Metal Assault: Album Reviews

By Ryan Falla

Like many releases from Ripple Music these days, there is a lot of anticipation surrounding the release of Swedish doom trio Vokonis and ‘The Sunken Djinn’. And just like many releases from Ripple, there is a lot to love about ‘The Sunken Djinn’ and the sonically crushing atmosphere present throughout the record. Vokonis has their roots deeply entrenched in traditional stoner metal within a more than competent infusion of modern metal elements. Continue reading “Album Review: Vokonis – The Sunken Djinn”

By Ryan Falla

We got some dope psychedelic stoner jams coming at you from none other than Riley Hawk. Oh yeah, the son of pro skateboarding legend Tony Hawk; and with prestigious lineage comes high expectations. You probably want some good ol’ N64 skater jams from the band Petyr and their self-titled debut, and I’m more than happy to say that’s exactly what you get. Petyr is a very jammy psych/stoner rock band that edges on melodic thrash metal. Continue reading “Album Review: Petyr – Self-Titled”

By Rosie Walker

Norwegian band Pristine has enchanted rock listeners all around the globe. They caught the attention of Europe’s scene with their debut album ‘Detoxing’ in 2011 and have been unstoppable since. With follow-up records ‘No Regret’ in 2013 and ‘Reboot’ in 2016, and a tour with the band Blue Pills under their belt, they remain highly active and hungry. Quickly following the last album, Pristine is already gearing up to release their fourth full-length album ‘Ninja’ on June 23rd, the band is eager to take their sound to the next level. Singer-songwriter Heidi Solheim has a passionate vision for her music. This new album, being released through Nuclear Blast, has expression clearer and more vibrant than any of their previous releases. The evolution of the band is praiseworthy with their bold, bluesy, rock n’ roll sound becoming more defined and articulated. Continue reading “Album Review: Pristine – Ninja”

By Doug Walker

Necrot is a three-piece death metal/punk band from Oakland, California. They really don’t need much more introduction than that. Their music speaks for itself. It’s fast. It’s punishing. It’s raw. They’ve been around since about 2011 and their new release ‘Blood Offerings’ is going to be one of the toughest heavy records of 2017.  Continue reading “Album Review: Necrot – Blood Offerings”

By Francisco Zamudio

Eloquent and subtle progressiveness that carries you through repetitive rhythms never at all mundane whatsoever, a lucid dance of electronic beats, piano and soothing vocals – the experience and trip taken on The Optimist by UK’s Anathema is a pleasant one. Characterized by the work of the Cavanagh Brothers, they take this drive down an almost familiar but modern path in atmospheric smooth rock. Where many of the more mainstream English bands come in with a simple saturated radio-friendly base, Anathema is part of a breed of bands that has added more fluidity, depth and heart to their songs, especially now on the 11th full-length release through KScope Music, ‘The Optimist’. Continue reading “Album Review: Anathema – The Optimist”

By Andrew Bansal

Canadian metal group Unleash The Archers is celebrating the tenth year of their career in 2017, but has already come a long way, releasing three full-length albums and an EP and garnering loyal fans all over the world in this duration. They’re marking their 10-year anniversary with the release of their fourth LP, ‘Apex’, which is being unveiled today, June 2nd, via Napalm Records. Owing to their musical elements as well as lyrical themes, artwork and imagery, Unleash The Archers has found much love in the traditional metal and power metal circles, and with ‘Apex’, they’re certainly taking themselves several notches higher in every sense, and look well poised to establish themselves in the genre even further. Continue reading “Album Review: Unleash The Archers – Apex”