“At first glance, All for Metal seems to be a near perfect facsimile of Brothers of Metal—sans the incredibly talented Ylva Eriksson—so much so, in fact, that when I first heard them, I was convinced they were a Brothers of Metal side project. But further research, and further listens, reveal that while All for Metal may peddle the same chonky, bordering on goofy heavy/power as BoM, they are certainly their own beast.” All for spray cheese.
“It’s been a mere two years since I relieved Steel of his blood-bond to review Bloodbound, and the Swedes are already back with a follow-up to 2021’s Creatures of the Dark Realm. I enjoyed Creatures enough to feature it on my Honorable Mentions list for that year, and I stand by that, as my return listens have found the album to be as strong as ever.” Blood Eagley.
“Early on in my reviewing career, I had the honor of covering Descent of the Serpent, the sophomore record from British metal sub-genre benders Forged in Black. I was enamored by the interesting songwriting on display on that record, and I was equally impressed by the incredibly diverse vocal performance by singer Chris Storozynski. This combo of songcraft and vocals reminded me at times of classic metal bands like Candlemass, Judas Priest, and Metallica, but at other times, the album veered into modern groove metal territory. It was an eclectic mixture for sure, but it felt like taking a walk down my own personal metal memory lane. Even way back then, I knew that I would be anxiously awaiting the album’s follow-up.” Genre hoarding.
“It seems I was just waxing longingly about the power/thrash-shaped hole in my heart left by Iced Earth, and here I am again with a potential filler. Back in 2021, one of our lovely commenters recommended the then-new record Edge of Saturn by Project: Roenwolfe, and its Iced Earth-meets-Cage vibe was exactly what the doctor had ordered for me. Featuring the phenomenal guitar work of Alicia Cordisco (Transgressive, ex-Judicator), Project: Roenwolfe seemed tailor-made to quench my Iced Earth thirst with powerful, story-filled anthems saturated by thrashy guitar work and insane, high-pitched vocals.” Roenwolfe in the Iced Room.
“I love Mystic Prophecy. What do I love about them? Everything. I love the excessive machismo of their aesthetic, the over-the-top badassery of their album artwork, their delightful ESL lyrics, and the way the band shoehorns the words “hell,” “devil,” “demons,” “Lucifer,” and any number of similarly sinister subjects (not to mention album titles from their own past and classic album titles from other greats) into said lyrics. But most of all, I love that Mystic Prophecy is hell-bent on keeping heavy metal fucking heavy.” Wicked Mystic.
“I remember the excitement of hearing that Into Eternity’s Stu Block was joining Iced Earth after Matt Barlow’s second departure from the band, but while the Block era provided a few good moments, I always felt that it was capable of so much more. And after spending time with Finality, I’ve been proven correct.” Block and tackle.
“It’s certainly not unusual for me to field accusations of improper scoring around these parts, but, while I usually stand by my assessment of a record long after the review has come and gone, I’m willing to admit that I do occasionally get things wrong. Case in point: Enforced’s 2021 album, Kill Grid. I was initially enamored by that record’s furious hardcore-tinged thrash, and, at the time, a 4.0/5.0 score was a no-brainer. But the intervening years and my countless returns to the album have revealed an inescapable truth: I should have scored it higher. Needless to say, follow-up War Remains approaches the battlefield facing a nearly invincible host of expectations.” Of war crimes and MOAR crimes.
“I probably picked this promo because the band name is so similar to my favorite band of all time; you can’t spell Nevermore without Evermore! But before I tumble down a tearful slope of despondency over the loss of the great Warrel Dane, let’s talk about Nevermore sans the “N.” Sweden’s Evermore is a relatively fresh face in the European power metal game, having released an extremely promising debut in the form of 2021’s Court of the Tyrant King.” Never, ever, MOAR.
“Los Angeles band Kommand is the aural equivalent of a steak knife to the neck; when so many death metal bands are trying to become more and more complex, these guys are doing more with less. Death Age is the band’s sophomore full-length, and by clocking in at a trim 26 minutes, it’s meant to be enjoyed like a swift stab wound.” Death Kommands you.
“No More Torture may be the debut album from Seattle’s Vanishment, but the music contained within is not the product of genre n00bs. The band’s members are grizzled metal and rock veterans, and they’ve chosen a pretty straightforward thrash style for this project. Promo materials cite Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Metallica as Vanishment’s source material, and after spending time with the album, it’s hard to refute that list.” Speed merchants.
