2018

Tribulation – Down Below Review

By Dr. Fisting on January 23, 2018 in 2018, Century Media, Reviews, Rock, Swedish Metal, 132 comments

“Tribulation have been on an interesting career path as of late. While their early works could be loosely classified as Swedish death metal a la Entombed, the band gradually began to bring in other influences and become something else entirely. As of 2015’s The Children Of The Night, the band was taking cues from such diverse sources as Mercyful Fate and Sisters Of Mercy,, and seemed to have learned a few things from former tourmates In Solitude, with excellent results. I was curious about what Tribulation would do next, and with the impending release of Down Below, it looks like I’m about to find out.” Evilution.

Rapture – Paroxysm of Hatred Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on January 23, 2018 in 2018, Death Metal, Greek Metal, Memento Mori, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, 47 comments

“Everyone pictures themselves as the protagonist. Ask one hundred people what they’d do in a zombie apocalypse and they’ll all give you the same answer: survive. And yet, someone has to be that guy who gets mauled right near the beginning of the outbreak, or who foolishly stands near a window and is promptly eaten alive by the horde, squirming helplessly for their last miserable minutes. Nobody thinks they’re cannon fodder; that is something proven and earned by an individual. Paroxysm of Hatred, the sophomore release from Greece’s Rapture, have proven themselves to be just that.” No, not THAT Rapture.

Mike LePond’s Silent Assassins – Pawn and Prophecy Review

By Swordborn on January 22, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Frontiers Records, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 49 comments

“In 2014, Symphony X bassist Mike LePond brought his four strings of righteous fury to a new “solo” all-star project by the name of Mike LePond’s Silent Assassins, featuring (Symphony X) bandmate Michael Romeo, prominent session guitarist “Metal Mike” Chlasciak, and Alan Tecchio, reknowned vocalist of Hades, Watchtower, and Seven Witches (formerly). The foursome doled out a self-titled debut that was refreshingly powerful, while balancing potent original compositions with ultra-hooky selections from LePond and Tecchio’s erstwhile involvement in Seven Witches. Now, LePond, Romeo, and Tecchio are back as a trio with multiple guests to dole out a second helping of hard-hitting traditional metal inspired by whatever historical and mythological subjects happen to be kicking around in Mike’s head.” Mike and the Real Mechanics.

Ocean of Grief – Nightfall’s Lament Review

By Steel Druhm on January 22, 2018 in 2018, Doom Metal, Greek Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Naturmacht Productions, Reviews, Doom Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 40 comments

“As a card-carrying member of the unpaid, overworked Metal Reviewer’s Guild, I’m forced to squeeze my music listening into the small deadly spaces between a full-time job, commuting, family responsibilities and the oft heard of, seldom experienced phenomenon of sleep. This means a goodly portion of my time with any given album is spent while riding trains and subways to and fro New York City. Rare are the albums that allow me to press play and drift away into sonic bliss, removed from my commuting tedium as I’m transported to a new world. Greek upstarts Ocean of Grief have given me just such an album with their brilliant debut, Nightfall’s Lament.” Last train to Sad Town.

Deathless Legacy – Rituals of Black Magic Review

By Treble Yell on January 22, 2018 in 2018, Italian Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Symphonic Metal, Symphonic Metal, 19 comments

“A Christmas tree shorn of spectacle is just a skeleton pining for its casket. Deathless Legacy are loud, boisterous and with their untrammeled Italian bombast are hoping to capture hearts and minds with Rituals of Black Magic, but they’ll have to prove they harbor substance beyond their sparkling facade.” Of bare trees and Italian cheese.

Hyvmine – Earthquake Review

By Akerblogger on January 21, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Seek and Strike, Progressive Metal, 51 comments

“I don’t often jump into a review without even a smidgen prior knowledge of a band or genre. Usually, armed with a fine-toothed comb and a cuppa, I’ll spend hours entering a band from the promo list into ol’ Encyclopaedia Metallum researching them. Making Sophie’s choice is usually tough — I never want to do a band a disservice by not researching or placing myself confidently within their musical world. However, all the promo for the next month was already selfishly taken by my fellow staff members and so, feeling like a lonely Zoidberg in ‘Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love?’ I settled for the Los Angeles-based progressive hard rock and metal band Hyvmine (a purposeful misspelling of hive-mind).” NU LA Land.

Trespass – Footprints in the Rock Review

By Dr. Wvrm on January 21, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Heavy Metal, Mighty Music, NWOBHM, Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 11 comments

“Dad metal is a bit of a specialty here at AMG Inc., and Trespass certainly have the “dad” part down. The OG NWOBHM act cut their teeth in the ’70s alongside Iron Maiden and counted Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield among their early fans. But for a band approaching its 40th birthday, their metal resume needs some work. Footprints in the Rock marks only the third official LP of a lengthy career that, until now, has issued more compilation CDs than actual albums.” Rock in an old place.

Yer Metal Is Olde: Brutal Truth – Extreme Conditions Demand Extreme Responses

By Saunders on January 20, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Death Metal, Earache Records, Grind, Yer Metal Is Olde, Death Metal, Grind, 30 comments

“Formed in 1990 by prolific bass-slinging band whore Dan Lilker (Anthrax, Nuclear Assault, Blurring, Venomous Concept, S.O.D. & many others), New York’s Brutal Truth threw their hats into the grind ring and captured lightning in a bottle with their phenomenal 1992 debut, Extreme Conditions Demand Extreme Responses; a dead-set grind classic, now certified as an olde motherfucker. There’s something special about Brutal Truth’s underappreciated debut that sets it apart from pretty much any other grind album I’ve experienced.” The ugly truth.

Bleeding Gods – Dodekathlon Review

By Ferrous Beuller on January 20, 2018 in 2018, Death Metal, Dutch Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, 34 comments

“A new year, a new opportunity for the masses to spout some ephemeral nonsense about “living for the moment” mere seconds before they relapse into heart disease and bad decisions. While we’re all guilty of this to some degree or another, 2018 does represent a year of change for me. As I advance upon a new academic challenge, amongst other things, it also means I have to fucking move house again. However, the disturbance has motivated me to examine some albums I might not have previously, so when I stumbled upon Bleeding Gods and their second release, Dodekathlon — a symphonic death concept record detailing the twelve labors of Hercules — how could I possibly resist?” Pick things up and put them down.

Angry Metal-Fi: The Best and Worst Sounding Albums of 2017

By Steel Druhm on January 19, 2018 in 2018, Angry Metal-Fi, Blog Posts, 117 comments

“2017 was an interesting year for metal. My partner in crime, Dave-Fi claims it was another crappy year for dynamics in general, and unfortunately given the entries below, it’s hard to argue with him. However, I would counter and say that they were still quite a number of good to great sounding releases too. In fact, Dave and I had a harder time weeding out the truly terrible sounding albums from the really great sounding ones which is always a good sign.” Sound is in the ear of the beholder.