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"Carved Into Stone" is the best Prong release since "Cleansing," and maybe the band's finest record to date. In essence, the album's color collects an impressive smorgasbord of almost every era of the group's adventures, only now the kinks or minor complaints are tweaked and ready to roll.
- Read the full Prong - Carved Into Stone review
Thanks to the work of legitimate record labels and informed metalheads, buried artifacts like "Inside the Unreal" are awakened from their timeless slumber, ready to feast and maul on fools that dare investigate the hidden chambers of death metal's forgotten creed.
- Read the full Electrocution - Inside the Unreal review
Bejelit have a remarkably satisfying chemistry which smoothly breaks down and reconstructs numerous techniques and traits into genuine pieces which easily soar above the status quo of power metal's norms and expectations.
- Read the full Bejelit - Emerge review
Something like this is simply inexcusable. How a group like Burning Point that released a cluster of full-length albums and had years to expand on their sound and identity could release something so lifeless and tepid is beyond any reasoning I'm familiar with.
- Read the full Burning Point - The Ignitor review
While not the best piece of melodic death metal available, "Exceptions of the Rebellions" causes an adequate dent in its scene, but not the nuclear devastation it had the potential to make.
- Read the full Assault - Exceptions of the Rebellions review
Jolly Roger rots a little faster now that this has a place in the captain's quarters, and its presence casts a thousand shadows on Running Wild. A thousand rainbow, fruity, dancing shadows.
- Read the full Running Wild - Shadowmaker review
Any thrash band can mirror and replicate a release like "Point of No Return" with little trouble, and that's why I'll stick to "Time is Up" instead of this semi-useless EP.
- Read the full Havok - Point of No Return review
Sedition is like that scene in The Exorcist where a possessed Linda Blair projectile vomits onto a priest. Blasphemous and brutal, it's as in-your-face as death metal gets. More importantly, it marks Hour of Penance's most calculated assault on the senses yet.
- Read the full Hour of Penance - Sedition review
With approval coming from just about every orifice of death, Church of Misery has officially earned an important role in doom metal as its unstoppable badass.
- Read the full Church of Misery - The Second Coming review
Expecting something on par with the self-titled album would be a little much, but fans of the band will no doubt cherish "As Above, So Below" as a warm, fruitful endeavor which excellently portrays the mysticism and might of Angel Witch.
- Read the full Angel Witch - As Above, So Below review
"The Arts of Destruction" has the girth and fire to match Desaster's filling discography and fundamentally represents everything a metal band of this creed should. It's not for the weak or feeble though, so don't think about this if you can't handle a touch of darkness and a little sacrificial rites on the side.
- Read the full Desaster - The Arts of Destruction review
Cannibal Corpse has penned probably the most attractive collection of hacking madness since George Fisher joined the squad. Not only do the songs ride a wider spectrum of originality, the technicality and prose has been upgraded into a psychotic feat of ravenous death metal chewing and gnawing on the severed limbs of the weak.
- Read the full Cannibal Corpse - Torture review
Open your arms to this strange yet bewildering faction and let them take you to another dimension that only Pozoj can visualize.
- Read the full Johann Wolfgang Pozoj - Escape of Pozoj review
"Sympathetic Resonance" is a monument to the consistency and impeccable chemistry of John Arch and Jim Matheos, unified here in sublime grace. You are kicking yourself in the face if you remotely enjoy progressive metal and have not yet been whisked away by the magic of "Sympathetic Resonance."
- Read the full Arch/Matheos - Sympathetic Resonance review
Although Charred Walls of the Damned has established a fantastic identity, this is hardly the work of veteran musicians coming together for something completely unique and perplexing.
- Read the full Charred Walls of the Damned - Cold Winds on Timeless Days review
Essentially, "K2" is just a boring release. It vapidly retraces itself without proving anything relevant or worthwhile, and Adimiron applies a plethora of odd rhythms and sequences to create an interesting product, yet there's little accomplished overall.
- Read the full Adimiron - K2 review
Having made waves around the metal underground from the residue of some successful tours and a few critically-acclaimed releases, Skeletonwitch continues the diabolical madness throughout "Forever Abomination".
- Read the full Skeletonwitch - Forever Abomination review
Overall, this release completely rules by any measure or scale, a true testament to the group's impeccable longevity and originality reaching a new prime over three decades after the conception of what would be Corrosion of Conformity.
- Read the full Corrosion of Conformity review
Just when Uranus thought kids were the worst, his very own Cronus somehow obtained a sickle and severed his testicles in one foul swoop of indecency.
- Read the full Nekromantheon - Rise, Vulcan Spectre review
A long time ago in a heavenly kingdom quite far from our domain, there was a cigarette-smoking angel that was always a little too drunk and vulgar for the inhabitants of paradise. One day, the angel started to play the guitar.
- Read the full Mpire of Evil - Hell to the Holy review
"On the Coming of Darkness" features a few anonymous dudes that apparently belong to some of the best and brightest (sorry, darkest) black metal bands around. Hearing the debut of Nine Covens would unfortunately conjure quite the opposite assumption.
- Read the full Nine Covens - On the Coming of Darkness review
Not a single moment of this glorious piece goes to waste, and time and time again it holds up to consistent standards and demonstrates the prime features of black metal without adding useless influences or traps most of the population falls into.
- Read the full Lord of Pagathorn - Msilihporcen review
When it comes to Mystic Prophecy, you get exactly what you pay for. I bought "Regressus" many moons ago on a random purchase and never looked back; they had me hooked by "Lords of Pain."
- Read the full Mystic Prophecy - Ravenlord review
A vapid demonstration of hard rock/heavy metal grinded down into a piece-by-piece effort that follows all the rules and does its best to be something it clearly isn't.
- Read the full Vengeance - Crystal Eye review
Acherontas comes from the charred remains of Stutthof and they've made quite a name for themselves in the metal underground with their sinister torches of Satan's black flame burning above a moonless gathering of dark souls and chanting robes
- Read the full Acherontas - Vamachara review
The journey is dark and fulfilling, a promising testament of unparalleled dominance crashing against the unconscious droning of evil souls producing evil music with the craziest of intentions.
- Read the full Hail Spirit Noir - Pneuma review
"Decadence" could’ve been a force that completely reinvented melodic death metal into an unstoppable locomotive, but Nothnegal quickly lost their velocity and was desperately running on fumes rather than producing worthwhile substance. Melodic death metal fans might want a slice of this, but expecting the world in a disc would be gravely foolish.
- Read the full Nothnegal - Decadence review
In an ocean of average black/death metal factions, Vomiting Skulls mildly sticks out, perhaps just stalking the feeble prey and waiting for the right time to strike the unsuspecting prowlers of the black/death metal frontier, and that makes Vomiting Skulls' personality that much more attractive in the order of the universe.
- Read the full Vomiting Skulls - Serpents Kill Slowly review
Black metal and southern rock, eh? I'm no expert, but that sounds like mixing vanilla ice cream and Mountain Dew. Known for their universal boldness, French idealists Glorior Belli have established a network of wires running between both sub-genres throughout the appropriately titled "The Great Southern Darkness," and it's actually a very satisfying experience on both ends
- Read the full Glorior Belli - The Great Southern Darkness review
"Age of Consent" sets the stage for what Virgin Steele would eventually accomplish, and that makes it remarkable in its own right.
- Read the full Virgin Steele - Age of Consent review
Most of the information surrounding the band is shady at best, and even their origin (they're French, apparently) is deeply questionable based on a lack of facts produced by empty sources and band members sitting calmly on the informational DL, so to speak.
- Read the full Rex Mundi - IHVH review
So, the apparent quest for gore and guts ultimately led to the members of Gorerotted putting the project to rest and forming a completely different one-known as The Rotted-which instead incorporates an array of influences ranging from the primary focus of death metal to d-beat, punk, and maybe some standardized heavy metal.
- Read the full The Rotted - Ad Nauseam review
I'm fairly impressed with the overall effort provided by these stern veterans of German power metal. "The Landing" worked as an enjoyable introduction into the world of Iron Savior, so give it a shot too if you haven't jumped aboard the cosmic quest with Sielck and friends.
- Read the full Iron Savior - The Landing review
As expected, a name like Vomiting Skulls features a lot of vomit, a lot of skulls, and a lot of skulls that vomit. This Finnish faction thinly balances between the dimensions of black metal and death metal in both songwriting and genetics, an authentic mixture that the band clearly restrains without any sign of struggle.
- Read the full Vomiting Skulls Self-titled Demo review
There are many questionable moments crowding the record, but none can contend with the songwriting. Every song pretty much ignites with mediocre musicianship and some generic guitar work before The Ritual engages in an overload of repulsive, deplorable choruses
- Read the full The Ritual - Beyond the Fragile Horizon review
When I first heard "Aquarius," I was not impressed. After the millionth listen, I was in love. You could call me a fanboy, or one of those annoying dudes mindlessly infiltrating message boards all over the internet, telling you, your friends, and even your dog to listen to Haken- that is a crime in which I am guilty.
- Read the full Haken - Visions review
If you've never heard of Root, you're missing out. Big time. These Czech warlords have traveled a vast path across the musical spectrum, starting out as a prototypical black metal band before eventually coming to this weird nexus of 'dark' metal with a transcendental gloss.
- Read the full Root - Heritage of Satan review
"Circle of 8" might be something to check out if you enjoy Martyr's old albums or feel like investigating a comeback release that somehow sneaked away from the radar, but still, don't be surprised if you find yourself bored beyond belief trying to swim through the mountains of filler occupying so much of this release.
- Read the full Martyr - Circle of 8 review
"Dreamtherapy" is a straightforward purge into Eagleheart's conscious influences, yet the group's compositional skills and passionate augmentations are nonetheless impressive feats from a band rapidly approaching the summit of Everest.
- Read the full Eagleheart - Dreamtherapy review
"Oblivion" is kind of like a Michael Bay film: just a lot of explosions. I know firsthand that nothing beats blowing sh*t up... sometimes, anyway. Their sheer hunger is plenty impressive, but that's not enough to truly justify Noctem’s abandonment of relevancy.
- Read the full Noctem - Oblivion review
Probably the most bothersome facet of "Carbon-Based Anatomy" is its flow and general presentation. You may notice there are six tracks in total, but only three are actual authentic Cynic anthems
- Read the full Cynic - Carbon Based Anatomy review
This album really fails to ignite my curiosity. It’s pretty much progressive rock lightly coated in a metallic skin that embraces the typical qualities of progressive music, and I think that leads to its downfall.
- Read the full Knight Area - Nine Paths review
Venom's Dolan-era material is painfully unknown, like almost to the point of criminal investigation. This EP contains the first two originals penned under the moniker of Mpire of Evil stacked against four classic cover tunes reworked to fit the gritty themes of this enjoyable project, and as I said, it is an absolute slaughter of an EP.
- Read the full Mpire of Evil - Creatures of the Black review
Proudly standing as their tenth full-length child over twenty-five years after the group's abominable birth, the album continues Necrodeath's black/thrash metal mayhem as expected, except there's a major devil in the details: "Idiosyncrasy" is surprisingly only one song.
- Read the full Necrodeath - Idiosyncrasy review
Instead of producing a captivating journey through the imaginations of poets, Old Silver Key bumps on in a calamitous, forgettable sequence of powerless shoegaze/post-rock occasionally locking in Drudkh's black metal lore with little perseverance.
- Read the full Old Silver Key - Tales of Wandering review
Every Gamma Ray record sounds different, sometimes in varying degrees, of course. Well, "Sigh no More" is the band's open-armed dive into generic hard rock/heavy metal, or the let's-jackoff-the-MTV-crowd album, and yea, it blows.
- Read the full Gamma Ray - Sigh No More review
Nov/Oct 2011
The second album of another conceptual cycle (about occultism) dubs itself "Apzu," another collection of ravenous black metal embracing the same lyrical identities its opening chapter preached back in 2009. In terms of musicality, it is an Absu album: harsh and heavy, bestial and bloody.
- Read the full Absu - Apzu review
I haven't heard a ton of ambient black metal albums in my years of following heavy music, but after hearing Wolves in the Throne Room's latest release Celestial Lineage, that will have to change.
- Read the full Wolves in the Throne Room - Celestial Lineage review
Eternal Gray will forever be known as "that one band that released their album on a flash drive." Yes, this puppy was originally distributed on a flash drive with the album's music files and extra content.
- Read the full Eternal Gray - Your Gods, My Enemies review
There's nothing better than finding an album like "Sleepers of the Rift" that is both sensational on a musical level and stylistically impeccable.
- Read the full Morbus Chron - Sleepers in the Rif review
With the magnetic tidal wave of praise that seems to become stronger and stronger with each and every Anubis Gate release pushing down on the progressive metal scheme, it would only make sense that the Danish philosophers deliver another consistent platter of poignant material.
- Read the full Anubis Gate review
The Aussie-native progressive metal battalion stretches the limits of forward thinking music throughout "The Meaning of I" with substantial qualities of the progressive metal niche gleefully embracing the band's own recipe of melodic metal and pulsing keyboards between the mighty voice of Daniel Estrin.
- Read the full Voyager - The Meaning of I review
"Immortal Soul" is a milestone of all sorts; it is a sophisticated effort based on the time and patience of Riot, not just a wonderful collection of masterful tunes. The album marks five years since "Army of One" and is the group's fourteenth full-length record overall, but that’s not all
- Read the full Riot - Immortal Soul review
This is pretty much an essential purchase if you enjoy this faction and their musical sorrow, but have not yet experienced Mournful Congregation's contributions to the handful of splits scattered throughout the band's career, which is, obviously, the focal point of the release.
- Read the full Mournful Congregation - The Unspoken Hymns review
This album certainly has some moments you’d expect to find on a Poison The Well, Misery Signals, or a Shai Hulud record but it’s blended nicely with traditional rock riffage and hard rock vocals to create a memorable sound
- Read the full Wolves Like Us - Late Love review
Archgoat is the most pleasant band on Earth. They are warm, comforting, and lyrically appropriate for your kids. Nah, I'm just kidding. Archgoat is a vile, maggot-infested masochist
- Read the full Archgoat - Heavenly Vulva (Christ Last's Rites) review
The harbingers of the so-called "post-metal" postulate were riding fairly high on creative wings after Neurosis tossed away the punk theme and shifted into one of the most radical and bloodcurdling identities ever documented.
- Read the full Neurosis - Sovereign review
Sept/Aug 2011
The Taiwanese black metal group has reached places that most of their geographical partners have not, and in the process of their journey, they've acquired a steady following that reaches way beyond the Far East location.
- Read the full Chthonic - Takasago Army review
In spite of the occasional dip on the musical end, the lyrical concept is actually pretty cool, and there are several samples regarding environmental prophecy and ignorance segueing the cornucopia of songs
- Read the full Eldritch - Gaia's Legacy review
The Axis of Perdition's music creeps, crawls, and goes bump in the night. Begun in 2001, it's a soundtrack to squalor and grime, a last gasp of dying industries and failing societies.
- Read the full The Axis of Perdition - Tenements (Of the Anointed Flesh) review
Floored, amazed, shocked...you name it, that's how I felt when I experienced "As the Truth Appears" for the first time- it stands as a monumental achievement of all sorts, a true rarity amongst the seas, and a sapphire balanced with the perfect amount of professionalism and guile.
- Read the full Divine Ascension - As The Truth Appears review
Few releases of this niche are both daring and creative, but Myrath has successfully drawn their line in the sand and forged a monstrous collection of high-caliber music, which is quite the daring feat, because now we know Tunisia means business, and it might become the world's capital of progressive metal if Myrath can continue this pristine manufacturing. Don't pass up on this.
- Read the full Myrath - Tales of the Sands review
The performances are captivating, the atmosphere powerful, and the vocalists continue to feed Silent Stream of Godless Elegy’s source of life with a pristine edge of elegance. Not perfect, but folk metal usually isn’t this good.
- Read the full Silent Stream of Godless Elegy - Navaz review
You may not be aware of Goreaphobia's legacy, but these veterans of old-school death metal have been making sacrifices in the name of Dagon since 1988.
- Read the full Goreaphobia - Apocalyptic Necromancy review
"Sculptured Humans" is a neat piece of obscurity hailing from the wretched bowels of Belgium's netherworld. Oddly enough, I found this record mysteriously rotting in a clearance box at a local record store, sold for a wallet-ripping price of two dollars
- Read the full Infernal Legion - Sculptured Humans review
Regarding "The Inside Room," my opinion has jumped each side of the fence countless times. 40 Watt Sun is the proverbial phoenix rising from the ashes of England's Warning and features both Christian Leitch and Patrick Walker of the cult doom group
- Read the full 40 Watt Sun - The Inside Room review
While conforming to the basic standards of modern metal, Battlecross has at least liquidated the bland qualities of the status quo through stable musicianship and subtle hints of individualism rasping between the group's sharpened brutality and hostile attitude.
- Read the full Battlecross - Pursuit of Honor review
"Black Masses" marks the seventh time Electric Wizard cooked up a mean batch of grade-A weed and molded the classic doom metal pulse into obscure and ritualistic themes of drug-induced destruction from the ashes of psychedelic rock and intoxicated all-nighters.
- Read the full Electric Wizard - Black Masses review
The compositions are far from tricky and lack a sense of sophistication, but Powerwolf has more grabbing riffs, tasty melodies and hooking choruses at their disposable than the average power metal faction that's addicted to excessive keyboards or stereotypical cliches.
- Read the full Powerwolf - Blood of the Saints review
Reunions are typically panned by everyone on an all-encompassing spectrum, including the fans, critics, naysayers, believers, senators and most individuals of any breed. "All Hell Breaks Loose," though, interestingly created a rejoicing period amongst Destruction fans worldwide.
- Read the full Destruction - All Hell Breaks Loose review
Listening to "Hereditas" is not a frighteningly good experience, but Desalmado knows how to bend and twist the grindcore bone even though they lack concrete originality and a degree of sophistication.
- Read the full Desalmado - Hereditas review
Variety doesn't play an important role in Heathendom's crusade, but who cares, really? "The Symbolist" is immaculate material from its exciting beginning to the epic, brooding closer which once again provides a two-faced twist on both power and doom metal- it's such a brilliant mixture that I can't even think of a metaphor to compare it with.
- Read the full Heathendom - The Symbolist review
The one barrier separating Wolverine's "Still" and the long-awaited "Communication Lost" was a five-year stretch that included much waiting and patience, but finally Wolverine's slumber ended and they released what might be their seminal album.
- Read the full Wolverine - Communication Lost review
The one barrier separating Wolverine's "Still" and the long-awaited "Communication Lost" was a five-year stretch that included much waiting and patience, but finally Wolverine's slumber ended and they released what might be their seminal album.
- Read the full Wolverine - Communication Los review
"Tnyribal," the group's debut album, captures a quick hammering of slaughtering brutality that weaves through a pathological nightmare of unrelenting sickness and depravity that most goregrind bands attempt.
- Read the full Squash Bowels - Tyndril review
Anaal Nathrakh's Passion is that rare album which justifies even the most absurd hype behind it. In a mere 36 minutes, it doesn't so much push the envelope of brutality as it does set the standard for it.
- Read the full Anaal Nathrakh - Passion review
This is a prism of unlight. A ruthless, demonic plunge into the cold arms of death, told by the blackest of scribes and channeled through an unhallowed wavelength that makes most black metal bands shiver in fear.
- Read the full Nightbringer - Hierophany of the Open Grave review
"Disensitise" is, at the very least, a proper representation of Discharge thirty years after the British band formed, with none of the nonsense of their traditional metal-era either.
- Read the full Discharge - Disensitise review
Untimely Demise stands on a swinging pillar that primarily leans on the edge of thrash metal but dips into melodic death metal territory ala At The Gates or other seminal bands of the Gothenburg equation on a sequential basis
- Read the full Untimely Demise - City of Steel review
Sure, there are many avant-garde groups that are equally screwy, but the clarity connecting the album is remarkably genuine, definitely matching or maybe surpassing the many works of Einvera's influences. When it comes to avant-garde in metal, Einvera has hit the jackpot. This is not to be ignored!
- Read the full Einvera - In Your Image review
Three reasons why Nader Sadek rules: Steve Tucker, Blasphemer, Flo Mounier. When it comes to Nader Sadek and his troops of doom, you get just what you except, and "In the Flesh" will not disappoint metalheads of any bloodline.
- Read the full Nader Sadek - In the Flesh review
Well, this may be one of those back-to-their-roots efforts, but I mean that in a bad way. I was expecting a progressive metal/rock agenda similar to Pain of Salvation or Dream Theater, but that's apparently not the plan according to Mindflow.
- Read the full Mindflow - With Bare Hands review
The weirdness that follows British stoners End of Level Boss is certainly no act of coincidence. In fact, few bands of the doom/stoner metal niche so openly wallow in the dissonant obscurity which dominates the band's corky blueprint
- Read the full End of Level Boss - Eklectric review
Demonical alternates the album's progression from trademark ruthlessness to other standards often regurgitated in death metal, such as the rolling sequences and simplistic beats of "Return in Flesh" or occasional nods to modern death metal bands like Amon Amarth in some areas as well
- Read the full Demonical - Death Infernal review
Arkan will at least create an unusual and diversified experience overall, but there's still not enough substance to prove the unrelenting strength of Arkan or its testimonies. This one probably depends on taste, but proceed with caution regardless.
- Read the full Arkan - Salam review
Obscura is at least a compelling progressive act which triggers a glowing sense of authentic technicality stacked with more riffs and mesmerizing solos than the Origins or Necrophagists of technical death metal's forefront
- Read the full Obscura - Omnivium review
July 2011
"The Murder of Jesus the Jew" sees Metatron and The Meads taking the role of the Biography Channel by telling the story of one of the most important figures in human history. The controversial album describes the life and times of Jesus himself through an hour of hallucinating black metal
- Read the full The Meads of Asphodel - The Murder of Jesus The Jew review
"The Age of Fear" won't appeal to everyone, but this underrated group has some killer tunes here, maybe enough to make newer fans realize their favorite band has been hiding somewhere in the hills of Italy.
- Read the full Necrodeath - The Age of Fear review
Leave it to Deceased to come back and totally annihilate the competition with such a shocking, thunderous, bloodcurdling display of authentic, bone-chipping metal. "Surreal Overdose" is an absolute juggernaut of a release.
- Read the full Deceased - Surreal Overdose review
Everything that could have gone right during "Unholy Cross" did. The sound it has, representing a band at their finest, is impeccable, and Johansson fills Breed's shoes as if the pressure which followed was just a dream.
- Read the full Bloodbound - Unholy Cross review
Over twenty years stands in the middle of "Unexpected Fate" and "Neurodeliri," two records from Italian thrash outfit Bulldozer. Yea comebacks happen and comebacks go, but Bulldozer's return to the gridiron conjures the image of a band not just hungry, but one clearly agitated and ready to kill everyone regardless of association
- Read the full Bulldozer - Unexpected Fate review
Want to know what band In Solitude sounds like? Mercyful Fate. Yea, Mercyful Fate. You know, the band that heaved dark classics like "Don't Break the Oath," or maybe the group that put King Diamond's banshee scaring falsettos on the map? The dudes of In Solitude pay gracious tribute to their main influence
- Read the full In Solitude - The World. The Flesh. The Devil review
The Middle East could someday be as renowned as other heavy metal hotspots for its quality of musical output. For now, The Epigenesis towers like a monolith over the competition. Melechesh are the region's ruling regents, and if they keep creating music this worthwhile, it won't be long before they conquer the rest of the world.
- Read the full Melechesh - The Epigenesis review
Blood Ceremony has a formula at hand that really could make for an inspiring and enthralling postulate, but it's the faction's poor application of these atypical ideas and lackluster song writing which ultimately makes "Living with the Ancients" a forgettable, haphazard, inconsistent release.
- Read the full Blood Ceremony - Living With The Ancients review
Everything that could be wrong with the death 'n' roll ideology is. Debauchery puts the alloy of their influences together and it sounds like a total disaster from start to finish. With something so awful, there is no sanctuary.
- Read the full Debauchery - Germany's Next Death Metal review
Eastern Front is a rare breed. Few bands can take the blast-laden black metal approach and force a flame of rejuvenation within. Of course, there are items that outdo "Blood on Snow" in nearly every category, but this isn't bad for a rookie effort
- Read the full Eastern Front - Blood on Snow review
Maybe they just like being lost in a crowd. The kings of background black metal, if you will. Overall, nothing separates "Ashlands" from groups that sound identical to Rev 16:8, and the Swedes still struggle to heave anything relevant
- Read the full Rev 16:8 - Ashlands review
Not a single riff, pattern, song or philosophy breaks out of the mediocre film covering this drawn out staple of fourth-rate black metal. This is the definition of powerlessness in music. Overall a very tepid and forgettable release.
- Read the full Horde of Hel - Likdagg review
This is probably an essential purchase for Riverside fans, and maybe the occasional prog nut, but it's not a mandatory experience. Still maybe an item of interest for the musically ambitious and those considering a brief escape from metal.
- Read the full Riverside - Memories In My Head review
Rotting Christ has towered over the Greek death metal scene for over two decades. Along the way, they've reinvented their style with each subsequent album, adopting a myriad of personas that recalls the chimera of Greek myth.
- Read the full Rotting Christ - Aealo review
Clandestine and ravenous, Ipsissimus proves they are hungry for the blood of angels, and this is definitely an album to check out if you want something both bestial and sophisticated.
- Read the full Ipsissimus - The Way of Descent review
If you're expecting "Consuming Impulse" reshaped and repackaged or a worthy sequel to "Testimony of the Ancients," forget about it. "Doctrine" is just as unexpected and abstractly calculated as any Pestilence album, but unfortunately only in its dire nature and substandard articulations.
- Read the full Pestilence - Doctrine review
Iron Dawn is thus an effective EP but hard truly loving given its teaser status. It's a promising taste of things to come but one that's tantalizing at best. Consider this a well-aimed opening salvo, but one that's part of a bigger, better battle to come.
- Read the full Marduk's Iron Dawn review
May/June 2011
"Redemption at the Puritan's Hand" marks another chapter in Primordial's ethereal journey into Celtic-influenced black metal.
- Read the full Primordial - Redemption at the Puritan's Hand review
While "Book of Dowth" is no magnum opus, Suidakra's vivid instrumentality and marching perseverance certainly shows in the long-running, folk-fused death metal of Arkadius and friends, making it the tenth full-length album of the group's career.
- Read the full Suidakra - Book of Dowth review
"A Series of Unfortunate Concurrencies" turns the sound-cramming dial past its threshold, somehow churning loads of influences from progressive rock, gothic metal, doom metal, and maybe a smidge of thrash and groove onto the band's platter of atmospheric metal.
- Read the full Scar of the Sun - A Series of Unfortunate Concurrencies review
"Origins" almost has a cinematic feel to its progression: the album rockets into a handful of blistering power metal tunes before entering an atmospheric, ethereal void of ballads and tracks deeply inspired by progressive movements, and eventually coming full-circle on the album's peculiar themes without missing a beat
- Read the full Shaman - Origins review
Oh boy, here we go again. Remember when melodic death metal in the vein of In Flames or maybe Soilwork wasn't total garbage? Yea, I'm drawing blanks too. Degradead excelled wonderfully at creating an annoying and uninteresting musical fiasco throughout "A World Destroyer," which is destined for the toilet
- Read the full Degradead - A World Destroyer review
This album knocked my socks off; it's an amazing piece from beginning to end. "DeEvolution" reunites vocalist Erik Rosvold with Troy and Jasun Tipton, an important assembly considering the trio was responsible for Zero Hour's "The Towers of Avarice," an undisputed progressive metal classic.
- Read the full Cynthesis - DeEvolution review
This mysterious creature does not have seven heads, nor does it have seven diadems for those seven heads. There isn't a collection of cataclysmic trumpets, nor do bowls of wrath pour upon the world. The Beast of The Apocalypse has, however, emerged from the Earth's bowels.
- Read the full The Beast of The Apocalypse - Henosis review
You know exactly what you get when Udo Dirkschneider comes around, and "Rev Raptor" is certainly no deviation from the dirty, driving machine of metal that the German legend forged from Odin's steel after he parted ways with Accept
- Read the full UDO - Rev Raptor review
"Point of Infinity" mirrors a sense of disappointment, similar to biting into an onion-filled cheeseburger after specifically telling the stupid bastards that made your food to not put onions on your cheeseburger.
- Read the full Obsidian - Point of Infinity review
Amon Amarth's eighth record doesn't present an end in sight for their dominance of melodic death metal. Rather, it shows that after two decades and counting the band's inner fire still burns strong.
- Read the full Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising review
This album is nevertheless a stellar slab of grim, blackened heavy metal that licks the slime off the rotting corpse of Mercyful Fate, and you'll be thrashing away the moment the howling solo which starts "Beast of Fire" sweeps you off your feet and brings you to a devilish land of heavy metal ecstasy.
- Read the full Portrait - Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae review
Consider Symfonia Timo Tolkki's self-planned coming-home party back into power metal after the dudes of Stratovarius kicked his ass out and turned Tolkki's vapid gimmicks into sensational music- see "Elysium" for additional information.
- Read the full Symfonia - In Paradisum review
This is one of the most electric acts of relevance you ever find throughout the surging fields of influence caused by old-school metal bands like Iron Maiden or Jag Panzer, now shooting through the heavens with molten flames containing all that is metal.
- Read the full Twisted Tower Dire - Make it Dark review
Consider me a critical ass that has nothing amazing to say about Vomitory. I like some of their material (especially "Revelation Nausea") and enjoy the assault they always deliver without a stutter, but that's always been too much of a double-edge sword for my tastes.
- Read the full Vomitory - Opus Mortis VIII review
"Skeletons and Majesties" is more or less a collection of material which targets longtime fans with the two rerecorded tunes before turning down a road of cliches and hardships that aren't up to par and look directionless and vapid. Die-hards only.
- Read the full Gamma Ray - Skeletons and Majesties review
It would be foolish to disregard Aborym's importance, so definitely check out their earlier works if you aren't familiar with them, but I wouldn't bother with this unless you're a die-hard follower.
- Read the full Aborym - Psychogrotesque review
Most will disregard "The Divine Antithesis" as clattering noise, a claim that isn't completely false by some measures. However, the album has a number of noteworthy moments living within its blasphemous halls that bring the estranged record to a new level of twisted brilliance
- Read the full De Magia Veterum- The Divine Antithesis review
“Blood on the Black Robe” sounds like the magnum opus of beaten bards covered in the blood of enemies, knowing they are outnumbered, outflanked, and on the edge of defeat after battling a stronger opponent for years, yet still they raise their swords knowing death will come before disgrace.
- Read the full Cruachan - Blood on the Black Robe review
I find it really disappointing that "The Great Mass" isn't anything more than acceptable music. A full-blown orchestra? Death metal? Together, like two peas in a pod? Come on Septicflesh, why in the world is this the final product?
- Read the full Septicflesh - The Great Mass review
April 2011
The bombing never fails to totally bash in humanity's face until its skin becomes ash and nothing remains but a bloody, messy pulp of gore. "Necro Spirituals" kicks bunch of ass, and you'd be an idiot to miss out on this diabolical jaunt.
- Read the full Horned Almighty - Necro Spirituals review
Demonic Resurrection sets the bar to a new low with clean vocals which are so clearly auto-tuned the record might as well been produced by Ke$ha. They should change their name to Demonic Re$urrection and just get it done with.
- Read the full Demonic Resurrection - The Return to Darkness review
In the Absence of Light isn't a perfect record, but it's the best available while Abigail Williams figure themselves out. In the meantime, most listeners will find this marked progress, but still short of the band's potential peak.
- Read the full Abigail Williams - In the Absence of Light review
"Storm Before Calm" rests uncomfortably between Primordial's "Spirit the Earth Aflame" and "The Gathering Wilderness," two opuses often labeled the group's finest hour. "Storm Before Calm" might be considered a step down in terms of substance, yet it's certainly two leaps forward in more regards than one.
- Read the full Primordial - Storm Before Calm review
Saddest thing about Darkest Era? Well, they'll immediately be herded into Primordial's pen by most based on a quick listen. While it's clear Darkest Era takes a lot of influence from their Irish comrades, "The Last Caress of Light" imprints something of a different niche that may catch a lot of listeners off guard
- Read the full Darkest Era - The Last Caress of Light review
Xerath's quantum-molesting calculability brings nothing to 'hook' the listener, while the progressive and orchestral elements hide from the 'djent' madness chugging and carelessly running head-first into odd nonsense.
- Read the full Xerath - II review
Except for the polished production, not a whole lot has changed in the Necrophagia camp, musically, at least. Necrophagia's journey is essentially a mirror of their discography, with simple, crawling riffs hacking like knifes while Killjoy does that raspy shriek-thingy he does.
- Read the full Necrophagia - Deathtrip 69 review
"Concealed" is often considered a landmark release during the "next step" of progressive death metal's lifespan. Augury assembled the brutality of bands like Morbid Angel or Cannibal Corpse and fused it with the frenzied technicality and ethereal progressivism of Atheist and Cynic.
- Read the full Augury - Concealed review
You could consider "A Thin Shell" a standard example of doom/death metal. After all, it kind of is. Nevertheless, October Tide has made a decent return after years in a slumberous state, a feat that hardly occurs.
- Read the full October Tide - A Thin Shell review
Solar Fragment makes no attempt to recreate or bring power metal into some universal sanctum that completely destroys the genre's notions, instead facing the raging bull head-on and grappling the beast to the ground with excellent song writing and a thriving sense of authority.
- Read the full Solar Fragment - In Our Hand review
Roots into the See, provides an epic journey through introspection. Mark e-mailed Alee Karim, one of the band's vocalists as well as its sole guitarist, and got the scoop on all things Atomic Bomb Audition.
- Read the full The Atomic Bomb Audition Interview
So this Nekromantheon band kicks a ton of ass. Chances are you haven't heard of these dudes, but that isn't any reason to pass over the bloodthirsty assault that lives throughout "Divinity of Death."
- Read the full Nekromantheon - Divinity of Death review
"Boundless" will tie you to the ground and break every bone in your face with its volatile, explosive, unrelenting storm of slaughtering riffs which ravenously gnaw and grind like a wolverine's incisors... you really can't ask for more in a metal CD.
- Read the full Assaulter - Boundless review
Sometimes they seem pretentious, inept, and perhaps a trifle miscalculated, but "Afflicting the Dichotomy of Trepid Creation" at least has the stamp of four dudes that aren't afraid to morph the premise of black metal in the midst of weird configurations and spine-chilling freakiness
- Read the full Pale Chalice - Afflicting the Dichotomy of Trepid Creation review
"Bleeding the New Apocalypse" is not a record anyone can easily devour. It requires substantial attention and an acceptance of the coated tunes that slice from here to infinity and stop everywhere in-between- The Project Hate refuses to obey any rules but its own
- Read the full The Project Hate MCMXCIX - Bleeding the New Apocalypse review
There's a wide divide between good and great bands in the heavy metal world. March 9's concert at the Jaxx Nightclub was no exception to this rule, the five bands on the Apostles of Darkness over America tour varying in scope from solid to spectacular.
- Read the full Rotting Christ, Melechesh, Abigail Williams, Lecherous Nocturne, The Ziggurat Live review
Slayer churns out average tripe, Venom releases the same album under a different name, and Exodus falls from attempting to fly on songs that are too redundant and long- consider Onslaught the anomaly.
- Read the full Onslaught - Sounds of Violence review
"Burial Ground" is far from revolutionary and not on the same level as the band's "Into the Grave" record or newer smashes like "Dominion VIII", but it has the riffs and might to keep death metal fans banging their heads for listens to come
- Read the full Grave - Burial Ground review
"Opus Eponymous" is as trippy as it is pleasing, although it's quite surprising to me that so few people bellyache about the group's visible mixture of heavy metal and pop rock.
- Read the full Ghost - Opus Eponymous review
Lightning Swords of Death is so focused on the haphazard side of musical brutality that it siphons the potential out of "The Extra Dimensional Wound" like a slutty chick sucking beer out of a keg, at least until the forty-four minute plod finally (and thankfully) goes into hibernation.
- Read the full Lightning Swords of Death - The Extra Dimensional Wound review
Arkhum would be very noteworthy if the weird sweeping and technical aspects of their music were placed at the forefront of their attack, but sadly, "Anno Universum" isn't as otherworldly as it appears to be.
- Read the full Arkhum - Anno Universum review
I suppose "Pathogen" earns a listenable merit, yet Made of Hate can't justify its content through the constant masturbation and narcissistic qualities emerging from the record's daft formula.
- Read the full Made of Hate - Pathogen review
At some point the release becomes too seasoned for its own good, and likewise flirts with the band's weaknesses instead of resurrecting the faulting project with memorable material. "Pentagrammaton" works for a black metal fix with the riffs and ideals to briefly satisfy the average listener, but not much else.
- Read the full Enthroned - Pentagrammaton review
Saana being Timo Tolkki's estranged dive into the unknown, deserves credit at its appropriate moments and overall theme, but something like this still pushes all the wrong buttons- something like this is just a pursuit into redundancy.
- Read the full Timo Tolkki - Saana-Warrior of the Light, Part 1: Journey to Crystal Mountain review
March 2011
I really don't entrance myself with female-fronted power metal very often, but I must say Dotma is one of the most exquisite creations to be found in this realm. This is essentially a power metal slew glazed in symphonic and gothic elements much like Epica.
- Read the full Dotma - Sleep Paralyses review
As a progressive metal band trying to gain mass in Italy where the sound seems to be the climaxing cash crop, Odd Dimension comes out of nowhere and unleashes "Symmetrical" like it's an atomic bomb filled with stardust and the Aurora Borealis.
- Read the full Odd Dimension - Symmetrical review
It's pretty damn obvious Havok loves Exodus, Slayer, Megadeth, and the remaining 80s thrash juggernauts so much that a restraining order might not be a bad idea for these legendary bands.
- Read the full Havok - Time is Up review
"Eleven Scars" brings nothing new to the genre, so instead of drowning your sorrows in this vapid soup of banality, do what I do: take some Paxil and kick life in the nuts. Actually, maybe that's just what gothic metal needs to turn its act around.
- Read the full My Inner Burning - Eleven Scars review
Alright demons and witches, grab your steel gauntlets and take cover: Jag Panzer is on the prowl once again. Harbingers of bringing the power back into power metal, Jag Panzer continue their fiery legacy throughout "The Scourge of the Light"
- Read the full Jag Panzer - Scourge of the Light review
"Glorious Collision" firmly stands as a progressive metal opus layered in riffs, keyboards, and choruses as Evergrey have done in the past, but instead documenting an emphasis on strength and incoming credit via new members.
- Read the full Evergrey - Glorious Collision review
Spiral Shadow finds Kylesa wracking (and subsequently repairing) nerves like never before. Mark spoke with guitarist/vocalist Laura Pleasants before Kylesa's Washington D.C. gig and found out what makes these Savannah, Georgia metal titans tick.
- Read the full Kylesa Interview
The Sign of the Southern Cross have a lot more to offer than what meets the eye. I'd say their core strength definitely resides within the southern caverns, but the groove essence they provide is mighty fine too, which really can't be said about many contenders
- Read the full The Sign of the Southern Cross - I Carry The Fire review
Wolf Father thus boasts black metal's defining bleakness, accentuated with death metal's slam and a focus on Norse lore. Mark Hensch e-mailed founding member and guitarist/bassist Teloch and talked about what's next for Nidingr.
- Read the full Nidingr Interview
I'd be willing to guess Astral Doors really like Ronnie James Dio, like almost to criminal measures. "Testament of Rock" is a best-of with fourteen Astral Doors songs that are, well, a lot like Dio anthems, and average ones at that.
- Read the full Astral Doors - Testament of Rock review
The Atomic Bomb Audition have fused film score scope with heavy metal marauding, the culmination being a gripping ride through vistas of sound. Roots into the See worms its way into the mind's eye and stays there, lingering long after its final echoes have been left behind.
- Read the full The Atomic Bomb Audition - Roots into the See review
Hail of Bullets have launched their second aural offensive with On Divine Winds. Thrashpit's Matt Hensch corresponded with Hail of Bullets drummer Ed Warby about death metal's past, present and future.
- Read the full Hail of Bullets Interview
Some old-school metal fans may find "Glory of Chaos" too much like Destruction or Exodus and not enough like Helstar, but that is certainly no reason to completely shun this sensational record; Helstar's demeanor is superb throughout, and certainly one many thrash/power metal fans will crave.
- Read the full Helstar - Glory of Chaos review
The sorcerers who conjured up this album may temporarily remain unknown but their music is powerful magic on its own. Its song-writing casts a spell that isn't quickly shaken, and its malevolent lyrics will frighten even the staunchest listeners.
- Read the full Ghost - Opus Eponymous review
Bloodshot essentially takes the grotesque groove from Six Feet Under, the undedicated aggression of Hatebreed, and some speed akin to Agnostic Front that, in a roundabout way, finds itself face-to-face with overt metalcore influences.
- Read the full Bloodshot - Murder the World review
"The Pestilent Plague" is far from anything original or unique, but the album never lets up in its consistent assault of blackened death metal for even a millisecond.
- Read the full In Aeternum - The Pestilent Plague review
Feb 2011
Assaulter is just one kink in a big machine that smolders and churns in the land way down under, and their wonderful debut is definitely something to check out if blackened metal strums a string within the dark abyss of your soul.
- Read the full Assaulter - Salvation Like Destruction review
A lot of things that I believe are fundamentally essential for good death metal are traded away for the genre's run-of-the-mill settlement, so it is with pride that I say their shenanigans are certainly not cheeky and fun.
- Read the full Preludium - Impending Hostility review
Wolf Father is a lean, mean disc that hits with the quickness of a raiding party and the heft of broadswords. It's six songs always go for the jugular, leaving a solid clubbing any time they fall short.
- Read the full Nidingr - Wolf Father review
"A Fragile Mind" isn't Zero Hour's finest hour, but it certainly gives radioactive testament to one of progressive metal's most unique and creative leaders furthering their sullen biography through cryptic measures and a hint of moonstruck magic
- Read the full Zero Hour - A Fragile Mind review
There isn't any reason to deny how amazing and spellbinding the marksmanship of Suidakra is through the group's rich exploration of death metal, melody, and Celtic folk music, which at this point demonstrates a unique three-part junction that leads to heavy metal Valhalla, indeed.
- Read the full Suidakra - Crogacht review
Kylesa headlined a cramped but cathartic show alongside the amp worship of Zoroaster and the punkish provocations of Fight Amp. The resulting gig - held in an expanded warehouse garage - exuded the intimacy and aggression of a bare-knuckle brawl.
- Read the full Kylesa, Zoroaster, Fight Amp Live review
Every time I pick up one of these compilations blessed with old-school death metal demos, I feel like a little kid locked in a candy store. If Swedish groups didn't produce so many great tapes back in the day, what would be the point in releasing this in the first place?
- Read the full Necrophobic - Satanic Blasphemies review
Jupiter is almost too intelligent for its own good and a long shot away from the brilliance of Atheist's youthful grace, yet definitely a solid record representing a plethora of wayward mathematics and the dynamic doldrums that once created some of metal's finest trophies
- Read the full Atheist - Jupiter review
Jan 2011
Immolation's new album proves the reigning death metal kings haven't lost their crown. It's a grandiose take on the genre, all stoicism and sincere austerity of purpose. This is must have material, despite its name, there isn't a rotten song on Majesty and Decay.
- Read the full Immolation - Majesty and Decay review
Matador is what hippies would call "far out." For starters, Zoroaster is named after a Persian mystic and philosopher. If that's not trippy enough, the group's distinct mixture of trance-inducing riffs and psychedelics should suffice.
- Read the full Zoroaster - Matador review
While definitely not a masterpiece in any placement, Elvenking thankfully evolved into a respectable faction capable of churning out cheesy (but good!) power metal, and maybe a poignant gem from time to time.
- Read the full Elvenking - Red Silent Tides review
Death Came Through a Phantom Ship slays the sophomore slump with an authority seen in few other bands. The latest from Landgraaf, The Netherlands' Carach Angren, it delivers a ghoulish ghost story backed by chilling orchestral flourishes and crushing heavy metal.
- Read the full Carach Angren - Death Came Through a Phantom Ship review
It's always been a bit strange to me how Marko Tervonen's Angel Blake was secluded in the shadows while the remaining ex-The Crown members were experimenting with other genres and inseminating virgin bands that became somewhat known around certain circles.
- Read the full Angel Blake review
The ten songs on Paracletus are a masterpiece in music and malice. Many have opened the doors to darkness but few have marched past the threshold. Deathspell Omega has gone farther than most, this album setting a benchmark for lesser acts to follow.
- Read the full Deathspell Omega - Paracletus review
The album makes for a sophisticated listen as Conspiracy alone is quite enthralling, yet the idol's shift from loud, crashing fun to an anemic choir of lightless vampirism laced in orchestration and keyboards provides something completely magnetic, albeit seemingly faulted
- Read the full Conspiracy - Irremediable review
DarkBlack's Midnight Wraith sounds like a blast from the past despite making its way into record stores this year. This short but slick EP tackles traditional heavy metal, recalling the glory days when bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Thin Lizzy reigned supreme.
- Read the full DarkBlack - Midnight Wraith review
2010 has been an eclectic year in heavy metal. None of the ten bands featured here sound alike, and more importantly, they stick out in heavy metal at a time when the genre is more crowded than ever before.
- Read the full Mark Hensch Picks The Top Heavy Metal Albums of 2010 review
December 2010
Soundtrack to the War Machine: Part II
Soundtrack to the War Machine Pt. I
The Absence - Enemy Unbound
Anael - From Arcane Fires
Burial Hordes - Devotion to Unholy Creed
Conspiracy - Concordat
The Dead - Ritual Executions
Haken - Aquarius
Holy Moses - Agony of Death
Kong - What It Seems is What You Get
Necroblaspheme - Destination: Nulle Part
Necrophobic - Death To All
Persona Non Grata - A Shade in the Light
Silencer - Death...Pierce Me
Woe Interview
November 2010
Atheist - Jupiter
Boris - BXI
Crescent Shield - The Stars of Never Seen
Hail of Bullets - On Divine Winds Review and Interview
Teitanblood - Seven Chalices
Woe - Quietly, Undramatically
September 2010
Bloodsoaked - Sadistic Deeds... Grotesque Memories
Dead Man's Hand - The Combination
Hellveto - Neoheresy
Masterplan - Time To Be King
Suspyre - When Time Fades
August 2010
Cynic, Intronaut, Dysrhythmia Live Review
As I Lay Dying - The Powerless Rise
Diablo Swing Orchestra - Sing-Along Songs for the Damned and Delirious
Nevermore - The Obsidian Conspiracy
Nifelheim - Devil's Force
Pathology - Legacy of the Ancients
Ross The Boss - New Metal Leader
May 2010
Gamma Ray - To the Metal
Heritage Echoing from Home: Getting to Know Gwynbleidd
Martriden - Encounter the Monolith
Martriden Interview
April 2010
Kreator Interview
Kreator / Voivod / Nachtmystium / Evile / Lazarus A.D. Live
Raise the Red Lantern
Sothis - De Oppresso Liber
Tribulation - The Horror
Feb 2010
Skinlab Interview
Vanmakt - Ad Luciferi Regnum
Dec 2009 / Jan 2010
Top Ten Metal Albums of 2009
The Accused - The Curse of Martha Splatterhead
Blackwinds - Flesh Inferno
Bloodsworn - All Hyllest Til Satan
Farflung - A Wound in Eternity
The Few Against Many - Sot
Funeral Mist - Maranatha
Esoteric - The Maniacal Vale
Spheric Universe Experience - Unreal
SubArachnoid Space - Eight Bells
Nov/Oct 2009
Bone Gnawer - Feast of Flesh
Dark Celebration - Phlegeton: The Transcendence of Demon Lords
Decadence - Chargepoint
Megadeth Live
Slough Feg - Ape Uprising
Aug/Sept 2009
Antigama + Nyia Split Album
Axis Powers - Marching Towards Destruction
Coffins - Buried Death
Daylight Dies - Lost to the Living
Dimension Zero - He Who Shall Not Bleed
Divine Heresy - Bringer of Plagues
Ehnahre - The Man Closing Up
Gnaw Their Tongues - An Epiphanic Vomiting of Blood
Gollum - The Core
Impiety - Terroreign (Apocalyptic Armageddon Command)
Lair of the Minotaur - War Metal Battle Master DVD
Lethargy - Purification
Lightning Swords of Death + Valdur Split Album
N.I.L.
Oren Ambarchi - In the Pendulum's Embrace
Rudra - Brahmavidya: Transcendental I
Thyrfing - Hels Vite
Trees - Light's Bane
Trinacria - Travel Now Journey Infinitely
UFO - The Visitor
Unanimated - In the Light of Darkness
July 2009
Absu / Rumpelstiltskin Grinder / Sothis / Afterlight Live
Absu
Dark Castle - Spirited Migration
Deceiver - Thrashing Heavy Metal
Kong Interview
Leprous – Tall Poppy Syndrome
Tim "Ripper" Owens - Play My Game
Sothis Interview
June 2009
Lamb of God - Wrath
Devil's Whorehouse - Blood & Ashes
Orthodox - Amanecer en Puerta Oscura
OSI - Blood
Cold Northern Vengeance Interview
Lair of the Minotaur - War Metal Battle Master
May 2009
Wolves In The Throne Room / A Storm Of Light / Krallice / Indian Live
Arise - The Reckoning
A Storm of Light Interview
Crown the Lost - Blind Faith Loyalty
Ensoph - Rex Mundi X-ile
Harpoon - Double Gnarly/Triple Suicide
Kylesa - Static Tensions
Seance - Awakening of the Gods
Sinner - Crash and Burn
April 2009
Kreator- Exodus- Belphegor- Warbringer and Epicurean Live
The Devil Wears Prada/A Day to Remember/Sky Eats Airplane/Emarosa Live
Elder
Gollum Interview
IXXI - Elect Darkness
Maegashira - The Stark Arctic
Ofermod - Tiamatu
Saxon - Into the Labyrinth
Seventh Servant (Ex-Iced Earth) Interview
Sky Eats Airplane Interview
Sky Eats Airplane
Velvet Cacoon - Genevieve
March/Feb 2009
Deathspell Omega - Veritas Diaboli Manet in Aeternum: Chaining the Katechon
Cynic - Traced in Air
Wino - Punctuated Equilibrium
Blood of the Black Owl - A Feral Spirit
Xystus Interview
Cold Northern Vengeance - Domination and Servitude
Omnium Gatherum - The Redshift
Black Elk - Always a Six, Never a Nine
Eighteen Wheels Burning - Tweak'd Out, Strung Up, and Redlined
Reflections - When Shadows Fall
Sepultura - A-lex
Jan 2009
Abigail Williams - In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns
Arghoslent - Hornets of the Pogrom
Arkan - Hilal
Beehoover - Heavy Zooo
Bible of the Devil - Freedom Metal
Bleeding Through - Declaration
Bring Me the Horizon - Suicide Season
Darkestrah - The Great Silk Road
Death Valley Dragline - Beyond the Sunn
Destruction - Devolution
East of the Wall - Farmer's Almanac
Gamma Ray - Hell Yeah
Guillotine - Blood Money
Headhunter - Parasite of Society
Lecherous Nocturne - The Age of Miracles Has Passed
Maegashira Interview
Mouth of the Architect - Quietly
Netherbird - The Ghost Collector
Outlaw Order - Dragging Down the Enforcer
Psykup - We Love You All
Soilent Green - Inevitable Collapse in the Presence of Conviction
Sweet Cobra - Forever
Those Who Bring the Torture - Tank Gasmask Ammo
Xystus - Equilibrio
Dec 2008
Top Ten Metal Albums of 2008
Closer - A Darker Kind of Salvation
Deadbird - Twilight Ritual
Figure of Six - Aion
Lord Belial - The Black Curse
Panzer Division Marduk
Noism - +
Satan's Host - Burning the Born Again
Slik Helvetika - Krypt Kicker
Voetsek - Infernal Command
Whitechapel - This is Exile
Nov 2008
Baboon Rising - Friendly Agrarian Tower
Bigelf - Cheat the Gallows
Impiety - Dominator
Marduk - Infernal Eternal
Nachtmystium and Wolves in the Throne Room Live
Sotajumala - Teloitus
Wetnurse - Invisible City
Oct 2008
Iced Earth - The Crucible of Man
Machinery
Magica - Hereafter
Marduk - La Grande Danse Macabre
The Poison Written - Devices
Red I Flight - The Years
Saint Deamon - In Shadows Lost from the Brave
Sieges Even - Playgrounds
Suidakra - Thirteen Years of Celtic Wartunes
Zero Hour Interview
Sep 2008
Dark Suns - Grave Human Genuine
Marduk - Nightwing
Motorhead - Motorizer
Ufomammut - Idolum
Aug 2008
Bassinvaders - Hellbassbeaters
Burzum Anthology
Circus Maximus - Isolate
Dantesco - Pagano
Eminence - The God of All Mistakes
Gallhammer - III Innocence
Gorgoroth - True Norwegian Black Metal: Live in Grieghallen
Head On Collision - Ritual Sacrifice
Ihsahn - AngL
Imagika - Feast for the Hated
Lamb of God - Walk with Me in Hell DVD
Marduk - Live in Germania
Marduk - Obedience
The Man from the Moon - Rocket Attack
October File - Holy Armour from the Jaws of God
Opeth - Watershed
Overkill - The Years of Decay
The Sword - Gods of the Earth
July 2008
Battleroar - To Death and Beyond
Boris Live
Canvas Solaris - The Atomized Dream
Engel - Absolute Design
Light Yourself on Fire - Intimacy
Moonspell - Night Eternal
Nachtmystium - Assassins: Black Meddle Pt. 1
Nachtmystium Interview
The Ocean - Precambrian: Protezoic
The Ocean - Precambrian: Hadean/Archaean
Sins of Omission - Flesh on Your Bones
Unleashed - Hammer Battalion
Zero Hour - Dark Deceiver
June 2008
Averse Sefira - Advent Parallax
Biomechanical - Cannibalised
Bloodbath - Unblessing The Purity
Deadsea
Deicide - Till Death Do Us Part
Unearthing the Vaults: The Electric Hellfire Club
Epicurean - A Consequence of Design
Grave - Dominion VIII
Homo Iratus - Human Consumes Human
Javelina
Martriden - The Unsettling Dark
Pharaoh - Be Gone
Shai Hulud - Misanthropy Pure
May 2008
Animosity - Animal
Cataract
Cursed - III: Architects of Troubled Sleep
Desaster - 666: Satan's Soldiers Syndicate
Dismember
Dominici - 03 A Trilogy Part 3
Emmure - The Respect Issue
Farmakon - Robin
Fueled by Fire - Spread the Fire
Futant Oblivion - This Chosen Madness
Iron Maiden - Somewhere Back in Time
Kreator - At the Pulse of Kapitulation
Opeth Interview
Progressive Nation Tour
Sevendust - Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow
Seven Tears - In Every Frozen Tear
Severe Torture - Sworn Vengeance
To-Mera - Delusions
April 2008
Down - III: Over the Under
End of Level Boss
Fight Amp - Hungry for Nothing
Nation Beyond - The Aftermath Odyssey
Voodooshock - Marie's Sister's Garden
March 2008
Aetherius Obscuritas - Viziok
Animal Mother - No Rules
Arise and Ruin - The Final Dawn
Armory - The Dawn of Enlightenment
Arson Anthem
Avichi - The Divine Tragedy
Blut Aus Nord - Odinist: The Destruction of Reason by Illumination
Demon Hunter - Storm the Gates of Hell
Fight - K5: The War of Words Demos
Majster Kat - Svarta Zvrhlost
Neaera - Armamentarium
Pantheon I - The Wanderer and His Shadow
Primordial
Rob Rock - Garden of Chaos
Sourvein - Ghetto Angel
Throne of Katarsis
Thrashing Like a Maniac
Tulus - Biography Obscene
Vader - Lead Us!!! EP
Tagteam Interview with Whitechapel
Feb 2008
Doomsayers Tour: Whitechapel- Emmure- Cephalic Carnage- Darkest Hour
3 Inches of Blood - Fire up the Blades
Behold... the Arctopus - Skullgrid
Bloodhorse - Bloodhorse EP
Blood Red Throne - Come Death
Bring Me the Horizon
Dark The Suns - In Darkness Comes Beauty
Demiricous - Poverty
DevilDriver - The Last Kind Words
The Dillinger Escape Plan Interview
The Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works
An Evening with Down
Freedom Call - Dimensions
Gorgoroth - Antichrist
Halford - The Metal God Essentials: Volume 1
Hearse - In These Veins
Iron Maiden - Live After Death DVD
Opeth - The Roundhouse Tapes
Severe Torture - Sworn Vengeance
Slough Feg - Hardworlder
Jan 2008
Annihilator - Metal
Audiopain - The Switch to Turn off Mankind
Black Dahlia Murder Interview
Colosseum - Chapter 1: Delirium
Down in Concert
Electric Wizard - Witchcult Today
Elvenking - The Scythe
Exodus - The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A
Furze - UTD
Gamma Ray - Land of the Free II
Hardingrock - Grimen
Havoc Unit - hIV.+ (Hoarse Industrial Viremia)
Intronaut - The Challenger EP
Merciless Death - Evil in the Night
Moonspell - Under Satanae
Om - Pilgrimage
Axel Rudi Pell - Diamonds Unlocked
Sol - Let There Be a Massacre
Swallow the Sun - Hope
Vreid Interview
Wolves in the Throne Room Interview
2007 Reviews |
2006 Reviews
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