heavy metal – Target Audience Magazine

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: “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

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: “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

Album Reviews

Album Review: “III” by King Witch

Edinburgh trio-ish (Andrew Scott plays drums on this album) King Witch provide a potent blend of doom metal and rock on its aptly titled third release III. The record…

Jerel Johnson June 7, 2025

Album Reviews

Album review: “The Time Has Come” by Bark

Belgian quintet Bark figured now is the time to release its fifth album, The Time Has Come. Jokes aside, Time features a dozen songs of death n' roll with a…

Jerel Johnson April 20, 2025

Album Reviews

Album Review: “Reader Of The Runes-Luna” by Elvenking

Elvenking's trilogy concludes on Reader Of The Runes-Luna. The band get straight to business on the hammering “Season Of The Owl”, with its rollicking drums and syncopated guitar riffing. The…

Jerel Johnson April 1, 2025

Album Reviews

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.…

Jerel Johnson March 9, 2025