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: “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: “Reign Of Gold” by Human Fortress
German power metal outfit Human Fortress return with its sixth release Reign Of Gold. “Thunder” is hampered by thin production and is somewhat generic. Things improve on the title track with its driving rhythm compliments of drummer Apostolos Zaios. “Luci ...
Album Review: “Trapped In Chaos” by Dust Bolt
Dust Bolt expands its horizons on the band's fourth album, Trapped In Chaos. There is greater depth to the songs, while the band retains its signature thrash sound. Album opener “The Fourth” transitions between aggressive, blistering drums spliced with s ...
CD Review: “Arcane Astral Aeons” by Sirenia
Sirenia gets right to business on its ninth effort, Arcane Astral Aeons, with the crushing "In Styx Embrace". The driving guitar riffs and grooving percussion meld well with the orchestral elements. We are even treated to blast beats before transitions to ...
CD Review: “Electric Messiah” by High On Fire
High On Fire pay tribute to the legendary Lemmy Kilmister with its aptly titled eighth record, Electric Messiah. The trio's blend of Motorhead, Black Sabbath and Slayer is in full throttle throughout the record. “Spewn from the Earth” is a straight trashe ...
CD Review: “Scourge Of The Enthroned” by Krisiun
Krisiun's eleventh record, Scourge Of The Enthroned, is a colossal slab of merciless blast beats and armor crushing riffs. The title track opens this album with a hellish, yet grandiose riff before slamming straight to hell. Drummer Max Kolesne's chaotic ...
CD Review: “The Deviant Chord” by Jag Panzer
Jag Panzer storms the battlefield with its first album in six years. The Deviant Chord is replete with soaring vocals and stellar guitar virtuosity. I admit that power metal is my least favorite sub-genre in heavy metal, but Jag Panzer always possessed a ...
CD Review: “Deep Calleth Upon Deep” by Satyricon
Legendary Norwegian black metal duo Satyricon are back with Deep Calleth Upon Deep, its ninth studio album. “Midnight Serpent” opens with a rollicking guitar riff over a demonic circus of blast beats. It is evil black n' roll with Satyr's harsh vocals sou ...
CD Review: “Profane Nexus” by Incantation
You can never underestimate the old guard. Incantation has spewed blasphemous, twisted death metal for 28 years. The band's blend of death and gothic sludge has placed it in the upper echelons of extreme metal. After a six year hiatus, Incantation showed ...