Machine Head

Green Death – Hallowmass Review

By GardensTale on October 18, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Combat Records, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 52 comments

“Let it never be said I’m not game for unconventional genre hybrids. Gothic speed metal? Hand me the scalpel. Power death metal? Probably just melodic death metal in disguise, but I’ll don my bib all the same. Thrash doom metal? Now we’re talking! Green Death from Des Moines, Iowa, claim they managed to inject doom, melodic death, and other scraps of genres into thrash metal. The biting speed and fury of thrash seem antithetical to the heavy-handed lethargy of doom, rousing the suspicion that the genre description is full of crap, or as they say on that side of the pond, fake news.” It an’t easy being green and dead.

Zarraza – Necroshiva Review

By GardensTale on May 19, 2018 in 2018, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Kazakh Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 26 comments

“Quick, what’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say ‘Kazakhstan?’ I’d bet good money the majority of you would reply ‘Borat’ to that question. Fact is, many of us know very little about the largest landlocked country in the world (thanks, Wikipedia!) despite the fairly major economic power the country represents. Maybe it’s because metal is not a popular thing there. Despite its 18 million inhabitants, the Metal Archives lists barely over two dozen active bands, with the only one of any prominence, the prolific classic metal act Holy Dragons. Zarraza does not intend to put up with that, nor with anything else, judging by their furious debut Necroshiva.” Thrashistan.

Kaos Reign – Epiphany Review

By Treble Yell on April 15, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Groove Metal, Reviews, Skumbagh Records, Thrash Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 16 comments

““The heart wants what the heart wants,” though trite, succinctly sums up how we’re only interested in feeding our own desires. Biases, predilections, call it what you will – this inertia keeps us in a constant orbit around our personal sun and clarifying why we won’t, or can’t break free is a sometimes elusive task. I’m no different, scratch my skin and what oozes out is a clump of thrash cells. This can be explained away by Metallica being the Vergil to my Dante, guiding me down a spiraling path that was followed by Megadeth, Pantera and Machine Head.” Reign in kaos.

Eldritch – Cracksleep Review

By GardensTale on April 3, 2018 in 2018, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 26 comments

“It’s always more difficult to review a band with an established discography when you’ve never heard of them in the first place. Such is the case with Eldritch, a prolific Italian power metal outfit with a whopping 11 albums under their belt since their 1991 inception. Allegedly, their earlier works contained such influences as Metallica, Machine Head, and Pantera, but 17 years and a few line-up changes can do a lot to a band (right, Metal Magic?) In case of Eldritch, their experience has pushed power and progressive tendencies to the forefront, settling on a sound from the neighborhood of Angra for their new release, the curiously titled Cracksleep.” Eldritch non-elitist.

Demonomancy – Poisoned Atonement Review

By Treble Yell on February 27, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Death Metal, Invictus Productions, Italian Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Speed Metal, 0 comments

“Back in 2016, Italy’s ghoulish Demonomancy released a split EP with Finland’s Witchcraft that was one of the first releases that I tackled as a scribe for the site. While the split didn’t have me feting either act I still wrangled a fair measure of enjoyment out of it, enough at least to warrant a closer look at Demonomancy’s new album, Poisoned Atonement.” Vote Hell.

Accuser – The Mastery Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 3, 2018 in 2018, German Metal, Groove Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 23 comments

“I guess it’s only fitting that I’d follow up a review of the newest Machine Head record with another long-lost thrash band. This time, it’s a German outfit that hit the scene in 1986 and has more thrash metal cred than the thrash/groove/rap-metal outfit from Oakland, CA. Even if no one has any idea who they are. Accuser’s first two records, 1987’s The Conviction and 1989’s Who Dominates Who?, are underrated thrash metal classics. The latter, in particular, is a thrashpiece that combines the technicality of Testament and Annihilator with Kreator, Metallica, and Destruction. But after 1987, the band swan-dived straight into the groove-metal pavement for the next four releases. With this nightmarish Pantera-like tailspin finally coming to a halt after Taken by the Throat. And, to no one’s surprise, the band was no more.” Thrash through the ages.

Philip H Anselmo & The Illegals – Choosing Mental Illness as a Virtue Review

By Master of Muppets on January 27, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Sludge, Death Metal, Sludge, 89 comments

“I try not to expect much from you people, but I think it’s safe to assume that one or two of you just may have heard of one Philip H. Anselmo, and this being the case you may (the ‘may’ is silent) have an opinion regarding the man. I don’t particularly care about any of that, but he definitely does, and this is painfully clear on Choosing Mental Illness As a Virtue, Phil’s second full-length endeavor with The Illegals.” Philling in the gaps.

Machine Head – Catharsis Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 25, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Groove Metal, Nu-metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Groove Metal, Nu Metal, 249 comments

“Machine Head was with me during some dark times and I was there for them. So, to say I’m a fan—or to say that they changed my life—is an understatement. But, now, 2018’s Catharsis is upon us. And, honestly, I’m so fucking confused, depressed, and speechless that all I can do is sit here quietly, wondering how much longer I can go on supporting my beloved Machine Head.” Gaskets blown here.

Heathen Beast – $cam Review

By Grymm on June 7, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Grind, Indian Metal, Reviews, Transcending Obscurity, Black Metal, 32 comments

“India’s Heathen Beast are a prolific, if obscure, bunch. Having formed in 2010, the trio pumped out an EP almost every year, detailing the atrocities committed by their local government, the nonstop pollution of their environment, and the violent hypocrisy of the various religions coexisting in India.” Grind for India.

Solitary – The Diseased Heart of Society Review

By Dr. Wvrm on March 5, 2017 in 2017, English Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, UKEM Records, Thrash Metal, 13 comments

“Why is thrash metal the de facto outlet for raging against the machine nowadays? The genre was always pissed off, but the distillate of what was once a hallowed pastime of metal at large is now brewed exclusively into the complimentary Milwaukee’s Best served at your local jean vest purveyor. Don’t look to Solitary to deviate from that. Featuring $$$, Jesus, a handgun, and some sweet, sweet H, The Diseased Heart of Society’s cover is four-fifths of the way to social commentary Bingo.” Don’t drink the Beast.