Sodom

Desaster – Churches Without Saints Review

Desaster – Churches Without Saints Review

By Steel Druhm on June 4, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 20 comments

“It’s been 4 long years since we got a Desaster album, and the world has certainly gone to Hell in a deathbasket without them. Though it does seem highly on brand for these sleazy creepers to release their ninth platter o’ splatter at the tail end of a global pandemic, so here comes Churches Without Saints, ready or not. For those of you not in the know, Desaster play an unhinged, unpolished style of blackened thrash with loads of classic metal influences crammed into every available nook, cranny and orifice. They’ve never cared about what’s trendy or popular, relentlessly pounding away with their caveman blackthrash style one decade after another like the remorseless war grinders they are.” St. Desaster.

Dark Zodiak – Ophiuchus Review

Dark Zodiak – Ophiuchus Review

By Kronos on February 18, 2021 in Reviews, 74 comments

“Dark Zodiak borrow bits of the chunky, militaristic rhythms of Sodom, the scratchy grooves of Kreator and the progressive wanderings of Metallica. The push into heavier death-thrash territory is almost entirely due to a grotesque performance from vocalist Simone Schwarz, who commands the record with guttural roars, dry rasps, sinister narration, and even the occasional pig squeal.” Sign stealing.

Evil – Possessed by Evil Review

Evil – Possessed by Evil Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on February 4, 2021 in Reviews, Black Metal, Speed Metal, 42 comments

“I’ve got a soft spot for Japanese metal, especially the old-school varieties. It should shock absolutely nobody that Evil come directly from the lineage of Abigail and Sabbat thematically, meaning that they take the “evil” schtick of classic Venom and Bulldozer so far that it exceeds parody and lands in a strange realm of charming innocence and naivete. Evil, on their second album Possessed by Evil, lands feet-first in this realm.” Possession is nine-tenths of witchlaw.

Sodom – Genesis XIX Review

Sodom – Genesis XIX Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 25, 2020 in Reviews, Thrash Metal, 39 comments

“Genesis XIX will be the first time in thirty years Blackfire has recorded a full-length with Sodom. It’ll also be the first time in the band’s storied career to have two guitarists. What will these changes do to the Sodom sound? Obviously, Angelripper sees life coming back to the band. But are four just one too many? And how many more war-themed thrash riffs does Ole Tom have left in him?” Re-Sodomized.

The Ocean – Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic Review

The Ocean – Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 16, 2020 in Reviews, Post-Hardcore, Progressive Metal, 50 comments

“Above the couch, in my teeny one-bedroom apartment, hangs a painting of the ocean. I bought it when I moved in and at one of the lowest points of my life. There’re hints of a sun beaming behind those dark clouds, but it won’t come out. The waves are an angry black, with blueish white tips; crashing against the shore like frustrated fists to a tabletop. What shore it is, I have no idea. It’s an imagined piece. There’s no way in Hell a human being would be safe from that viewpoint. She/he would be smashed against those black, volcanic rocks. The result could be a splash of red to round out the blacks, greys, dark blues, and shocking whites. Sometimes I get lost in its chaoticness as it hangs quietly in my living room. To me, it’s a cheap painting that holds emotions and memories—though they’re bad ones. To others, it’s a color palette that matches my space. Regardless, I’ve always thought that if I could put music to it, it’d be The Ocean.” Save the whales!

Into the Obscure: Soulless – Forever Defiant

Into the Obscure: Soulless – Forever Defiant

By L. Saunders on August 15, 2020 in Into the Obscure, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 14 comments

“We all have our dirty metal secrets that we selfishly keep to ourselves, only sharing with a select few close to us. Or alternatively, we incessantly talk up underground gems and spread the gospel to anyone that will listen, as we cherish our slice of underground cred. Into the Obscure aims to right the wrongs and unearth the artists/albums that for whatever unjust reason didn’t get the exposure, appreciation or credit they sorely deserved the first time round.” Be Defiant.

Anonymus – La Bestia Review

Anonymus – La Bestia Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on June 14, 2020 in Reviews, Thrash Metal, 18 comments

“We don’t hear a lot of Spanish in my part of Ontario, and I’d think there’d be even less in Franco-centric Quebec, where Anonymus hails from. They’ve been at this thrash metal thing since 1989 and have written entire albums in English and French. With La Bestia, they’re officially a trilingual thrash troupe.” Plenty of tongue.