Heavy Metal

Raven – ExtermiNation Review

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?

Band of Spice – Economic Dancers Review

Band of Spice – Economic Dancers Review

By Madam X on April 15, 2015 in 2015, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Non-Metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Stoner Rock, Swedish Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 14 comments

“Talk about discombobulating! Have you ever wondered what would happen if Spiritual Beggers (specifically the Christian “Spice” Sjöstrand era) came across a Magic 8 Ball, a Time-Out Machine (T.O.M) and a little vial of liquid black rock, and after much consultation with the 8 Ball decided to don their headbands and flared jeans and jump back to the 70s to hang out and jam with Led Zep?” Hot Tub Time Out Machine?

Tribulation – The Children Of The Night Review

Tribulation – The Children Of The Night Review

By Dr. Fisting on April 11, 2015 in 2015, Century Media, Death Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Death Metal, Heavy Metal, 44 comments

“Although they began as progenitors of fuzzed-out Entombed-style death metal, Sweden’s Tribulation has been on a trajectory towards smarter, more structured music since their second record, 2013’s The Formulas of Death. Their latest album boasts the Dio-worthy title The Children Of The Night.” Tribulation is a tricky little wicket. You never know what they’ll do next.

Kiske/Somerville – City of Heroes Review

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.

Acid Witch – Midnight Movies EP Review

Acid Witch – Midnight Movies EP Review

By Steel Druhm on March 25, 2015 in 2015, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, 21 comments

“Just in time for April Fool’s Day, here’s a real cluster-fook of a concept EP. Let me paint the picture for you. Imagine a campy early 70s horror movie about hormonally challenged teeny boppers at the drive-in on a Saturday night. That’s the night of the horror movie marathon hosted by the cheesy local rock station and their creepy radio personality. Oh, there’s also a satanic cult and a sex-obsessed serial killer lurking around, and for reasons beyond me, a early 80s hair metal band is playing. Good times are sure to be had before the axe falls, and that axe belongs to Acid Witch, the stoner doom/death act with tongue planted firmly in cheek.” Hockey masks, butcher knives and double edge axes – these are a few of my favorite things. Now die.

Where Evil Follows – Portable Darkness Review

Where Evil Follows – Portable Darkness Review

By Steel Druhm on March 21, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Moribund Records, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 18 comments

“Remember those shreddy noodlefest albums Shrapnel Records put out in the 80s and 90s? They’d basically take a guitar wiz kid like Marty Friedman and have him wank and solo through eight or ten tracks of masturbatory and self-congratulatory Yngwie worship. Since most of these albums sounded like 45 minute solos where the rest of the band went for coffee, they were never my cup of tea, but I certainly respected the talent involved. One of Shrapnel’s second-tier wank masters was Toby Knapp. After his stint on the noodle circuit he went on to found the very respectable throwback American power metal band Onward and release two very solid albums under that moniker.” The shred master hath returned to classic metal.

King Hitter – King Hitter EP Review

King Hitter – King Hitter EP Review

By Steel Druhm on March 11, 2015 in 2015, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Plastic Head Music, Restricted Release Records, Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 30 comments

“I’m sure many of you have a big soft spot for C.O.C.’s Blind album, and in that regard, I’m no different. It’s become a genre classic and been showered with endless accolades since it’s release almost 25 years ago (that metal is olde!). A big part of the album’s appeal for me is Karl Agell’s gritty, tough-as-nails vocal performance. He was by far the best vocalist C.O.C. ever had and it’s a perpetual bummer he recorded but one album with the quasi-iconic band.” Dancing with the dead is so 1991, but it’s great to hear from this guy again anyway.

Enforcer – From Beyond Review

Enforcer – From Beyond Review

By Steel Druhm on March 1, 2015 in 2015, Heavy Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Speed Metal, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, 19 comments

“The classic 80s metal sound will never go away, because bands like Enforcer still live, breathe and eat that stuff. Their entire career has been spent chasing the closest approximation to early 80s speed metal as humanly possible and when they nail it, it stays pretty damn nailed.” It’s time for your required dose of old school metal, so open up and say…Enforcer!