Sisters of Mercy

Idle Hands – Mana Review

By Huck N Roll on May 6, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Eisenwald Records, Gothic Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Gothic Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, 90 comments

“Remember Spellcaster? I don’t, but Doc Grier loved their final album: Night Hides the World made his 2016 Top Ten(ish) List. After burning the fuse at both ends, however, the band folded. Now three-fifths of Spellcaster have regrouped as Idle Hands, led by bassist Gabe Franco (who switches to guitars and vocals here). Franco brings with him guitarist Sebastian Silva and drummer Colin Vranizan, and the lineup is rounded out with Brandon Hill on bass. Be warned, though: this is not Spellcaster 2.0. Gone are the almost-thrash, pure metal sounds of that band, as well as the Iron Maiden and Iced Earth influences. Idle Hands aim for something much different, plucking influences from the opposite end of the spectrum and assembling them into a fairly unique sound.” Devil’s Workshop now hiring!

Interview with Erinc Sakarya and Hanno Klänhardt of Mantar

By Akerblogger on August 25, 2018 in Blog Posts, German Metal, Interviews, 14 comments

“On August 24th Mantar release their third record: The Modern Art of Setting Ablaze. After setting some of our heart’s ablaze with their violent grooves and destructive aggression, I wanted to get to know how the band created and perpetuated their violent sound.” Mano a mano with Mantar.

Les Discrets – Prédateurs Review

By Mark Z. on April 21, 2017 in 2017, French Metal, Post-Rock, Prophecy Productions, Reviews, Shoegaze, Shoegaze, 24 comments

“Prepare to enter the realm of the Non-Metal. Formed in 2003, Les Discrets are a French project started by illustrator Fursy Teyssier as a way of musically expressing the concepts in his visual art. Post-black connoisseurs may recognize Teyssier as having played alongside Alcest’s Neige in depressive rock collective Amesoeurs, in addition to producing artwork for Empyrium, Wood of Ypres, and Alcest themselves.” Be less discreet, dammit!

Publicist UK – Forgive Yourself Review

By Dr. Fisting on August 26, 2015 in 2015, Non-Metal Metal Things, Not Metal, Post-metal, Relapse, Reviews, 40 comments

“If the name Publicist UK may seem unfamiliar, the band members themselves should certainly ring a bell. This project includes several metal veterans, including guitarist David Obuchowski (Goes Cube), bassist Brett Bamberger (Revocation), and drummer Dave Witte (Municipal Waste/every band ever). At this point, you’re probably thinking that this will be an incredible thrash album.” To thrash or not to thrash, that is the question.

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.

Prong – Songs From The Black Hole Review

By Dr. Fisting on March 29, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Groove Metal, Reviews, SPV, 32 comments

“Being a Prong fan can be a confusing exercise in cognitive dissonance. I am acutely aware of their many musical shortcomings, and yet I keep coming back for the awesome riffs and mosh-worthy aggression. The band’s track record with other people’s songs is pretty bizarre, and when I saw the tracklist for their covers album Songs From The Black Hole, my initial reaction was equal parts glee and dread. This has the potential to either be fucking awesome, or hilariously bad.” Read along as Mr. Fisting attacks the black hole that is an album of cover tunes by Prong.

Gamma Ray – Empire of the Undead Review

By Steel Druhm on April 1, 2014 in 2014, EarMusic records, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 28 comments

“Wow, these guys have been around forever! Empire of the Undead is Gamma Ray’s eleventh freaking album, and we get it despite the fact their recording studio burned down and everything was lost, except the masters for this baby. So what do you get from a band so beloved and long in the tooth?” After so many albums, what are you expecting? Steel Druhm expects you to read this.

Paradise Lost – Tragic Idol Review

By Dr. Fisting on April 21, 2012 in 2012, 3.5, Century Media, Death Metal, Doom Metal, English Metal, Reviews, 17 comments

Well, well, well, if it isn’t Paradise Lost. This band is a reviewer’s wet dream, simply by virtue of all the weird shit they’ve pulled over the years. Starting out as one of the pioneers of death/doom metal in 1990, the band mutated into a sort of gothic hard rock/metal, before suddenly turning into Depeche Mode towards the end of that decade.