Speed Metal

The EP, Demo, and Oddity Post [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By El Cuervo on January 2, 2019 in 2018, American Metal, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Dutch Metal, Hardcore, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Speed Metal, Swedish Metal, Technical Death Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Ukrainian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Electronic Metal, Hardcore, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Rock, Speed Metal, Technical Death Metal, 146 comments

“As a younger man I had no concept of the “EP,” nor the “demo,” nor the “split.” When was the last time Iron Maiden had to curb their excesses by squashing ideas into half an hour? When were Judas Priest not able to afford a professional recording studio and production job? And when’s that Metallica/Megadeth split due again? Such formats are reserved for the underdogs of the metal world, those bubbling beneath the surface of popularity who write music for the sheer creative expression and who will never see monetary reward for their time and effort.” Short is sweet.

Venom – Storm the Gates Review

By Ferrous Beuller on December 17, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, British Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Spinefarm, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 44 comments

“It’s always sad when a band has an internal branding dispute of such magnitude that it gives rise to two separate, but identical, entities. In this case, UK legends Venom are now forced to share a moniker with Venom Inc. and it may not be such a bad thing. Last year I reviewed the corporate crusher’s debut, Avé, where I waxed pompous over its unremarkable, but undeniably decent, content. Now, the black metal originals have returned with no less than their fifteenth studio album Storm the Gates.” Sounds of a poison fading.

Flageladör – Predileção pelo Macabro Review

By Holdeneye on November 8, 2018 in 2018, Brazilian Metal, Hell Music, Helldprod Records, Reviews, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Vënënö Sönörö Rëcörds, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 21 comments

“‘You’re only young once, but you can be immature forever.’ These words were shared with me years ago by a mentor at work and have since served as my rationalization for a host of questionable words and deeds. For example, I blamed this penchant for adolescent humor when I mispronounced this band’s name as ‘Flatulator’ upon receiving the promo. I also blamed it for the involuntary giggling that followed this mistake. I sincerely apologize to the band for all of this, but after hearing their music, I’m confident that they would heartily agree with my mentor’s nugget of wisdom.” Beer, beer!

Deathhammer – Chained to Hell Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on October 6, 2018 in 2018, Hells Headbangers Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 28 comments

“What’s always been appealing about Deathhammer is their remarkably particular niche, one which nobody really knows they need until they hear it. Take the earliest Sodom and Slayer material, and pretend a band existed alongside them which kept more of the speed metal influence around and played their music with all the tact and professionalism of early Venom and you have a good idea of what to expect.” Bring down the Hammer.

Black Viper – Hellions of Fire Review

By Eldritch Elitist on September 30, 2018 in 2018, High Roller Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, 68 comments

“You may think you know what you want, but you don’t know shit; Black Viper sees right through your facade, all the way from Norway. They are spying you perusing through AMG’s recent round of reviews, and scoffing as you check out bands with extraneous tags such as “post” or “progressive.” Why on Earth would you ever want to engage with such pretentious, slow burning affairs when Hellions of Fire offers instant gratification – i.e. the prompt melting of faces – that occurs immediately and doesn’t let up until the album ends or your sound system catches fire (whichever comes first).” Kill it with speed.

Armory – The Search Review

By Steel Druhm on July 9, 2018 in 2018, High Roller Records, Reviews, Speed Metal, Swedish Metal, Speed Metal, 26 comments

“Before the thrash explosion of the 80s truly took off under the guidance of rising stars like Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax, there was its ugly predecessor, speed metal. Basically, traditional metal played faster, speed metal often approximated the sound of a record spinning at the wrong speed. It was a loose, unrefined and fun style often lacking the hard-edge of thrash. I was sad to see it all but die out by 1987, and Sweden’s Armory apparently feel the same way, so they painstakingly recreated the speed metal sound on their sophomore outing, The Search.” Speed still kills.

Speedclaw – Beast in the Mist

By El Cuervo on April 23, 2018 in 2018, Croatian Metal, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Reviews, Shadow Kingdom Records, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 20 comments

“I enjoy Hellripper to a fairly significant extent. Last year’s full-length release tore up its thrash competition and took home fifth place in my top ten records of 2017, leading to my deeper exploration of his repertoire of splits and EPs. It’s fair to say that the little Scottish bundle of energy is one of my favorite discoveries from the past few years of metal. Where before I would have avoided promos tagged with speed metal, I now take note with the intention of unveiling the next underground speed gem.” Speed is a lifestyle choice.

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.

Stälker – Shadow of the Sword Review

By Huck N Roll on November 29, 2017 in 2017, Napalm Records, New Zealand Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 82 comments

“Last year in our EP edition of TYMHM, I waxed eloquent about a great little proto-thrash demo from some Wellington, NZ upstarts, Stälker. Their Satanic Panic cassette was such a nasty bit of early speed metal that it garnered the attention of Napalm Records, and this power trio was set to record their full-length debut this year. Enter Shadow of the Sword.” Only a big sword casts a shadow you can enter.

Masters of Disguise – Alpha/Omega Review

By Steel Druhm on October 19, 2017 in 2017, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Limb Music, Reviews, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 66 comments

“Hey look, the weirdest inside joke in all of metal is still going strong. Backstory: Masters of Disguise is a throwback speed metal act living and breathing to pay homage to a particularly obscure band from the 80s called Savage Grace. Who, you ask? Exactly. They were a good band but barely got any traction or notoriety despite a pretty solid outing with 1986s After the Fall From Grace. Now Masters of Disguise (named after Grace’s debut album) seek to revive their hero’s nonexistent legacy due to some highly tenuous ties to the original singer.” First Will and Grace comes back and now Savage Grace too?