Manowar

Exmortus – Ride Forth Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 7, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Death Metal, Prosthetic Records, Reviews, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 32 comments

“California’s own technical thrash metallers, are a band who does everything I love in metal. They write fast songs, packed with frantic energy and rarely pushing the 5 minute mark. Their guitar work is tight, melodic, and classically influenced. Ride Forth, which drops on January 8th from Prosthetic Records, is an album that goes from zero to 90 in a split second and never drops in intensity as it pounds through nine tracks of palm-muted, staccato licks, arpeggios galore, and non-stop double-kick ass kicking (all while doing it for the Horde!).” Well, that sounds promising. But everyone knows that things are never this simple with Angry Metal Guy.

Thor – Metal Avenger Review

By Steel Druhm on November 30, 2015 in 2015, Canadian Metal, Deadline Music, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Reviews, 54 comments

“Whether you know it or not, Jon Mikl Thor is a living legend. His bizarre 40 year journey through the entertainment wood chipper has taken him to the disparate worlds of bodybuilding, live quasi-porn theater, proto-heavy metal and Grade-Z horror films. Through it all and come what may, the amiable Canadian Juggernaut just keeps smiling and flexing away, forever awaiting his big break.” The hammer will fall on all those who deny Thor’s trveness.

Diviner – Fallen Empires Review

By Steel Druhm on November 20, 2015 in 2015, Greek Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Ulterium Records, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 44 comments

“Greece loves heavy metal. This is known. From symphonic blackness to cheese-coated dragon and sandal power silliness, they’re well represented as fans and performers alike. Now Diviner joins the eternal fight to defend the faith with their Fallen Empires debut, weaponizing a kind of traditional metal with deep roots in the mid-80s American scene.” Enter the No Dragon Zone!

Unleash the Archers – Time Stands Still Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on June 30, 2015 in 2015, Canadian Metal, Napalm Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 54 comments

“If it was a bunch of one-man black metal bands before, now it’s a bunch of cheez whiz coming Count Grier’s way. Previously it was in the form of the slick The Valiant/Valiant’s/Variant/Variant’s Fire release by Damnation Angels and now it’s Time Stands Still from Canadian-based Unleash the Archers.” Don’t they mean “unleash the arrows”?

Virgin Steele – Nocturnes of Hellfire and Damnation Review

By Steel Druhm on June 13, 2015 in 2015, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, SPV, Heavy Metal, 66 comments

“There are bands you understand, bands you’ll never understand and bands you used to understand. New York’s very own Virgin Steele definitely falls into the latter category.” Steel Druhm is bumfuzzled and bewildered, and this time it’s not because of his advanced age.

Ironsword – None But the Brave Review

By Steel Druhm on May 15, 2015 in 2015, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Shadow Kingdom Records, Heavy Metal, 36 comments

“It’s hard to remain trve in such false times. Wear a broadsword into the local supermarket and you’ll get many a suspicious glance. Build an enormous stone monument to Ye Old Gods on your front lawn and you’ll invariably run into trouble with the town Zoning Board. Sacking weaker neighbors and carrying off their daughters? Forget all about it. Such are the cursed times we live in. But when the going gets tough, the trve get going, and that’s why Ironsword is so damn important.” It’s time to hold those war hammers high. Higher! HIGHER!

Unleashed – Dawn Of The Nine Review

By Al Kikuras on April 21, 2015 in 2015, Death Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Death Metal, 47 comments

“Unleashed finally perfected their sound on 2012’s Odalheim, but can they continue on this upwards path with Dawn Of The Nine or do they fall back down in the seemingly Sisyphean task of trying to remain relevant after 25 years in the game?” Midvinterbrutes!

Majesty – Generation Steel Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on March 27, 2015 in 2015, German Metal, Heavy Metal, NoiseArt Records, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 19 comments

“What makes old-school swords-and-steel heavy metal great? Is it the loveable cheesiness, the huge riffs we all remember years down the line, or the almost tangible energy that inspires us to headbang, shout along, and makes us feel alive?” I always thought it was the loincloths and fashionable sandals.

Putrid Offal – Mature Necropsy Review

By Al Kikuras on February 6, 2015 in 2015, Death Metal, French Metal, Grind, Kaotoxin Records, Reviews, Death Metal, Grind, 8 comments

“I jumped on reviewing Putrid Offal’s debut album, Mature Necropsy, like a retiree on an early bird special when I saw a lineup of three guys that may actually have a few years on me. These French gore hounds formed 25 years ago, split up five later, and dug the carcass up again in 2013.” Getting tired of juvenile necropsies? Well these geriatric gore rockers are here to make you watch Murder She Wrote and eat ribbon candy.

Yer Metal Is Olde: Sonata Arctica – Ecliptica [Revisted]

By Angry Metal Guy on October 21, 2014 in 2014, Finnish Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Spinefarm, Yer Metal Is Olde, 20 comments

Fifteen years doesn’t seem like that long ago, but at the time I was a 17 year-old who would soon be writing for Al Kikuras at the legendary Unchain the Underground and getting deep into the back end of all the great metal that was coming out of Europe. On the top of my list was my discovery of cheesy power metal. At the time I was swimming in Blind Guardian, Rhapsody, and Symphony X (not Eurometal, I know) records for the first time and really finding my footing. One day while surfing the Internet I stumbled upon a streaming radio station and heard a song called “Letter to Dana.” I was stunned. Shocked. Cheesed out. And totally in love.” Can Ecliptica Revisited rekindle Angry Metal Guy’s innocent youth? Read on and find out!