Jerel Johnson

Album review: “Italia’s Gore Talent” by Abbinormal

Grindcore is a genre that potentially vicious, political and uncompromising, yet also humorous, satirical and lighthearted. Grindcore spawned from hardcore punk in the early 1980s, thus, it is no surprise…

Jerel Johnson December 2, 2025

Album Reviews

Album review: “Struck A Nerve” by Struck A Nerve

UK thrashers Struck A Nerve have thrown its hat into the thrash ring with its eponymous debut album. Struck A Nerve is rife with speed, riffs, groove and a few…

Jerel Johnson November 16, 2025

Album Reviews

Album Review: “Echoes In Eternity” by Agnostic Front

Six years have passed since hardcore pioneers released Get Loud! in 2019. The gap has not dulled the band's ferocity as Echoes In Eternity, the band's thirteenth release, is 27…

Jerel Johnson November 1, 2025

Album Reviews

Album review: “Ossuary” by Scorching Tomb

Short and direct. That is the direction Canadian death metal quartet Scorching Tomb took on its debut, Ossuary. Old school death metal has experienced a resurgence in recent years, with…

Jerel Johnson October 13, 2025

Concert Coverage

Album review: “Sunsetter” by All Hell

October is upon us and Asheville, North Carolina black/thrash trio All Hell ring in the horror month with Sunsetter, its fifth album. The band draws on several influences ranging from…

Jerel Johnson October 5, 2025

Album Reviews

Album Review: “Borderland” by Amorphis

2025 marks 35 years since Finnish metal act Amorphis formed back in 1990. The band's fifteenth album, Borderland, is a testament to the band's longevity. Album opener “The Circle” starts…

Jerel Johnson September 19, 2025

Album Reviews

Album Review: “The Devil’s Masquerade” by Helstar

Texas metal legends Helstar return with its first release in nine years, The Devil's Masquerade. The hiatus did not soften Helstar, as this album is 38 minutes of old school…

Jerel Johnson September 9, 2025

Album Reviews

Album Review: “Kill All Idols” by Desaster

I have said before that blackened thrash metal done right is devilishly good. However, it is difficult to successfully fuse these sub-genres. Black metal emphasizes feeling and there is a…

Jerel Johnson August 15, 2025

Album Reviews

Album Review: “The Old Lie” by Victim of Fire

Victim of Fire unleash a fiery assault with its third release, The Old Lie. The Denver based quartet fuse d-beat, melodic death metal, and a pinch of black metal to…

Jerel Johnson August 1, 2025

Album Reviews

Album Review: “Leave The Light Behind” by Bloodletter

Chicago thrashers Bloodletter issue a potent dose of gothic thrash on its fourth effort, Leave The Light Behind. The album title and cover have a black metal aesthetic, but Light…

Jerel Johnson July 5, 2025