I’m a horrible Jenn Grinels fan. Despite how enamored I was with her stunning performance opening up for Carbon Leaf some time ago, or how her audience participation is the best I’ve witnessed since Frank Zappa, I’ve still managed to go forever and ...
CD Review: ‘Hidden Evolution’ by Angelus Apatrida
Spanish thrash outfit Angelus Apatrida are set to make its mark with Hidden Evolution, its fifth record. The opening track “Immortal” has a latter day Exodus feel due to its intricate riffs and brutal drumming. However, the band is not interested in ...
CD Review: ‘Time and Trauma’ by 36 Crazyfists
Alaska outfit 36 Crazyfists never broke from the mold during the New Wave of American Heavy Metal in the 2000s. The band enjoyed some popularity, but failed to garner the critical or commercial success of its contemporaries like Killswitch Engage or ...
CD Review: ‘Only to Rise’ by Sweet & Lynch
Few sounds can capture the feel of the late 80s and early 90s like the clean guitar licks that scream from George Lynch’s (Dokken, Lynch Mob) fingers and out through his amp. Combine that with Michael Sweet’s (Stryper) powerful trumpeting vocals and ...
CD Review: ‘Apex Predator – Easy Meat’ by Napalm Death
The grind continues on Napalm Death's 15th release, Apex Predator-Easy Meat. Always a band willing to step outside the box, the droning title track stomps in industrial glory. This unorthodox opener may throw some off, but the band kicks things back ...
CD Review: ‘Crusade:Zero’ by Hate
The moment I heard the opening track on this record, I knew I was in for a blasphemous treat. “Vox Dei (A Call From Beyond)” blends industrial and classical music to create an ominous, foreboding atmosphere. “Death Liberator” is the first proper trac ...
CD Review: ‘From the Very Depths’ by Venom
Venom, the very word elicits respect, scorn and even laughter in the metal community. Venom is the band that helped kick start extreme metal in the early 80s. You can mock the band's image and musicianship all you want, but this is the group that coi ...
CD Review: ‘Come And Get It’ by Blind Race
Whoa! Talk about an EP that wastes no time knocking you off your feet. Come And Get It is the new powerhouse release from the Toronto, Canada band, Blind Race, and the name is as much a challenge as it is an invitation. From the onset of the ...
CD Review: ‘Far From Sleep’ by Agent Cooper
I initially heard about Agent Cooper’s album, Far From Sleep, during my first interview for Better B# over two years ago. During what turned out to be an incredibly long, but fun, talk with Cooper guitarist, Mike Martin, he told me about the ...
CD Review: “One By One” by Walking With Giants
Notes ring off the strings, echoing as if from reverberating bells. Thus is the beginning of Baltimore-based Walking With Giants' new EP, One By One, set for release on June 21. This promising hard-rock act blew me out of the water last year with it ...