Black Sabbath

90s Metal Weirdness: G/Z/R – Plastic Planet

By Dr. Fisting on January 29, 2017 in 90s Metal Weirdness, Alt-Metal, 49 comments

“Cast your minds back to a time when metal music was not cool. Nay, indeed, a time when metal was anathema to all that was considered to be “chic” and “in.” A time when your favorite bands were actually encouraged by the music industry to play slower, cut their hair, and write sensitive lyrics about their childhoods. Yes, this unfortunately really happened. Our semi-irregular feature “90s Metal Weirdness” focuses on albums released between 1992 and 2001 and which we all probably would rather forget. But in the service of publicly shaming the musicians involved, we have pushed forward.” Next up: G/Z/R!

Dunsmuir – Dunsmuir [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Saunders on January 6, 2017 in 2016, American Metal, Doom Metal, Hall of Records, Rock, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Doom Metal, 11 comments

“Considering their impressive all star line-up, the debut self-titled LP from Dunsmuir seemed to fly under the radar rather curiously. The freshly minted rock project featuring Dave Bone (The Company Band), Brad Davis (Fu Manchu), Vinnie Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio) and none other than legendary Clutch frontman Neil Fallon released a consistently solid debut album worthy of your attention.” How the hell did we miss this?

Lightning Strikes – Lightning Strikes Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 21, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Pure Legend Records, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 36 comments

“Well, the US presidential elections are over. And no matter how hard I tried to write and edit reviews last night, I could not ignore the votes rolling in. Sure, the half-bottle of bourbon didn’t help my focus either, but you can’t blame me for trying to take the edge off. After a long night of suspense and bewilderment, this morning finds a fog encasing the house as I wait for a sunrise they tell me should arrive.” To the 80s we must flee!

Quartz – Fear No Evil Review

By Lord Lucan on October 31, 2016 in 2016, English Metal, Heavy Metal, High Roller Records, NWOBHM, Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 31 comments

“Stylistically Quartz play traditional heavy metal in the vein of Judas Priest and Saxon, and Fear No Evil has a distinctively old school flavor. Everything about it, from the chord progressions and melodies to the warm, uncomplicated production sounds as though it was pulled straight from the early ‘80s, lending it a reassuringly authentic quality, and first impressions are positive.” Retro, Shaggy!

Vornth – Black Pyres Review

By Mark Z. on October 28, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Iron Tyrant Records, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 18 comments

“Formed in 2000, this quartet mulled about in obscurity for years, releasing only a demo and an EP before their self-titled debut in 2013. Sophomore LP Black Pyres shows these thrashers continuing to cook up Destruction riffs filtered through the blackened savagery of fellow Swedes Nifelheim.” File under: The Revenge of Black Phillip.

Istvan – Istvan Review

By Zephyrus on October 23, 2016 in 2016, Aural Music, Doom Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, 16 comments

“Not once have I ever blasted the roach or taken a toke. I have never smoked the bowl, nor have I mowed the grass. I puffed a magic dragon once, but I’m pretty sure that was in kindergarten and isn’t relevant to the discussion at hand. Yet, for some reason, I’ve always been drawn to stoner rock and metal. Is being stoned a prerequisite to proper enjoyment of the genre?” No grass, no pass.

Witchskull – The Vast Electric Dark Review

By Huck N Roll on September 29, 2016 in 2016, Australian Metal, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Proto-Metal, Reviews, Ripple Music, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, 19 comments

“Witchskull are new to the scene, having been born in 2014 way down in Australia, but they are old and wizened like the Huckster and they’ve got a hard-on for all things Black Sabbath and NWOBHM. Can they stand out from the crowd, or are they destined for the dustbins?” Witches and skulls together at last.

Wretch – Wretch Review

By Treble Yell on September 15, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Bad Omen Records, Doom Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 23 comments

“Of the wavelengths split from heavy metal’s prism, doom is the color that can most clearly trace its path back to Black Sabbath. Down-tuned riffs, fuzzed-out solos and a bottom end that would make Sir Mix-a-lot dab the sweat from his brow, today’s doom acts unabashedly carry the flame first lit by Messrs Iommi, Ward, Butler and Osborne. The danger in this familiarity is that some bands struggle to escape their progenitor’s orbit and end up as pale imitators rather than carving out a space of their own.” Doom space is tough to come by these days.

The Wounded Kings – Visions in Bone Review

By Roquentin on August 22, 2016 in 2016, Candlelight Records, Doom Metal, English Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Spinefarm, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, 28 comments

“Rest in hazy, gloomy peace, The Wounded Kings. A picture of a tombstone, a few words on Facebook, and we we’re left robbed of an illustrious specimen of progressive, psychedelic doom metal, condemned to finding solace in the five praiseworthy full-lengths and several smaller releases they recorded.” It’s with heavy hearts and a pocket full of doom that we wish The Wounded Kings farewell…

Spirit Adrift – Chained to Oblivion Review

By Grymm on August 7, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Doom Metal, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Doom Metal, 28 comments

“Everyone and their second cousin (twice removed) knows by now that there’s a glut of one-man black metal bands. You have a guitar, a barely functional computer, a mic, and some time to kill? That’s a perfect recipe to stave off boredom for at least a few months (or days, if you’re Vardan). One-man doom metal, though? That requires some serious time, dedication, and at least a decent knowledge of every instrument possible.” Bring forth the sad loner!