Judas Priest

Receiver – Whispers of Lore Review

Receiver – Whispers of Lore Review

By GardensTale on November 14, 2023 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 45 comments

“Despite Iron Maiden being my entry point into metal, NWoBHM has never really been a mainstay in my catalog. Maybe it’s because so few bands could live up to my first flame. Maybe it’s because after my Maiden voyage, I dropped right into the rapids of melodic death metal and it took a while before I rediscovered the appeal of not having harsh vocals. Whatever the case, traditional metal frequently languished on my personal side-line, and it doesn’t deserve that. Perhaps I can make some amends shining a little spotlight on Receiver, a new band with an old sound, hailing from the ever-contested island of Cyprus.” Defend the Isle of Olde!

Primal Fear – Code Red Review

Primal Fear – Code Red Review

By Steel Druhm on August 30, 2023 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 39 comments

“When a band makes it to their 14th album, you know they’re either doing something right or they have some really incriminating photos of a record company executive in their back pocket. In the case of German’s Primal Fear, I can’t completely rule out the extortion angle, but I suspect we’ve gotten to this point because these gents know how to play classic Judas Priest-influenced heavy metal with enough hooks and charm to keep folks coming back for more.” Who ordered the Code Red??

Arch Blade – Kill the Witch Review

Arch Blade – Kill the Witch Review

By El Cuervo on August 7, 2023 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 10 comments

“Emerging from the primordial sludge of Los Angeles, Arch Blade brandishes a sound that harks back to the salad days of classic metal, blending the spirit of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with streaks of thrash metal’s intensity. Kill the Witch is their debut release, featuring an ensemble cast of father/son co-founders, a Ukrainian vocalist, and the powerful beats of an ex-Dark Angel drummer.” Dadcore.

Forged in Black – Lightning in the Ashes Review

Forged in Black – Lightning in the Ashes Review

By Holdeneye on June 26, 2023 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 13 comments

“Early on in my reviewing career, I had the honor of covering Descent of the Serpent, the sophomore record from British metal sub-genre benders Forged in Black. I was enamored by the interesting songwriting on display on that record, and I was equally impressed by the incredibly diverse vocal performance by singer Chris Storozynski. This combo of songcraft and vocals reminded me at times of classic metal bands like Candlemass, Judas Priest, and Metallica, but at other times, the album veered into modern groove metal territory. It was an eclectic mixture for sure, but it felt like taking a walk down my own personal metal memory lane. Even way back then, I knew that I would be anxiously awaiting the album’s follow-up.” Genre hoarding.

Savage Grace – Sign of the Cross Review

Savage Grace – Sign of the Cross Review

By Steel Druhm on May 6, 2023 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 37 comments

“Savage Grace are a band now relegated pretty deeply into the dustbin of history, with only a small cadre of elder metal aficionados remembering their brief but entertaining forays into speed/traditional/NWoBHM from 1983 to 1987. They appeared on Metal Massacre II in 1982, but unlike other acts on that compilation like Warlord, Armored Saint, and Overkill, they never got to that next stage of their career, though they should be famous for some of the worst album art in metal history.” Grace in your face.

Sortilège – Apocalypso Review

Sortilège – Apocalypso Review

By El Cuervo on March 8, 2023 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 43 comments

“My introduction to France’s Sortilège was their announcement for the 2020 70000 Tons of Metal. I’ll give any band announced a fair shake as I look for acts to follow around The Boat. I was pleasantly surprised by a trve 80s outfit channeling the likes of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest in their ability to knock out charmingly old-school heavy metal. 1983’s self-titled EP and 1984’s Métamorphose remain in my regular rotation and will undoubtedly please the old farts looking for throwback releases.” Olde dogs, new tricks?

Vanishment – No More Torture Review

Vanishment – No More Torture Review

By Holdeneye on March 3, 2023 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 43 comments

“No More Torture may be the debut album from Seattle’s Vanishment, but the music contained within is not the product of genre n00bs. The band’s members are grizzled metal and rock veterans, and they’ve chosen a pretty straightforward thrash style for this project. Promo materials cite Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Metallica as Vanishment’s source material, and after spending time with the album, it’s hard to refute that list.” Speed merchants.

Old Spirit – Burning in Heaven Review

Old Spirit – Burning in Heaven Review

By Carcharodon on February 23, 2023 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 17 comments

“When I shared with the slack hacks gathered in the AMG Break Room, the offensively purple artwork for ,b>Old Spirit’s Burning in Heaven, the Boss Ape piped up, “That the guy from Vanishing Kids,?” I shrugged noncommittally. I didn’t know whether it was the guy from<,b>Vanishing Kids, had never heard of Vanishing Kids and was unsure whether expression on those leathery features was a smirk or just a sign the old fella had gas again. I just wanted to revel in a group at how awful the artwork was. Denied this opportunity, I trudged back to my cubicle and started working the foot pedal that powers up AMG-issue computers to do some research.” Old spirits and missing kids.