Hop in your skull tank! Break out your brewskis! We’re back with more re-thrash in the shape of Kreator worshipping Dust Bolt!
4.0
Zonaria – Arrival of the Red Sun Review
Zonaria has always been a bit of a footnote to the Umeå legacy. By the time they released their first record Infamy & the Breed in 2007, the Swedish metal scene was a thing of the past and melodic death metal—Zonaria’s stock in trade—was pretty much the red-headed step kid of the metal scene. That didn’t stop the band’s debut from making a splash and getting the band signed to Century Media—where they released Cancer Empire in 2008 to rave reviews and… were promptly never heard from again. Until now, that is.
Castle – Blacklands Review
The quientessential grower album; it’ll grow on you unchecked like Chia Herpes.
Father Befouled – Revulsion of Seraphic Grace Review
A record that’s like some very disturbed dude breathing down your neck. Probably right up your alley if you’ve also got the hots for Hannibal Lecter.
Zombiefication – Reaper’s Consecration Review
Madam X loves zombies, there’s no secret about that. It seems her zombie love includes zombie-themed bands too! Go figure.
Vindicator – United We Fall Review
You know that a trend is reaching “carrying capacity” when you’re working on your fourth review of that genre in a single week, but I thought I’d take time out of my busy avoiding-writing-a-review-of-the-new-Nile record schedule to let you know that the thrash band with the best logo since Kreator is back with a new record.
Carach Angren – Where the Corpses Sink Forever Review
Probationary scribe, the mysterious Madam X is here to tell you about the new Carach Angren and whether their symphonic black metal is more brute or fruit.
Kreator – Phantom Antichrist Review
Germanic thrash lords return to fight for relevancy, glory and the iron throne of thrash.
Ennead – Frozen Eyes Review
It is, as you all know, difficult to keep up with the number of unsigned bands that we get music from. But, usually as a matter of luck, I occasionally decide that I have time to check something out (or I’m just avoiding my work). Fortunately, I followed the link to a Bandcamp (that’s usually a thing that gets me to click unsigned bands) for some itsy-bitsy, teeny, teeny, teeny-tiny Swedish metalcore-influenced prog-metallers Ennead who are writing music better than a lot of signed acts that I get these days when they can’t even grow facial hair. Sometimes I follow links and am unimpressed and turn the shit off, saving the band face. In this case, however, Ennead snuck up on me and surprised—and impressed—the hell out of me.
Steel Assassin – WWII: Metal of Honor Review
Steel Assassin is a mighty obscure act by anyone’s reckoning. They were knocking around all throughout the 80s and 90s but could never get a proper album released. Then, quite out of the blue, they released War of the Eight Saints in 2007 and totally blew me away with their ballsy, aggressive take on American power metal and NWOBHM. It was one of the best albums of that year, but didn’t bring them as much attention as it deserved.