Deep Purple

Hellnite – Midnight Terrors Review

Hellnite – Midnight Terrors Review

By Treble Yell on February 17, 2019 in Hardcore, Mexican Metal, Reviews, Sliptrick Records, Thrash Metal, Hardcore, Thrash Metal, 32 comments

“During their halcyon years Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax loomed large over the thrash landscape, basking in success and spawning a fanbase so large it defied a horizon. But there existed a tier below the A and B-listers, bands like Allegiance, Heathen and Xentrix who eked out a modest existence built on solid albums supported by a coterie of eager followers. This is not a vein you’d expect a modern thrash band to mine for inspiration, yet that is exactly where Hellnite have chosen to strike their pickaxe with their debut album, Midnight Terrors.” Mine the medium.

Lugnet – Nightwalker Review

Lugnet – Nightwalker Review

By Huck N Roll on January 28, 2019 in 2019, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Pride & Joy Music, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 54 comments

“You know that crazy uncle? The one who apparently fronts some sort of sketchy 70s band? Yeah, that one. You see him at the family barbecues, usually a bit more belligerent than a man of his age should be, kind of embarrassing himself on occasion. You think, “There’s no way this dude is in a band.” Then you find yourself, against your best judgement, at one of his gigs, and you realize that whoa, he’s actually a decent singer, and he’s playing in a decent band. It goes against all instincts, but it’s true, and even though you don’t want to, you find yourself drawn to them. Well, that uncle may be none other than Johan Fahlberg, and the band may be none other than Lugnet.” Uncle Lugnet!

Hex A.D. – Netherworld Triumphant Review

Hex A.D. – Netherworld Triumphant Review

By Doom_et_Al on November 14, 2018 in 2018, Doom Metal, Fresh Tea, Norwegian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, 26 comments

“It’s a great time to be a doom fan. It feels like the genre is going through a burst of creativity at the moment. Bands who are failing to keep up, however, can find themselves left by the wayside. Hex A.D. is a quartet hailing from Norway, and their first two albums, Even the Savage Will See Fair Play and The Last Nail in the Coffin Lid consisted of fairly run-o’-the-mill sludgy, stoner doom. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but there was little to distinguish them from many of their peers. Their latest effort would have to offer something tastier than their previous platters to distract me from the doom buffet of 2018.” Take all you want, but eat all you take.

Northern Crown – Northern Crown Review

Northern Crown – Northern Crown Review

By Steel Druhm on October 8, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 44 comments

“A band’s sophomore album is the make or break moment in many a career. We all know the story: A young band cobbles together a set of original compositions then spends years honing and retooling them in live settings, finding what works and what doesn’t. Those carefully polished, time-tested chestnuts become the grist of their debut and if they’re good, all that sweat equity pays big dividends. After that they’re forced to write a whole new set of tunes much faster to meet a label’s release cycle so as to keep the unwashed masses fed and engaged. Can the rushed material equal what came before? Can two-man doom act, Northern Crown solve this riddle?” We’re going through changes.

Spacetrucker – Smooth Orbit Review

Spacetrucker – Smooth Orbit Review

By GardensTale on August 22, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Stoner Metal, Stoner Metal, 32 comments

“In recent times, we’ve had several naked space ladies adorning stoner covers, one of them cuddling an astronaut that reappeared on a third, more psychedelic interpretation. Spacetrucker pay homage to Deep Purple with their name, their favorite weed-smoking mood with album title Smooth Orbit, and a curious combination of Scooby Doo and the far reaches of the cosmos with their album art. Let’s find out whether their music is as dank as their kush.” Cruising the stars in a mystery van.

Octopus – Supernatural Alliance Review

Octopus – Supernatural Alliance Review

By Master of Muppets on April 10, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Retro Metal, Reviews, Rise Above Records, Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Retro Metal, Rock, 78 comments

“Here we are, once again, gathered together under the metaphoric roof of the Angry Metal Hall. Our ranks comprise fans of all walks of metal, no two tastes are identical and yet we all convene here to bang our heads as one. What joins us disparate degenerates as children of the Jørn? What fantastic force unites the photometers, hamsters, and screaming boxes that plague our comment section? The answer holds as trve now as in those dark days preceding the internet: it’s the riffs, stupid. This obvious answer in turn poses an obvious question: “What does this have to do with Octopus’ Supernatural Alliance?”” What a big tent you have.

Mammoth Grinder – Cosmic Crypt Review

Mammoth Grinder – Cosmic Crypt Review

By Mark Z. on January 25, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Death Metal, Hardcore, Relapse, Reviews, Death Metal, Hardcore, 34 comments

The first time I saw Mammoth Grinder live, I was wasted at a bar in Portland and had to laugh as the band announced every song as a Deep Purple track to see if anyone would notice. The second time I saw Mammoth Grinder live, I was shithoused in Brooklyn and had a Warriors-style adventure trying to find my way home on the New York subway system after the show. Point is, apparently being drunk and seeing Mammoth Grinder live is the best way to get hooked on them, because I’ve been anticipating Cosmic Crypt since before I started writing for AMG.” Fat, drunk and at a Mammoth Grinder show is no way to go through life, Z.

Trespass – Footprints in the Rock Review

Trespass – Footprints in the Rock Review

By Dr. Wvrm on January 21, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Heavy Metal, Mighty Music, NWOBHM, Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 11 comments

“Dad metal is a bit of a specialty here at AMG Inc., and Trespass certainly have the “dad” part down. The OG NWOBHM act cut their teeth in the ’70s alongside Iron Maiden and counted Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield among their early fans. But for a band approaching its 40th birthday, their metal resume needs some work. Footprints in the Rock marks only the third official LP of a lengthy career that, until now, has issued more compilation CDs than actual albums.” Rock in an old place.

Highrider – Roll for Initiative Review

Highrider – Roll for Initiative Review

By Treble Yell on September 20, 2017 in 2017, Doom Metal, Hardcore, Reviews, The Sign Records, Thrash Metal, Doom Metal, Hardcore, 35 comments

“It’s been a long and bitter journey. Fatigue clings to you like a drowning sailor; a debt accrued from the rancid marches and frigid mountains your troupe of brigands have had to push through. You stumble out from a forest that delighted in stymying your efforts to leave unscathed and come across a time-worn bridge that leads to a welcome sight — home. Before you can muster a cry of exultation a blood-curdling roar splits the silence and a gigantic blur of teeth and scales crashes down before you. A dragon now blocks your path.” Chaotic neutral.