Album review: “Never Known Peace” by Doomsday
Oakland thrash/crossover quintet Doomsday unleash wrath on its debut effort, Never Known Peace. Doomsday get straight to business on “Death Is Here”, with its ferocious D-beat and rapid triple riffing. Guitarists Ryan Calaveras and Robert DeLorenzi th ...
Album Review: “Black Rite” by Maltuka
Norway is known for black metal, plain and simple. Black metal is the Nordic country's primary musical export for nearly 40 years, replete with an infamous history and classic records. Thus, it is a little surprising that Maltuka, which hails from Ber ...
Album Review: “Plague of Rats” by Brainstorm
German power metal act, Brainstorm, return with its fourteenth release and first album in four years, Plague of Rats. The album commences with an acoustic intro with some electronic effects, giving the brief track a but of mystery. “Beyond Enemy Lines ...
Album review: “Violence Prevails” by Chemicide
Thrash metal quartet Chemicide mix speed with groove on its fifth release, Violence Prevails. The band wastes no time getting to business with “Do As I Say, Not As I Do.” The track's plodding build up instantly transitions to a thrashing mania at the ...
Album Review: “Year of the Four Emperors” by Ex Deo
Canadian symphonic death metal band Ex Deo ring in the new year with an EP, Year of the Four Emperors. Four years have passed since the band's 2021 album Thirteens Year of Nero, and this new release literally picks up where Thirteen left off. Literall ...
Album review: “TMG II” by The Tak Matsumoto Group
The Tak Matsumoto Group returns with its newest album in 20 years, TMG II. The super group comprised of guitar virtuoso Tak Matsumoto, vocalist Eric Martin of Mr. Big, bassist Jack Blades of Night Ranger and former Guns n' Roses drummer Matt Sorum, pu ...
Album Review: “Hail To The King” by Voodoo Circle
German hard rock quartet Voodoo Circle push the grandiosity on Hail To The King. This 67 minute long release hearkens to the 70s and 80s with a fusion of metal and arena rock. The opening riff of “Lay Down Your Lovin” is a primer of the nostalgia that ...
Album review Enforced-A Leap Into The Dark
Enforced fill in the gap with A Leap Into The Dark, a six track EP that serves to tide fans still suffering whiplash from the band's 2023 sophomore release, War Remains. The Virginia quintet get to business on opening salvo, “Betting On The End.” The ...
Album Review: “Forever We Burn” by High Parasite
Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride unite on High Parasite's debut album, Forever We Burn. My Dying Bride vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe fronts the quintet along with bassist Tombs who provides backing vocals. Forever melds metal, goth and dark synth-pop, cr ...
Album Review: “The Judas Paradox” by God Dethroned
Dutch extreme metal outfit God Dethroned return with its twelfth album, aptly titled The Judas Paradox. The album's lyrical themes are a continuation of the band's 2020 release, Illuminati. Paradox touches on the occult, Satanism and religious conspir ...