Iron Maiden

Stuck in the Filter: January’s Angry Misses

Stuck in the Filter: January’s Angry Misses

It’s becoming apparent that our filtering systems work quite well! The crew has done a fine job pulling filth from the workings and releasing the pressure to the system. A second too late and the toilets would have backed up.

Bruce Dickinson – The Mandrake Project Review

Bruce Dickinson – The Mandrake Project Review

“Between 1996 and 1998 Bruce put out two solo albums that were as good or better than anything Maiden had done since 1988. Accident of Birth and Chemical Wedding were tremendous albums with Bruce at his very best. He seemed way more inspired and adventurous as a solo artist than he was as part of 90s-era Maiden, and I wanted him to keep doing his thing. We all know how it worked out in the end. Bruce went back to Maiden and his solo career took a backseat. We now dwell in the Senjutsu era and there hasn’t been a Dickinson solo project since 2005. That all changed last week when Bruce dropped his brand new solo platter, The Mandrake Project.” Cheers of the dragon.

Exhorder – Defectum Omnium Review

Exhorder – Defectum Omnium Review

“With this year’s Defectum Omnium, it’s clear Exhorder aren’t finished proving their relevance and reinventing themselves in the eyes of their dedicated fanbase. But, with such a strong outing five years ago, will Defectum Omnium be a step forward for the band or will it be, well… a defectum?” Omnium Blatherum.

I Am the Intimidator – I Am the Intimidator Review

I Am the Intimidator – I Am the Intimidator Review

“Many music genres (metal, in particular) do love a good concept album. Be it a horror story, Star Trek and Lords of the Rings smut, or the tribulations of Spawn, metal bands (and their fans) can’t seem to get enough. You think you’ve heard and seen it all until you delve into the one-off absurdity of I Am the Intimidator. Never in my life did I expect to be reviewing a self-titled release whose concept has coined the term ‘NASCAR Metal’ in the festering halls of AMG.” Speed kills.

Stygian Crown – Funeral for a King Review

Stygian Crown – Funeral for a King Review

“The clamor of zhangu, taiko, ahuli, tabor—even the timpani in a modern orchestral context—the steady hammering of the battlefield finds a comfort, an attachment to the mallet metronome of such simple instruments. In memory of sorrow, the rhythm of death metal through one of its most bass-rumbling pioneers, Bolt Thrower, finds that war-like march not just in pounding kicks but also weighted guitar harmonies and bass-throttled grooves that stir the warrior’s heart. Stygian Crown in their idiosyncratic expression of the metal arts embodies in part that low-end fueled, sword-rattling thunder. But as the title Funeral for a King may imply, and as the Steel One himself has explored before, Stygian Crown doesn’t just riff, they doom. Oh, do they doom!” Crown Thrower.

Traveler – Prequel to Madness Review

Traveler – Prequel to Madness Review

“Calgary heavy metal five-piece Traveler received consistently favorable coverage from our beloved Huck n Roll since their self-titled debut dropped in 2019. With Huck‘s retirement just over a year ago, somehow Traveler ended up in the land ov Ken. While the hands of Steel are primed to wield this kind of heavy metal with grace, poise, and POWERS, rest assured that I am versatile, strong, and more than capable of handling these wares. Thus, Traveler’s imminent third launch Prequel to Madness earns a session in my court.” Madness meets Kenness.

Byron – Chapter II: The Lotus Covenant Review

Byron – Chapter II: The Lotus Covenant Review

“As metal spawns an ever-growing army of combo meals, sometimes it’s nice to go back to the basics. Finland’s Byron, previously reviewed here by our gone-but-not-forgotten Huck n’ Roll, peddle a brand of occult rock with dashes of NWoBHM. Led by drummer Johannes Lahti—styling himself as Byron V—the band has emerged four years after their debut The Omega Evangelion with follow-up Chapter II: The Lotus Covenant.” Tentacle tantrums.

Acerus – The Caliginous Serenade Review

Acerus – The Caliginous Serenade Review

The Chasm have been cracking skulls since 1994 with their riff-intensive, wildly creative death metal. Over the years they evolved from ass-scratching caveman death to technical insanity engineers, but skulls were always smashed just the same. Though I’ve been a fan forever, somehow I missed that The Chasm’s bassist/guitarist/vocalist Daniel Corchado had an epic/trve metal side project called Acerus and had been releasing albums since 2014. For this, I feel great shame and now I must make amends. The Caliginous Serenade is their fourth release and this one will be properly exposed to the AMG masses!” Ride of the Gorge Warriors.

Savaged – Night Stealer Review

Savaged – Night Stealer Review

“Sometimes a band offers exactly what you want. One glance at Night Stealer by Savaged gave me all I needed to choose it from the promo dump. A roaring space panther scratching a moon in front of an exploding planet? This is exactly the volume-upping, beer-downing, old man-moshing palate cleanser that I needed after a black metal review. Though Spain may not be known for such loutish behavior, Savaged are keen to stake a place for it at heavy/speed metal’s dinner table.” Wild days, Savaged nights.

Sea of Consciousness – Sea of Consciousness Review

Sea of Consciousness – Sea of Consciousness Review

“Credit where credit is due: Sea of Consciousness might be the first band outside of Napalm Records-core to don color-coordinated robes, and I think that’s just kinda neat. It’s further refreshing to see this band releasing their unsigned debut in January, rather than in the slaughterhouse of the autumn pre-awards season. I’d like to think Sea of Consciousness realizes that an early-year release gives them a larger platform by default.” Into the depths of metaldom.