High Roller Records

Procession – Doom Decimation Review

By Steel Druhm on October 30, 2017 in 2017, Chilean Metal, Doom Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Doom Metal, 22 comments

“Chilean doom metal act, Procession came out of left field and surprised me with 2013s To Reap Heavens Apart. It was an intriguing mixture of Candlemass, Primordial and trve metal acts like Visigoth and Argus, brought to us by members of such diverse acts as Destroyer 666 and the late, great In Solitude. It worked well despite being rough around the edges, gritty and unpolished, and made me eager to hear more. It’s been quite the wait, but late 2017 finally brings us their third album, Doom Decimation.” Chilean-fried doom.

Hexx – Wrath of the Reaper Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 19, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, High Roller Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Power Metal, Thrash Metal, 11 comments

“There are albums and there are comeback albums. While the former can have their share of pressure and anticipation, pressure and anticipation are inevitable for the latter. Especially the larger the gap between a band’s previous releases and their comeback. Celtic Frost’s Monotheist, for example, had a ridiculous amount of hype surrounding it. The band felt it, the fans felt it. But, after sixteen years of CF silence, Monotheist arrived and left its mark. Another legend to return from the grave is Autopsy. After another sixteen years, they returned with a vengeance—proving to the world they could still be as raunchy as ever. But, why a come back?” Back from the dead with the Reaper in tow.

Schafott – The Black Flame Review

By Ferrous Beuller on August 31, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, German Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, 28 comments

“Welcome, AMG Readership, to our sanguinary sect of worship. Feel at home in our black conventicle as we anathematize all of those who oppose us. Don’t summon the Devil, don’t call the priest. If you need the strength, then conjure Germany’s Schafott, whose debut album, The Black Flame, is set to smolder the soul with classic blackened thrash.” Devotees will carve Slayer in their arm before returning to the cvlt.

Vulture – The Guillotine Review

By Treble Yell on August 24, 2017 in 2017, German Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 15 comments

“From the slightly out of focus and over-exposed band photos to the chrome plated logo that wouldn’t be out of place adorning the packaging of a bootleg Thundercats toy, Vulture have gone to great lengths to make it seem like they’ve been around for decades. Even the (rather excellent) album art has been carefully rendered to deceive, with faint nicks and scratches baked in to mimic a record that’s been manhandled and left in a crate for aeons.” Faux-olde.

Stallion – From the Dead Review

By Huck N Roll on July 10, 2017 in 2017, German Metal, Heavy Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, 19 comments

“This is a late review, but that’s what happens when you live in Canada and get eight days of summer per year: you spend all your time frolicking amongst the dandelions instead of in a darkened room blaring metal. Anyhow, this new release from Stallion grabbed my attention for only one reason: in 2013 they had a song called “Canadian Steele.”” Of Northern pride and metallurgy.

Hellwell – Behind the Demon’s Eyes Review

By Steel Druhm on April 13, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 35 comments

“On the fateful day Mark “the Shark” Shelton was begotten, the planets and stars aligned and the Prime Mover proclaimed him the Eternal Champion of Trve Metal and Ass-tastic Productions. Burdened thusly by the crushing weight of metallic destiny, young Mark immediately set about the Herculean task of putting Kansas on the map for trveness. Founding the now venerable Manilla Road in the late 70s, he’s been churning out epical, olde timey metal ever since. The band’s sound always had one boot in the 70s prog rock scene with the other in early metal (and I mean way early, like Iron Butterfly), and though the results have been uneven over the decades, much respect is owed the man.” In-a-Gadda-Manilla.

Infernäl Mäjesty – No God Review

By Dr. Wvrm on April 12, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, 28 comments

“From Kreator to Sepultura and every re-thrash act in between, this year intends to chase 2016 down and crush its skull, Whiplash-style. Now the thawing Canadian tundra has spit out Infernäl Mäjesty to bloody this party up. Exiting hibernation after over a decade, the old farts celebrate the big 3-0 with the fiery malice of No God.” Thrash as olde as the Canadian permafrost.

Screamer – Hell Machine Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on February 23, 2017 in 2017, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, High Roller Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 17 comments

“Screamer, a group of jovial Norwegian retro-rock revivalists, are putting out their third Hell Machine soon, and there’s a very particular standard by which it ought to be judged. The standard I’m referring to is Audrey Horne’s masterful Pure Heavy, far and away the best record of the retro-rock revival movement.” Mess with Audrey, you get the Horne.

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!

High Spirits – Motivator Review

By Steel Druhm on September 8, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Heavy Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Retro Metal, 84 comments

“Ever notice how we at AMG Conglomerated Blogworks, Ltd. spend our time bitching and carping about album length and the need for slavish adherence to the 45 Minute Rule? In an age when even EPs are running close to 40 minutes, it gets pretty hard to to uphold the “less is more” banner and remain a defender of editing and artistic restraint. Then in our darkest hour, Chris Black arrives with his High Spirits project.” Expectations and spirits are high.