DevilDriver

DevilDriver – Dealing with Demons vol. II Review

By GardensTale on May 12, 2023 in Reviews, Groove Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 47 comments

“DevilDriver is not the most popular band with dyed-in-the-wool metalheads. Founded by Dez Fafara after the merciful death of Coal Chamber, this outfit embodies “you’ll grow out of it.” Core screams that aren’t quite growls, lyrics full of nonspecific angst and anger that appeal to teenagers, chug-laden straightforward riffs and simple solos. The Hot Topic crowd goes wild. But as such, it has been an important gateway band to many, and in my opinion, one of the few with redeeming qualities.” On the road again.

Evil Drive – Demons Within Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on April 6, 2021 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 21 comments

“Well, the female-front beast that is Evil Drive is back. Like I’ve stated in previous reviews, Arch Enemy probably comes to mind the most. That said, the band has tried to incorporate more than meets the ears. I’m not gonna say this Finnish Five-some has solved the problem and released something special. Not quite, but at least there’s a little more variety on this new release. Or, maybe it’s that it seems like the band has finally started taking their music seriously.” By demons be driven.

Bloodspot – The Cannibal Instinct Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 17, 2021 in Reviews, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 19 comments

“Bloodspot would also like you to know that they aren’t afraid to cross genres. That said, they ain’t no atmospheric, avant-garde black metal group. Instead, this German quintet attempts to cross doom with groove and death with thrash. In the end, though, the band’s sound is closest to that of Swede-thrash outfits like At the Gates and The Haunted. But, there’s more to Bloodspot and their new outing, The Cannibal Instinct, than meets the eye. The question is, is it worth exploring?” Food chaining.

Napalm Death – Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism Review

By Ferrous Beuller on September 18, 2020 in Reviews, Death Metal, Grind, 51 comments

“It’s genuinely hard for me to comprehend someone taking a strong dislike to Napalm Death because, above all else, they represent a seal of quality. At this point in their career the band have managed to command their blast-happy frenzy and deathly breakdowns with the kind of fluidity most acts can only imagine. But experimentation has never been far from their arsenal, and new album Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism is no exception. In a career that spans excellent to reliable, the only real question is: which category does this sixteenth record belong to?” Death throes.

Saints of Death – Ascend to the Throne Review

By GardensTale on July 8, 2020 in Reviews, Groove Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 26 comments

“Come on, groove metal. I know you can do it. Elitists tend to treat you as the secondary antagonist of metal’s story, behind only to nu-metal, but between genre founders Pantera and the best bits of Machine Head’s discography, there’s still a lot of potential in this particular sound. Hell, I’ve even enjoyed the occasional DevilDriver when craving musical fast-food, which seems to be considered a heinous crime amongst some.” Groove you wrong.

Methedras – The Ventriloquist Review

By Mark Z. on December 6, 2018 in 2018, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Italian Metal, Massacre Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 54 comments

“In my younger years, extreme metal baffled me. My untrained ears were often unable to follow the complex riffs and fast tempos, making it impossible to assess music quality. To me, it was all simply fast, scary, and incomprehensible. I remember scouring metal forums for hours to learn which albums were the “classics,” only to listen to them and question why they were considered as such. If this is a “good” extreme metal album, I would wonder, what does a “bad” one sound like? In this regard, I almost wish The Ventriloquist had existed back then. Because it would have provided the perfect answer to that question.” Bad lip reading.

Zombies Ate My Girlfriend – Shun the Reptile Review

By Mark Z. on November 4, 2018 in 2018, Burning Tone Records, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, South African Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 40 comments

“Does anyone still give a shit about zombies? Apparently the creators of the next Resident Evil game are wondering how they’re going to “make zombies scary again,” and that concern is a direct reflection of the cultural over-saturation of zombies that’s occurred in the last decade or so. Thus, when I first saw the name of South African quintet Zombies Ate My Girlfriend, I rolled my eyes so hard I saw my brain. Yet when I actually listened to their 2015 debut Retrocide, I surprisingly didn’t hate it, although their brand of core-informed melodic death metal was still a little rough around the edges. Nonetheless the band’s animated riffing and general craziness made me intrigued and curious to hear what they’d spew out next.” Don’t squeeze the lizard.

Bloodstock Open Air 2018 Review

By Akerblogger on September 2, 2018 in 2018, Blog Posts, Live Reviews, 40 comments

“On Thursday the 9th of August, myself and 19,000 others descended upon the grounds of an old manor house in the heart of the British countryside for a weekend of heavy metal, drinking, and debauchery.” AMG was there. Were you?

Parasite Inc. – Dead and Alive Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 20, 2018 in 2018, German Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reaper Entertainment, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 114 comments

“Bands like Hypocrisy and Dark Tranquillity were like gateway drugs for me. I remember getting heavy into the style about a decade ago and then it seemed to run its course. And, as most of my favorite bands carry on with run-of-the-mill material, while others—like Soilwork, Arch Enemy, and In Flames—continue to bore me to fucking death, it’s become even more clear that I’ve fallen away from the genre. So, in hopes of rekindling some of those flames, I grabbed Parasite Inc.’s Dead and Alive. What the hell was I thinking?” The Doc has worms.

Decapitated – Anticult Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on July 14, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Nuclear Blast, Polish Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, Groove Metal, 70 comments

“There’s album artwork and then there’s album artwork. The latter is the kind that speaks to you the moment you pick it up. It’s the kind that—in conjunction with the album title—conveys every hidden detail beyond its glossy surface. Beyond the praying hands to my left—forced together in the most submissive way—is post-Vitek Decapitated. A band I’ve had a hard time understanding since Vitek passed in 2007.” Decapitation, love and understanding.