Vader

Sacrilegium – Anima Lucifera Review

By Grymm on March 10, 2016 in 2016, Black Metal, Pagan Records, Polish Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 17 comments

“A lot can happen to people over time. Take me, for instance; my 20-year high school reunion is coming this year, and I can pretty much guarantee that very few people who don’t follow me on a daily basis are going to have a hard time believing that who I am and who I was are the same people. With plenty of tattoos and hair on my face (and little on my head), I know more than a few heads will turn. Wicher, the debut album from Polish pagan metal barbarians Sacrilegium, also turns twenty this year. Until now, it was the band’s only full-length output, given that the band disbanded in 2000.” So what name tag will these cats get at their reunion?

Protector – Cursed and Coronated Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 24, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, High Roller Records, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 18 comments

“Protector first hit the scene with 1988’s Golem; a crushing mix of Kreator and Possessed sound that straddled the line between thrash and death. This approach continued with 1989’s Urm the Mad until founder Martin Missy left the band. Missy was replaced with guitarist/vocalist Olly Wiebel, whose contributions brought a more thrash-focused sound to A Shedding of Skin and The Heritage. But after The Heritage, the band pretty much fell off the face of the earth.” And now they’re back!

70,000 Tons of Metal Live Review

By Mark Z. on February 13, 2016 in 2016, Blog Posts, 39 comments

“I don’t agree with my dad on everything, but there’s one thing we do agree about: cruises are the best way to vacation. Free all-you-can-eat buffets, breezy tropical weather, alcohol and entertainment available everywhere, and – most importantly – you’re always within walking distance of your room, so you never have to worry about getting a DUI or throwing up in an Uber on your ride back to the Red Roof Inn. But a cruise with 60 metal bands and over 3,000 fans from all over the world, making a four day round-trip to Jamaica with bars that never close? That’s a whole different beast entirely!” In the Navy, you can rock the seven seas!

HateSphere – New Hell Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 10, 2016 in 2016, Danish Metal, Groove Metal, Massacre Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 23 comments

“If anything can be said about HateSphere, it’s that they know how to please their fans. Though many of us crave a bit more diversity across a fifteen-year career, the fact that HateSphere drops consistent album after consistent album every couple years is enough to please (almost) anyone. HateSphere’s consistency is the result of founding guitarist Peter Hansen and his continued navigation along the course set by 2001’s self-titled debut.” And it’s always tough to know if consistency is a virtue or not.

Rex Shachath – Revocation of the Blood Elect EP Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on December 1, 2015 in 2015, Death Metal, Great Dane Records, Reviews, Death Metal, 8 comments

“I like my death metal like the Swedes like their herrings: putrefied to the point of being potentially hazardous to consumers. Come to think of it, that’s also how the Swedes like their death metal. No wonder I’ve been enjoying the waves of throwback Swedeath that have splashed across my eardrums with remarkable frequency since Bloodbath’s debut re-popularized the Stockholm sound over ten years ago. But even the pungent flavor of semi-rotten fish becomes bland and unsatisfying when consumed in bulk, and so it is with retro death metal.” When is too much really too much?

Stellar Master Elite – III: Eternalism – The Psychospherical Chapter Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 24, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Essential Purifiation Records, German Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 26 comments

“Since first listening to Thorns, I’ve wanted nothing more than an equally excellent follow-up to their self-titled release. Seriously, if I was granted three wishes, that would be one of them. But getting this wish granted is as unlikely as having Freddy Krueger drag me kicking and screaming up my bedroom wall and splaying me open on the ceiling.” Don’t look to Freddy for wish fulfillment.

Krisiun – Forged In Fury Review

By Mark Z. on July 25, 2015 in 2015, Brazilian Metal, Century Media, Death Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 26 comments

“Ah, Krisiun. Your militant drumming, battering riffs, and enraged vocals have earned you a place on quite a few of my “wake up the neighbors” playlists over the years. While calling you an institution may be a stretch, you’re certainly a band of workhorses, belching out no-bullshit death metal as a fraternal trio since 1990, and serving as a constant reminder that Brazil is more than just nice tushes, dense rainforests, and a Terry Gilliam film about a dystopian bureaucracy that would make FEMA shiver.” The angry wind came blowing in, from across the sea….

Infernus – Grinding Christian Flesh Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on April 16, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Black Metal, Moribund Records, Reviews, Black Metal, 25 comments

“I’ve never listened to Infernus before, and a quick perusal of their promo shots (corpsepaint, bullet-belts, graveyards) and song titles (killing Christians, paganism, war, sodomy) led me to believe they were a Scandinavian second wave band that I’d just never got around to checking out. Infernus in fact hail from the other side of the globe…” The votes are in and you want more goats!

The Order of Apollyon – The Sword and the Dagger Review

By Grymm on March 28, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Death Metal, French Metal, Listenable Records, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 29 comments

“Hey, remember what I said about supergroups last year? In 2008, there was another conglomeration of established musicians based out of France called The Order of Apollyon, and it consisted of B.S.T. (Aosoth), James McIlroy (ex-Cradle of Filth, Chaosanct), Peter Benjamin (ex-Akercocke, Voices) and Dan Wilding (Carcass, Trigger the Bloodshed). Such a who’s who of death and black metal would create a whirlwind of head-twirling mayhem, right?” Super groups…when will they learn?

Ethereal – Opus Aethereum Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 27, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Candlelight Records, English Metal, Symphonic Metal, Black Metal, Symphonic Metal, 16 comments

“I’m just going to come out and say it. I enjoyed Dimmu Borgir’s big-assed Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia. Yep, I said it. Haters be a hatin’ but its elements of bombastic orchestration and “beauty and the beast” vocals introduced a balance of demonic and angelic qualities that expanded on a style bands like Emperor and Limbonic Art had/have nurtured for years.” Don’t hate the keyboards, hate the player.