Nuclear Blast Records

Till the Dirt – Outside the Spiral Review

Till the Dirt – Outside the Spiral Review

Till the Dirt is comprised of Atheist members Shaefer, guitarist Jerry Witunsky, and bassist Yoav Ruiz-Feingold, as well as Soreption guitarist Ian Waye and Fermentor drummer Dylan Marks. With an Atheist-heavy lineup, what can we expect from Till the Dirt? Well, death metal with nu-metal was not on my Bingo card.” Things that should stay buried.

Exmortus – Necrophony Review

Exmortus – Necrophony Review

“With harsh, deathy vocals and neoclassical character, they began harnessing their style into records of swirling, whirling, technical thrash. While many would argue the ranking of their discography, it’s hard to deny that 2014’s Slave to the Sword was peak Exmortus. This neatly-packaged album showcased the very best Exmortus can be. With two follow-up albums since Slave to the Sword, the band continued to wow and amaze with their impressive noodling. But, as suggested earlier, they’ve yet to create a concise, flowing album like Slave to the Sword.” Unfinished swords.

Scar Symmetry – The Singularity (Phase II: Xenotaph) Review

Scar Symmetry – The Singularity (Phase II: Xenotaph) Review

“It’s been a hot minute since this blog has beheld Scar Symmetry. Once the golden standard by which all melodic death should be measured alongside acts like Soilwork and Mors Principium Est that dominated the 2000s, Scar Symmetry has largely settled in the rearview in favor of young blood – always there, just rarely making it known.” Scars are forever.

Fifth Angel – When Angels Kill Review

Fifth Angel – When Angels Kill Review

“Seeing a Fifth Angel promo surface in 2023 comes as quite a nostalgic surprise for Elder Steel. As a metal-loving teen, I stumbled upon their 86 debut while on a treasure hunt at the legendary Slipped Disc record shop in Valley Stream, New York. I knew nothing of them but bought it based on the cool cover and badass song titles. Turns out it was a wise choice as it’s a smoke show of classic metal anthems in the vein of Crimson Glory and Warrior. Their 89 follow-up was also fun but moved in an unsettlingly Dokken-adjacent hair/glam direction. And just like that, they closed up shop. Somehow I missed that they reformed and dropped a new album in 2018, but here we are in 2023 and they’ve crafted a conceptual DOUBLE goddamn ALBUM!” How many angels can fit on a double album?

Overkill – Scorched Review

Overkill – Scorched Review

“If you told me back in the 80s that New Jersey’s most pugnacious metal act, Overkill would still be kicking and screaming in 2023, I would have thought your brain was rotten to the core. Yet here we are 38 years after their debut EP and along comes album number 20, Scorched! While I’ve found something to enjoy on every Overkill outing, 2019sThe Wings of War had serious issues with bloat and sometimes underwhelming writing. I harvested the best cuts and moved on, rarely revisiting once my reviewing duties were complete. As a lifelong fan, I certainly came into Scorched hoping for more.” No really, Overkill will never die.

Record(s) o’ the Month – January 2023

Record(s) o’ the Month – January 2023

January is generally known as a throw away month in the reviewing world. It’s my impression that labels often treat January as a down month following the Christmas holiday. As a result, good new music tends to be slim pickings most years. So, let’s hope that it’s a good sign that the first month of 2023 was uncharacteristically good. There was, in fact, plenty to be excited about! Keep reading to find out all about them!

Threshold – Dividing Lines Review

Threshold – Dividing Lines Review

“Since hitting the prog-metal scene in 1993, the U.K.’s Threshold have proven to be one of, if not the most, reliably high-quality acts running. Album after album of intelligent, thoughtful, and highly memorable releases reinforced their talent and knack for polished songcraft. They’re responsible for several of my favorite albums in the genre and at this point, I never wonder if a new platter will be good or not. 2017s massive Legends of the Shires was a double album of smart and memorable music that overcame the sudden departure of vocalist Damien Wilson by bringing in former frontman Glynn Morgan. I still go back to it often and may have underrated it. Five years later we get the followup and 12th album, Dividing Lines.” Never cross Threshold.