ALBUM REVIEWS

RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS

  • HANGING GARDEN – Blackout Whiteout

    Through despair and discord we often bear beautiful sounds – channeling a seemingly difficult set of circumstances into an uplifting creative product. Finnish sextet Hanging Garden have made an impression since their 2004 beginnings, releasing three full-length albums of melodic doom/death with post-metal and gothic/alternative strains.  Their latest record "Blackout Whiteout" is another alluring nine…

  • ULVER – ATGCLVLSSCAP

    As is usually the case whenever Ulver releases a new album, I have no idea what to expect other than quality. There is just no way of knowing what strange and delightful moods these guys might evoke whenever a new release is conjured up. That is the truth of the matter. These guys were never…

  • KADAVAR – Berlin

    Doomy riff rock of the heavy and groovy kind is on display once again through German act Kadavar on their third studio record "Berlin". Often keeping the proceedings lean and mean and building off of a simplistic yet effective guitar foundation, you can’t help but be swept away by the retro Sabbath, Pentagram and psychedelic…

  • DARKEST ERA – Gods and Origins EP

    Up next is this latest EP from Irish epic metallers Darkest Era. If you checked out their 2014 release ‘Severance,’ you already know how good these guys are and don’t need me to tell you. Darkest Era sound something like Slough Feg or Solstice – traditional metal with a bit of Celtic Folk thrown in.…

  • KTHONIIK CERVIIKS – SeroLogiikal Scars (Vertex of Dementiia)

    SeroLogiikal Scars is the debut full-length from German black/death metal marauders Kthoniik Cerviiks. Those of you who were wise enough to check out their colossal Heptaëdrone demo in 2014 know that this in an extremely original and exciting act. The basic matrix is one of modern black/death metal – brutal and with some South American…

  • VANDEN PLAS – Chronicles of the Immortals: Netherworld II

    Risk can gain reward in the progressive metal genre – especially evident on this go-around for the German group Vanden Plas. "Chronicles of the Immortals: Netherworld II" obviously finishes the previous record’s concept from last year, an apocalyptic battle between good and evil. The 9 tracks (Visions 11-19 in the story line) span the range…

  • ABHORRENT DEFORMITY – Entity of Malevolence

    Hailing from North Carolina, Abhorrent Deformity is a quartet intent on delivering rip your face off death metal for their debut album "Entity of Malevolence". Gurgling growls, intense blasting sections with mid-tempo reprieves as well as some twisted, sick riffs of the maniacal kind carry this 10 song, 34-minute effort. Expect massive carnage in the…

  • DYSTROPHY – Wretched Host

    Together since 2007, this New Jersey quartet have morphed from a more progressive/thrash metal oriented band to technical death metal, as evidenced by this second full-length "Wretched Host". Aware of the struggle between musically intricate while keeping the material flowing in a cohesive manner, Dystrophy throw in a lot of wild Voivod-ish jangly chord parts…

  • TERMINUS – The Reaper’s Spiral

    The Reaper’s Spiral is the debut full length by Ireland’s Terminus. Influences come via Iron Maiden, Slough Feg and Manilla Road. This is anthemic, fist in the air, gird your loins, crack a cask of ale and ready the horses traditional metal. Vocals have a bit of Mark Shelton but remind me sometimes of that…

  • SEER – Vol. 1 & 2

    Sludgy, expansive doom on offer here in the full length debut of Vancouver’s Seer. I am not a great fan of doom, and this album won’t do much to change that I’m afraid. What we have here are some heavy tracks that take their sweet time building – but the building isn’t that impressive when…

  • FLUMMOX – Selcouth

    Those not aware of the dictionary definition of flummox take note: it’s usually used in a verb context to perplex (someone) greatly, confuse, or bewilder. A perfect name for this Tennessee trio, as Flummox the band release a new album "Selcouth" that contains a wide swath of doom, sludge, and stoner groove influences. Professing a…

  • MAGNUS KARLSSON’S FREE FALL – Kingdom of Rock

    Primal Fear guitarist Magnus Karlsson returns with his second solo project record "Kingdom of Rock". Much like the self-titled predecessor from 2013, assembling a host of talented hard rock/metal musicians makes this 11 song effort inviting, enticing, and exhilarating. Highlights are numerous: Jorn Lande through his golden, bluesy range on the title cut, The Poodles’…

  • UN – The Tomb of All Things

    Funeral doom, aetherical doom – the ultimate expression of patience when it comes to a sub-genre of metal. Starting in 2012, the Seattle, Washington four-piece Un embrace the tag, releasing two demos in 2013 prior to this 5 song debut album "The Tomb of All Things". At 53 minutes there is plenty to absorb, the…

  • LAST DAYS OF EDEN – Ride the World

    Genre bending or blending appears to be the new course of action for musicians to establish their own take on a variety of influences in the metal realm. Spain’s Last Days of Eden for instance are a sextet that fuse together a mixture of symphonic power metal and gothic/ Celtic nuances on their debut full-length…

  • SANZU – Heavy over the Home

    Australske Sanzu er et nytt metalband som med sitt debutalbum «Heavy over the Home» har beveget seg inn i Gojiras musikalske verden. Med en herlig blanding av tung death metal, litt metalcore, masse groove og stemning, variert tøff vokal, noen overraskelser og ti velproduserte gode låter overbeviser de veldig. Kan best sammenlignes som en sint…

  • MESSENGER – Starwolf – Part II: Novastorm

    Continuing the space pirate saga from 2013’s previous "The MessengeRs" album, "Starwolf – Part II: Novastorm" from Germany’s Messenger serves up another 10 songs of power/heavy metal. Using a lot of trademark choir elements for certain melodic hooks (‘oh…oh…ah…oh’ during "Privateer’s Hymn" giving another nod to the old school), vocalist Francis Blake straddles the commanding…

  • URIAH HEEP – Totally Driven

    «Totally Driven» is an interesting 2CD release, one that I had not seen coming, to be honest with you. It is an anthology of sorts consisting of 27 re-recorded tracks by the progressive hard rock monsters Uriah Heep, but they were not re-recorded recently. All these versions stem from a 2001 recording session when Mick…

  • VEHEMENCE – Forward Without Motion

    After a break up in 2005 and a couple of false starts to resurrect themselves, Vehemence is back on track with their first full-length in 11 years, the appropriately named "Forward Without Motion". For album four, it’s more of the brutally vicious melodic death metal that put the Arizona quintet on the map through their…

  • BEZ TAKTU – Bez Taktu

    Neida, vi hører ikke bare på død og fordervelse her inne på Eternal Terror, god metal er god metal, rock likeså, men vi snakker selvsagt minimum trommer, bass og gitar. Bez Taktu havner i progrock kategorien, og det i samme gate som blant andre svenske Beardfish, et band jeg har blant mine favoritter i den…

  • CRIMSON DAY – Order of the Shadows

    Putting their balls to the wall for heavy metal glory, Tampere, Finland’s Crimson Day have a love for Teutonic power metal that also penetrates the traditional landscape on their first full-length "Order of the Shadows". The shrill yet piercing vocals of Valtteri Heiskanen on the moody "And Then Came Death" and semi-militant anthem follow up…

  • THE ARCANE ORDER – Cult of None

    While it’s been seven years between albums, the members of The Arcane Order haven’t been resting on their laurels during their self-imposed hiatus. Drummer Morten Løwe Sørensen is in Amaranthe, while guitarist Kasper Kirkegaard does live touring with Hatesphere and vocalist Kasper Thomsen also was involved in Raunchy. Now that you are caught up to…

  • SEAMOUNT – Nitro Jesus

    Forming in 2007, the international act Seamount is a collaborative force between German guitarist Tim Schmidt and American singer Phil Swanson. Bassist Markus Stroehlein and drummer Jens Hoffmann round out the quartet, and "Nitro Jesus" is the group’s fifth album in their career – although my first sojourn into their dark doom/heavy metal ways. Safe…

  • INFINIGHT – Apex Predator

    At almost 15 years into their career, German power metal band InfiNight remain steadfast in bringing their music to the people on a DIY basis. "Apex Predator" is the quintet’s third full-length for a lineup that has had no membership changes since their 2001 beginnings – highly unusual in today’s marketplace. The 11 songs on…

  • BLACK INCOME – Noise Pollution

    It’s amazing to me how other countries can take a form of music that developed in the Northwestern United States like alternative grunge music and make it their own. Together since 2012, Danish act Black Income take a modest amount of inspiration from Alice in Chains and Soundgarden, while throwing in a bit of that…

  • DENNER / SHERMANN – Satan’s Tomb

    The infamous Mercyful Fate guitar duo of Michael Denner and Hank Shermann returns with a new band and a 4 song EP "Satan’s Tomb". Cage vocalist Sean Peck, bassist Marc Grabowski, and drummer Snowy Shaw round out the lineup, and this is ideal for those who miss the heavy metal leanings of their past. Set…

  • DIVIDED MULTITUDE – Divided Multitude

    Drar stadig frem «Feed On Your Misery» fra 2013, en fest av et prog-metal album, og var derfor rimelig spent på hva Trønderbataljonen hadde i ermet i sitt eget 20-års jubileum. At det skulle bli et av de mer rolige sporene Divided Multitude har kommet opp med som skulle bli favoritten var nok kanskje en…

  • BLYND – Liber Sum

    Greek modern groove/thrash band Blynd enter the third studio platter portion of their careers, as "Liber Sum" hopefully establishes their credibility. Previously aware of their 2012 album "Punishment Unfolds", it’s always interesting to see how the years play out and what directional changes (if any) occur to differentiate new material from old. In the case…

  • MAJOR INSTINCT – Roots & Wings

    Handpicked musicians from M.ILL.ION founder / bassist B.J. Laneby, Major Instinct is a Swedish quintet content to spit out an addictive brand of melodic, bluesy hard rock with sweet chorus action. Considering the man’s recovery from illness last year that almost cost him his life, the decision to start a new band is appropriate given…

  • SAFFIRE – For the Greater Good

    Shifting labels from Inner Wound to AOR Heaven, Swedish melodic heavy metal act Saffire continue with their second album "For the Greater Good" to embrace a love for the 70’s/80’s bluesy Rainbow-esque sound. Guitarist Victor Olsson and vocalist Tobias Jansson are a formidable songwriting team, bringing "The Great Escape" and "Wake up the World" to…

  • REVOLTED MASSES – Age of Descent

    Hailing from Athens, Greece, Revolted Masses started in 2008 and have released a couple of demos plus a debut album "Us or Them" in 2013 before signing to Inverse Records. "Age of Descent" is the follow up full-length, an 11 track effort that straddles the modern thrash/death tightrope in terms of attitude, caustic vocals, vicious…