Thrash Metal

Hobbs’ Angel of Death – Heaven Bled Review

By Mark Z. on October 10, 2016 in 2016, Australian Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 47 comments

“The year is 1987. Robocop is in theaters, thrash metal is booming, and my mommy and daddy are just a few short years away from bumpin’ uglies to produce yours truly. On the other side of the world, an Australian Slayer fan named Peter Hobbs decides to transform his thrash band Tyrus into a new project named after Reign in Blood’s infamous opening track. The result is Hobbs’ Angel of Death – ostensibly one of the first bands from Down Under to play what we now know as classic thrash metal.” The social thrash contract must not be broken!

Helstar – Vampiro Review

By Steel Druhm on August 31, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, EMP Label Group, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 25 comments

“It’s always a dangerous proposition for a band to revisit one of their most beloved albums and attempt a sequel. Nine times out of ten they can’t come close to recapturing whatever magic made their earlier work so enduring and they end up besmirching their legacy in the process (Operation Mindcrime II, anyone?). And so it was with great discomfiture I received news Helstar would be revisiting the same vampiric themes first examined on their classic Nosferatu album on new opus, Vampiro.” Dead and loving it…again.

Hellbringer – Awakened from the Abyss Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on August 29, 2016 in 2016, Australian Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 88 comments

“Much like veganism, not liking Slayer is completely beyond my comprehension. Why would anyone deny themselves the great stuff which food and metal have to offer them? Once you reach either point of denial, why not fully commit and start only listening to records with a 2 or below on the DR and/or AMG scale, only drinking wine that comes in an oversized juice box, or talking about philosophy exclusively with stoners? If you, for some reason or another, feel the utmost need to deny yourself the pleasure of indulging in great things, you’re in luck!” If you’re not into Slayer, you are not my friend!

Sodom – Decision Day Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 24, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Reviews, SPV, Steamhammer, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 48 comments

“As you get older, reminiscing becomes part of everyday life. Especially those pushing thirty, forty, fifty years old. Times were simpler in the old days and, while we’re wiser now, there’s a sense of envy for those days of ignorance. In 2016, AMG Industries, Inc. gives Sodom’s thirty-year-old self an opportunity to look back at baby pictures. A few weeks ago we got an YMIO on Obsessed by Cruelty and now we get 2016’s Decision Day.” That baby was mighty ugly. So what’s the adult version looking like these days?

Awaiting Downfall – Distant Call Review

By Mark Z. on August 20, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Massacre Records, Metalcore, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Metalcore, Thrash Metal, 9 comments

“Sometimes it’s almost impossible not to look back on the past and ask ‘what if?’ As in ‘what if I’d actually taken those piano lessons in middle school and learned to play an instrument?’ or ‘what if I’d actually talked to that cute girl in my sophomore English class and didn’t end up as a single guy in my mid-twenties eating Chinese takeout on my couch while wearing a faded Morbid Angel shirt with the sleeves cut off?’ With debut Distant Call, German thrashy metalcore quartet Awaiting Downfall aim to answer their own versions of this question: what if Trivium didn’t go full Metallicore with The Crusade and instead tried to remake Ember to Inferno?” The implications are staggering!

Vicious Rumors – Concussion Protocol Review

By Huck N Roll on August 18, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, SPV, Steamhammer, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 22 comments

“Originally Steel Druhm was going to write this review, but I used my Inception-like powers to convince him I should handle it. I’ve spent the days since, chewing on my nails, wondering what the hell I’ve gotten myself into – no pressure at all! What to write?” Don’t screw this up, rookie!

X-Method – Sex, Alcohol, Rebel Music Review

By Dr. Wvrm on August 5, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Death Metal, Hardcore, Pavement Entertainment, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 40 comments

“I’m a rare steak man. It doesn’t have to bleed to be palatable, but it probably wouldn’t hurt. After tossing a couple sirloins on the grill for dinner, my fiancée asked how I was liking X-Method. A blood-tinged fugue immediately compelled me to follow her back into the house so that someone, anyone, would listen to the ensuing oral diarrhea. Fifteen minutes later, my untended steaks were completely overcooked. X-Method ruined my dinner and my stomach demands recompense.” That steak is now like Thor’s hammer – runed!

Necromancing the Stone – Jewel of the Vile Review

By Huck N Roll on August 3, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 23 comments

“I’m not a fan of gimmick band names. I’m also not a fan of gimmick album names, or gimmick song titles, or gimmick bands in general. It’s just all too gimmicky. Maybe I’m just a cranky old fella (Angry Olde Guy?), but if I want comedy in an album I’ll throw on my old Howie Mandel cassette. So when I see an album called Jewel of the Vile, by a band called Necromancing the Stone, complete with saucy cover art, I groan.” Romancing the groan?

Ghoul – Dungeon Bastards Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on July 23, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Tankcrimes Records, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 21 comments

“When first discovering that Ghoul was releasing a new album, a friend of mine had this to say: “I didn’t realize Impaled… I mean, Ghoul, was still around.” Then, while phoning home recently, this was what my mother had to say about the new album: “Who in the fuck is Ghoul?” Whether surprised by the news of a new Ghoul release or not, one thing is for certain: my mom has a potty mouth.” Moms ruin all the fun.

Rage – The Devil Strikes Again Review

By Roquentin on July 7, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Nuclear Blast, Power Metal, Reviews, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 47 comments

“‘Rage had a unique contribution to metal and was a throwback to the golden age of melodic heavy metal in the best possible sense of that word. These guys carried the torch proudly and […] they did it with a creative, idiosyncratic flare that made them as big as they did become,’ wrote AMG himself in a premature and not-dead-yet type of eulogy in February 2015. A year and some change after the attempted disbandment, Rage, or rather mastermind Peter “Peavy” Wagner and two of his fresh henchmen, are back with new material along with grand ideas of a reinvigorated, back-to-the-roots energy and a rediscovered heaviness.” Well speak of the dead!