Italian power metal sextet Secret Sphere get technical and heavy on its tenth release, Blackened Heartbeat. The album is devoid of garish overtures, as the band prefers dynamic compositions with heavy riffs and percussion. “The Crossing Toll” is ...
Album Review: “The Gates Beyond Mortality” by Eternal Evil
The Swedish metal band Eternal Evil conjure the spirit of Old School Metal on its sophomore effort, The Gates Beyond Mortality. The haunting opening chords of “Depths of a New Eternity” set a dark tone, but offer merely a glimpse of the impending ...
Album Review: “State Of Emergency” by Prong
Seminal New York metal trio Prong return with its newest proper album in six years. State of Emergency shifts from the thrash attack of the band's two previous albums, 2017's Zero Days and 2016's X-No Absolutes, in favor of the groove laden rhyth ...
Book Review: Fathers, Brothers, and Sons: Surviving Anguish, Abandonment and Anthrax
Fathers, Brothers, and Sons is the autobiography of Anthrax bassist, Frank Bello. This is the second autobiography from an Anthrax band member following Scott Ian's 2014 book, I'm The Man. Fathers is a short read, with Bello discussing his family ...
Album Review: “Primal Future: 2019” by Toxic Holocaust
Joel Grind's one man thrashing project Toxic Holocaust has returned to lay waste to the band with devastating d-beat and bellicose, thrashing riffs on album six, Primal Future: 2019. Album opener “Chemical Warlords” is a vicious track that is equal ...
Album Review: “Death Becomes My Voice” by Ringworm
Ringworm's eighth release, Death Becomes My Voice, continues the band's vicious hardcore metal assault over the past three decades. The title track is a pugnacious combination of hardcore drumming and thrashing guitar riffs that grip your jugular for ...
CD Review: “Slaves Of The Shadow Realm” by Legion Of The Damned
Dutch metal quartet Legion Of The Damned have unleashed its unholy seventh record, Slaves Of The Shadow Realm. Album opener “The Widow's Breed” is a blistering track with chainsaw guitar slicing through thrashing drum beats. The lyrical imagery of A ...
CD Review: “Storm The Gates” by Venom
The devil's favorite metal trio from Newcastle returns with its fifteennth studio album, Storm The Gates. “Bring Out Your Dead” opens the record and is the initial single. It is a straight forward track with a stomping groove and a plodding guitar ri ...
CD Review: “The Hunt For White Christ” by Unleashed
Unleashed celebrate its 30th anniversary next year and it is fitting that the Swedish death metal masters release a new record. The Hunt For White Christ is album number thirteen, and is rife with the viking imagery, thrashing riffs and pounding drum ...
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 t ...