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Raven – ExtermiNation Review

By Steel Druhm on April 24, 2015 in 2015, English Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, SPV, Heavy Metal, 22 comments

“Raven is somewhat of a metallic riddle. Having been around since 1974 and considered one of the banner bearers of the NWoBHM invasion of the early 80s, as well as a major influence on the thrash genre, they never gained as much traction as one would expect. Like Anvil and Krokus, they seemed poised on the precipice of greatness, but a combination of bad timing, poor decisions and the fickle mistress that is metal fandom conspired to bring them low and deny them their due.” But they’re still here, and they can still metal. Can you say the same?

Seagrave – Stabwound Review

By Mark Z. on April 23, 2015 in 2015, Art of Propaganda, Austrian Metal, Black Metal, Reviews, Shoegaze, Black Metal, Post-Metal, Shoegaze, 5 comments

“Listening to Seagrave begets the age-old question: is it better to try something new and fall short, or rehash the same bullshit until we’re all shitting bowls of Iommi riffs and bleeding ‘retro-death metal’ CDs from every orifice?” If your orifices bleed retro-death for more than 4 hours, consult a physician.

Ereb Altor – Nattramn Review

By Steel Druhm on April 20, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Cyclone Empire, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Viking Metal, 11 comments

“Ereb Altor, the other project by the men behind Isole, are back to wage the next phase of the battle for my favoritism. I enjoy both acts and it seems with each new release my loyalty shifts, with Isole’s recent The Calm Hunter putting me back in their camp, at least temporarily. Is it moving day again? I feel so temporary.

Elderoth – Mystic Review

By El Cuervo on April 18, 2015 in 2015, Canadian Metal, Elderoth Entertainment, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 12 comments

“Mystic is a curious beast indeed, fusing prog-power with a spacey feel and Eastern-influenced, Oriental (for lack of a better word) synths. Citing inspiration from Ritchie Blackmore and his awesome work on Rainbow’s Rising in their pursuit of Eastern influences, Elderoth foolishly stacked the odds against themselves. Can you possibly believe the hype?” Blackmore laughs at you from his mountain.

Gruesome – Savage Land Review

By Steel Druhm on April 14, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Death Metal, Relapse, Reviews, Death Metal, 18 comments

“Now here’s a cannibal of a different color. Some may be aware of the Death To All tours that happened over the last few years, but for the unfamiliar, Death to All is a cover act paying homage to Death and the late, great Chuck Schuldiner by running through the greatest hits of the seminal band’s discography live. From that loving tribute tour, a loving side project was spawned. Savage Land is a new kind of tribute to Death, written to be an an album slotted between Leprosy and Spiritual Healing in the Death discography.” No individual thought patterns here, but hey, they’re only human.

Apocalyptica – Shadowmaker Review

By Madam X on April 11, 2015 in 2015, Finnish Metal, Hard Rock, Harmageddon Records, Non-Metal Metal Things, OMN Label Services, Reviews, Hard Rock, Neo-Classical Metal, Non-metal Metal Things, 26 comments

“I felt some remorse back in 2013 that I didn’t make more effort to review Apocalyptica’s Wagnerian tribute (Wagner Reloaded), an album that’s seen me through many long flights between South Africa and New York. Along comes Shadowmaker, Apocalyptica now have a dedicated vocalist as Franky Perez (ex-Scars on Broadway) takes his spot in the limelight and I get a chance to make right.” These guys lasted way longer than you expected, didn’t they?

Killer Refrigerator – The Fridge and the Power It Holds Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on April 10, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, 15 comments

“Hi, I’m Diabolus in Muzaka. You’ve probably read some of my musings on metal music in this space. I come to you today not just as a reviewer, but as a man who has been affected second-hand by appliance violence. Laugh at the cover or concept here all you like, but having witnessed a close friend’s assault by an appliance gone rogue, I see Killer Refrigerator as selfless visionaries using metal to bring us this message of our pending appliance-driven annihilation.” Honey, that appliance just called me an asshole!

Kiske/Somerville – City of Heroes Review

By Steel Druhm on April 8, 2015 in 2015, Frontier Records, German Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 52 comments

“Here we have another project band from Frontiers Records which appears to be trying to duplicate the success of the Russell Allen and Jorn Lande pairings. Like those albums, the music here is written by Magnus Karlsson, this time with the help of his Primal Fear band mate, Mat Sinner, and as usual, it walks the line between melodic power metal and radio-ready hard rock. Essentially, this is Allen/Lande with Michael Kiske and Amada Somerville standing in. How you feel about that will depend on the extent of your love for the former Helloween golden boy and the erstwhile queen of symphonic metal backing vocals (Avantasia, Aina, et al).” Do you need to take things down a notch and relax? This might help.

Arvas – Black Satanic Mysticism Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on April 6, 2015 in 2015, Aeternitas Tenebrarum Musicae Fundamentum, Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, 19 comments

“I don’t think it’s any secret that I love me some good ole fashioned black metal. I like it old and cold, trebly and chaotic, raspy and harsh. When done correctly, not even the above-average, desert temperatures can keep my spine from growing cold or force me to remove my Darkthrone hoodie.” Leave it to Satan to keep spines frosty and cold.

The Grotesquery – Curse of the Skinless Bride Review

By Steel Druhm on April 5, 2015 in 2015, Cyclone Empire, Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Vic Records, Death Metal, 13 comments

“Rogga Johasson gets more time in the AMG spotlight than any other artist (yes, even including Jorn the Mighty). With more musical projects than anyone can keep track of, the man is everywhere in the Swedish death metal scene all at once, all the time. The Grotesquery is yet another of his myriad projects, this one teaming him with death metal legend Kam Lee (Massacre, Denial Fiend) and members of Demiurg….” Dick Tracy meets John Wayne Gacy? Could work…maybe. And stick around for the surprise bonus!