Metal Assault: Album Reviews

By Andrew Bansal

Australian thrash/grindcore newcomers King Parrot have taken the world of heavy music by storm in the last year or two, touring relentlessly all across the globe, presenting material from their 2012 debut full-length ‘Bite Your Head Off’ and sharing the stage with the right bands, Down and Weedeater included. Now part of the Housecore family, King Parrot have unleashed their second album ‘Dead Set’, in an attempt to replicate the unmatched impact level of their live performances. Continue reading “King Parrot – Dead Set”

By Andrew Bansal

Oakland, California atmospheric doom metal band Secrets Of The Sky formed in 2010 and have gained traction in the genre’s ever-strengthening underground movement, progressing steadily through their 2013 debut full-length album ‘To Sail Black Waters’ and a split with Godhunter called ‘GH/OST:S’ the following year to go with numerous tours and appearances at heralded underground festivals such as Power Of The Riff, Scion Rock Fest, South-West Terror Fest and several others. Secrets Of The Sky signed to Metal Blade Records and announced their arrival on the label’s much-celebrated roster with the May 2015 release of their aptly titled sophomore full-length ‘Pathway’, a journey of psychedelic and progressive extremes. Continue reading “Secrets Of The Sky – Pathway”

By Andrew Bansal

In the past four years, Los Angeles death/doom metal group Pendulous have risen and come forward as one of the city’s worthiest flagbearers of the sub-genre, purely based on the strength of their 20-minute ‘Mirrored Confessions’ EP (2013) and mesmerizing live rituals. After investing much time, creative thought and deliberation on their next batch of material, Pendulous independently released their debut full-length studio album ‘A Palpable Sense Of Love & Loss’ in March 2015, a 60-minute slab filled to the brim with darkness, power and finesse. Continue reading “Pendulous – A Palpable Sense Of Love & Loss”

By Andrew Bansal

Longstanding British doom/goth group Paradise Lost have been consistently releasing compelling music that has stood out for its own unique style and identity, and has in turn influenced subsequent generations of musicians over their nearly three-decade long existence. Paradise Lost’s 2012 effort ‘Tragic Idol’ won several accolades amongst fans and critics alike, and the band is now ready with the follow-up, their fourteenth full-length studio album ‘The Plague Within’ due out June 2nd via Century Media Records. Continue reading “Paradise Lost – The Plague Within”

By Andrew Bansal

It is not often that Los Angeles metal veterans Armored Saint release a new album, so when they do, it’s a highly anticipated event among old-school metalheads across the globe. The band’s previous album ‘La Raza’ (2010) was ten years in the making, and fans hoped that the next album would not take as long. Sure enough, Armored Saint worked on their seventh full-length studio album ‘Win Hands Down’ for about five years, and the output is ready to be unveiled on June 2nd 2015 via Metal Blade Records. They’re the kind of band that maintain a stronghold in people’s minds and memories even when they’re not active or in the news, and as a result, expectations surrounding this new record in the lead-up to its release have been sky-high. Continue reading “Armored Saint – Win Hands Down”

By Aniruddh ‘Andrew’ Bansal

Indian heavy metal band Albatross caught the eyes and ears of many in their home country and across the world with their first two EP releases ‘Dinner Is You’ (2010) and ‘The Kissing Flies’ (2012), by pursuing a style of horror-themed traditional metal that instantly distinguishes them from the rest, and executing this style successfully to achieve commendable output. With an enhanced line-up and an innovative approach, Albatross spent the last three years writing and honing new material. The result is their debut full-length album ‘Fear From The Skies’, out now via Transcending Obscurity India, and sees the band venture into unconquered territory in more ways than one. Continue reading “Albatross – Fear From The Skies”