was Scandinavian black metal of some kind or other, but it turned out to be an experimental rock album of sorts by a Croatian quartet. While the term art rock might seem a bit diffuse, it…

  • RADIATION ROMEOS – Radiation Romeos

    Radiation Romeos is a brand new hard rock outfit formed by awesome vocalist Parramore McCarty (Warrior, Atomic Playboys). With Dag Heyne on guitars, Jogi Spittka on bass, and Gereon Homann on drums, what could possibly go wrong? I must admit that I instantly fell in love with this charming and memorable album. It has so…