Dawnbringer

Hands of Goro – Hands of Goro – Review

By Steel Druhm on March 1, 2024 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 70 comments

“On a day when a NASCAR-themed album hits the mean streets, why shouldn’t we cover a kinda-sorta Mortal Kombat-themed throwback metal opus by members of Slough Feg, Spirit Adrift, and Angel Witch. Hands of Goro is a project playing a style that the members refer to as the “Third Wave of British Heavy Metal.” That’s a fancy-pantsy name for what is essentially the classic NWoBHM sound being unearthed anew in 2024, and that basic NWoBHM template composes the core of what the band delivers on Hands of Goro.” Test your might!

Nite – Voices of the Kronian Moon Review

By Crispy Hooligan on March 29, 2022 in Reviews, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, 60 comments

“There’s something about blackened vocals over trad stylings that just feels right. Whether it’s Midnight, Demiser, or Bewitcher, the juxtaposition of filthy vocals and NWoBHM leads never fails to shake me out of my stupor in the skull pit. So I was thrilled when our great ape overlord bestowed this formerly nameless n00b with Nite’s sophomore album, Voices of the Kronian Moon. Darkness Silence Mirror Flame piqued Steel Druhm’s wizened and jaded ears, but the album’s length hard-capped its ceiling. During the pandemic, have these Californians been taking Nite courses at the Steel School of Editing for Wayward Bands?” Moon Nites.

Pharaoh – The Powers That Be Review

By Steel Druhm on June 18, 2021 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 39 comments

“For a time it seemed Philly-based Pharaoh would be the vanguard of a new wave of gritty American traditional/power metal. Albums like The Longest Night and 2012s Bury the Light bristled with burly riffs and rough-hewn vocals, accentuated by super slick musicality and proggy elements. After nearly nine years without a release, the band’s forward momentum is a thing of the distant past, but that doesn’t mean they can’t drop another barn burning dose of heavy metal thunder with fifth album The Powers That Be.” Curse of the Pharaoh!

Nite – Darkness Silence Mirror Flame Review

By Steel Druhm on March 24, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Black Metal, Creator-Destructor Records, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Heavy Metal, 34 comments

“I’m an old dude and there’s no getting around it. Because of my advanced case of age, I’m much more susceptible to nostalgia-core than those younger than I, and when 80s-flavored fares are hawked, I’ll always elbow my way to the front and sample them lustily. Nite is a brand spanking new project by members of Dawnbringer, Satan’s Wrath and High Spirits, and what they’re cooking here is a rollicking mixture of classic 80s metal with a decidedly blackened edge.” Those glorious 80s Nites.

Aktor – Placebo Review

By Steel Druhm on February 26, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Ektro Records, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 19 comments

“Chris Black (AKA Professor Black) has been a living wellspring for great metal over the past decade, crafting great music with Dawnbringer, High Spirits and Pharaoh. Somewhat overlooked in his mighty repertoire is his Aktor project, which until recently only had one release to its credit, 2015s Paranoia. It was a rocking affair heavily influenced by 70s acts like Thin Lizzy and Blue Oyster Cult and it was a fun, breezy listening experience with plenty of hooks. Placebo is the outfit’s second release and keeps the basic formula intact while adding an ass-ton of crazy synth and keyboard work, making for a somewhat loony soundscape.” It’s time for your medicine, Mr. Black.

Traveler – Traveler Review

By Huck N Roll on February 25, 2019 in 2019, Canadian Metal, Gates of Hell Records, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Proto-Metal, Retro Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Retro Metal, 52 comments

“Another month, another retro band dropping an album on our doorstep. Do we need more retro bands? Actually, we need more of every kind of band, if they’re capable of writing great songs. That will be the key here, as local (to me) boys Traveler aim to blow the lid off the retro/proto scene with eight songs of caffeine-injected, high-energy metallic romps down memory lane. In this case, if that lane had a name, it would be Manilla Road (see what I did there?).” Olde but still getting around.

Professor Black – I Am the Rock Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 3, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 53 comments

“If you know Professor Black, you know he is the ultimate Motörhead fan. And I Am the Rock is his (and the world’s) ultimate study/tribute to one of the greatest bands ever.” We are the Black crew.

Professor Black – Sunrise Review

By Steel Druhm on October 3, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Viking Metal, Heavy Metal, 63 comments

Chris Black (A.K.A. Professor Black) is an entire music scene unto himself. He’s played with Pharaoh, Superchrist and Nachtmystium as well as being the founder of Dawnbringer, High Spirits and Aktor. Now he’s releasing not one, not two, but three new albums under the Professor Black brand, all on the same day, all with vastly different styles and intents. Because I’m powerful and full of Viking ape rage, I took Sunrise, which is a lovingly trve ode to Bathory’s Viking era, as well as classic metal artists like Running Wild and W.A.S.P.” Black for the Viking attack.

Hessian – Mercenary Retrograde Review

By Steel Druhm on September 13, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Stormspell Records, Heavy Metal, 37 comments

Firstly, yes, I see the classic Playstation game, Medieval badly reflected in that craptastic album art, and that makes me more kindly disposed toward the album. And Hessian seem to be my kind of jam, being retro metallers from the wilds of Portland, Maine with a bit of swagger and Devil may care attitude.” Steel gets Medieval on yer ass.

EP Edition [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By El Cuervo on December 20, 2016 in 2016, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Neofolk, Progressive Rock, Thrash Metal, 57 comments

“Another year, another influx of new readers and writers at this mighty blog. Yet compared to those previously, this year has seen a significant growth in the consistency of our posts. A sad consequence of this is that EPs have increasingly fallen by the wayside as reviews of shitty full-length albums are summarily assigned to the probationary writers with reckless abandon.” We fixed the glitch.