Bland adult contemporary rock music with bad vocals and lots of saxophone? That’s just the way Geoff Tate rolls.
Reviews
Record reviews
The Secret – Agnus Dei Review
Alex reviews Italian sludgey black metal act The Secret and their new opus of pain entitled Agnus Dei.
Ragnarok – Malediction Review
Ragnarok is back with a new album and yet another vocalist. These guys go through vocalists like Spinal Tap goes through drummers! Anywho, Madam X is here to break it down as she gets herself in a tizzy over church burnings and other “necro” things.
Shining – Redefining Darkness Review
Shining has been a consistent favorite of mine since I discovered the band. Since V:/Halmstad: Niklas angående Niklas I have reviewed every one of their records and have witnessed a change in the band that I think is hard to ignore. Starting with V, the band has continued an Opethian evolution away from the raw, gut-wrenching emotional black metal into something less raw, more catchy and proggy (Marillion prog not Dream Theater prog). Having now dropped the numbers and donned instead an English title, (what would have been VIII) Redefining Darkness continues the band’s evolution away from its gut-wrenching roots. Were we looking for a redefinition? After the mighty VII: Född förlorare I sure wasn’t
Wintersun – Time I Review
For a few years now, the proverbial white whale of the heavy metal scene has been a new Wintersun record. After the band’s initial, highly acclaimed (some would say overrated), self-titled debut from 2004 former Ensiferum frontman Jari Mäenpää essentially fell off the face of the earth. Now, I’m not a die-hard fan, so I have not kept up with the ridiculous, neurotic, Axl Rose-like kabuki theater that apparently drove fans nuts, but the fact that 8 years later we’re getting record number two should probably tell you the torture that Jari put his fans through. Teaming up with Kai Hanto of Swallow the Sun on drums, Jukka Koskinen of Amberian Dawn and Cain’s Offering on bass and Teemu Mäntysaari of the short-lived Imperanon on guitar, Jari’s new record, what we now know to be 2012’s Time I, has teased fans for years and has ruffled some feathers. So the question is at it always is: can this record possibly live up to the sky-high expectations that the fans have.
Kamelot – Silverthorn Review
Kamelot is the Mac Daddy of the power/progressive/pomp circuit, but how will they fare without mega-throat Roy Khan at the mic. Steel Druhm puts on his Sunday best for a night at the opera and brings you his aristocratic musings.
Dethklok – Dethalbum III Review
Happy Metal Guy likes anime and cartoons and other weird stuff. Naturally, he was the logical choice to review a silly, make-believe album by non-existent death metallers, Dethklok. He also likes rainbows, puppies and ponies, but we won’t get into that now.
Between The Buried And Me – The Parallax II: Future Sequence Review
After defeating the Terminator and in part 1, Between The Buried And Me have to rescue John Connor from the T-1000 in Parallax II: Judgment Day.
Dark Tranquillity – Zero Distance Review
“Dark Tranquillity was one of the progenitors of melodic death metal and in all honestly, they’re the only original “Gothenburg explosion” act that’s still releasing good music. So how does Steel Druhm feel about their new cash grabby EP?” Look inside for his frugal analysis.
Von – Satanic Blood Review
Natalie Zed swings by for Black Metal History Month to teach us about ever-obscure, but pioneering Von and how they overcame all obstacles to release their long-awaited debut. Bring an apple for teacher!
