3.5

Seven Kingdoms -Decennium Review

By Steel Druhm on January 26, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 59 comments

“Seven Kingdoms came out of nowhere in 2012 and caught nuclear laser lightning in a bottle on the unheralded The Fire is Mine, blowing me away with their righteously irresistible take on classic Euro-power (the Game of Thrones concept didn’t hurt either). That album is one of the best pure power metal platters in recent memory and one I still go back to with alarming frequency. It’s been an uncomfortably long wait for a follow-up, but now they’re finally back with Decennium and my expectations could scarcely be higher.” Winter finally came.

John Garcia – The Coyote Who Spoke in Tongues Review

By Huck N Roll on January 24, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Napalm Records, Non-Metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Reviews, Rock, Stoner Rock, 20 comments

“Have you ever gone camping, and that one friend brings his guitar to play songs around the fire? But the thing is, he can’t really play, he’s a shitty singer, and he only knows Bob Seger songs. You sit there saying to yourself, ‘I wish I was actually camping with rock legend John Garcia. That would be the best camping trip ever.’” Cold breeze, clean air….

Kreator – Gods of Violence Review

By Steel Druhm on January 24, 2017 in 2017, German Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 91 comments

“For those paying attention, 2016 was a bit of an American thrash revival with many of the 80s biggest names scoring successful “comeback” albums full of rich, speedy goodness. Hell, even Metallica graced us with something arguably worth hearing, so the pigs have clearly taken flight. Sadly, our beloved European counterparts fared less successfully, with Destruction and Sodom releasing decent but unremarkable platters. That leaves it to the mighty Kreator to right the Germanic thrash battleship and hold the Flag of Hate high as they return from a 4-year hiatus with Gods of Violence.” The elder gods are violent gods.

Crurifragium – Beasts of the Temple of Satan Review

By Dr. Wvrm on January 24, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Invictus Productions, Reviews, 18 comments

“What’s black and white and re(a)d all over? A war metal cover made out of newspapers! Stupid joke, but I bet you smiled anyway. Good news for all of you goat/Satan fans out there, Crurifragium are here to ensure you never smile again. Born of an unholy union between members of Demoncy, Astraes Pestis, and Warpvomit, these Seattleites bear all the triple-6 markings of a devil-worshiping crew looking to hail Lucifer in the best(ial) of ways.” Satan.

The Ominous Circle – Appalling Ascension Review

By Roquentin on January 22, 2017 in 20 Buck Spin, 2017, Death Metal, Osmose Productions, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 47 comments

“The disturbing rumble of old school, dark and brooding death metal is a familiar one. Burrowing, buzzing riffs, inhuman growls, and tumultuous drums and bass lines are encased in a constant, over-the-top imagery of torture and dread. But why are we so attracted to this blacker than black despair and sense of suffocation?” Embrace the horrors.

The Great Old Ones – EOD: A Tale of Dark Legacy Review

By Eldritch Elitist on January 21, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, 90 comments

“Lovecraftian atmosphere in music is a tricky thing to nail down. The number of metal bands attempting to emulate H.P. Lovecraft’s pioneering brand of cosmic horror in aural form seems to increase exponentially from year to year, and while many of them come close, most fall short. I believe this is because people underestimate how many elements Lovecraft pulled together to craft his fiction.” Feel the tentacle!

Wolvennest – Wolvennest Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 20, 2017 in 2017, Austrian Metal, Belgian Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Rock, Van Records, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Rock, 18 comments

“Back in December of 2015, Der Blutharsch and the Infinite Church of the Leading Hand released a three-track offering called The Wolvennest Sessions. A year later, a reconstruction occurred and two of those three tracks were Botoxed and sent scurrying away to a new home. At this new home, these two ditties partnered with three new friends to produce a five-track debut of ambient music clocking in at fifty-five minutes. Within this handful of tracks lies a hint of black, a little doom, and a touch of rock that sends the listener tumbling headlong down Wolvennest’s drug-induced rabbit hole.” Holes, nests – this has it all.

Terrifier – Weapons of Thrash Destruction Review

By Huck N Roll on January 19, 2017 in 2017, Canadian Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Test Your Metal, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 35 comments

“Old-school thrash metal warms the cockles of my olde, sinewy heart. Canadian thrash warms them even more. Having grown up on a Canadian thrash diet of Exciter, Annihilator, Anvil, and others, a solitary tear comes to my eye when some young upstarts attempt to bring the glorious past back to life. When Vancouver thrashers Terrifier’s second album, Weapons of Thrash Destruction, landed in my promo bin, I donned my denim vest, my studded leather wristbands, and my kamikaze headband, and I sat back in my lawn chair with the stereo volume beyond acceptable, hoping to be taken back to a simpler time in life.” WTD’s do exist!

Ekpyrosis – Asphyxiating Devotion Review

By Akerblogger on January 18, 2017 in 2017, Death Metal, Italian Metal, Memento Mori, Reviews, Death Metal, 4 comments

“The stoics believed in ekpyrosis, the yearly destruction of the universe by an all-consuming inferno. They believed that life is a cycle of destruction and rebirth. Recreation out of chaos. Ekpyrosis embody ekpyrosis through their fiery homage to old-school death metal and Asphyxiating Devotion is the unrelenting debut record by this Italian four-piece.” Burning the way to rebirth!

Firewind – Immortals Review

By Steel Druhm on January 17, 2017 in 2017, Century Media, Heavy Metal, International Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 41 comments

“Long running Greek power metal warriors Firewind have always been a reliable second-string act thanks to the capable stewardship of axe God, Gus G. When news broke in 2009 that he was to be Ozzy’s new guitar wiz, I wondered if he’d be able to keep his first love alive on the side. Immortals marks the third Firewind platter since he joined with metal’s original maniac, so it seems the man can multi-task just fine.” This Gus is on fire!