Category: Album Reviews

By Rosie Walker

Australian band Ne Obliviscaris started back in 2003. Yet, many still consider them to be a new group since their first full-length album wasn’t released until 2012. This six-piece act from Melbourne has gained a lot of traction in the heavy metal scene and recently released their third record, ‘Urn’ (October 27 through Season of Mist). Their fans have high hopes for this new release, and were waiting in great anticipation to hear if this young metal band would take the helm of the difficult extreme/progressive genre and continue to grow in popularity. But after listening to this 46-minute record, the Ne Obliviscaris fan base might be a bit disappointed. Continue reading “Album Review: Ne Obliviscaris – Urn”

By Francisco Zamudio

Breaking through two decades is not an easy task by any means for any band. We wish some would cash in their check and get lost, versus those short-lived great bands that only put out a couple of albums every handful of years and are never heard from again. Then you have some that had spread their seed over time, leaving an impression that needs to be filled. The whole time not realizing how much your fans are craving your unique sound, and a sound you helped develop since the late ’90s. And since then, one of the lesser known groups (I feel), Witchery have helped carve and pushed their way through with a blackened sound bleeding over the thrash and speed metal style. All while maintaining their sound, they have still evolved with the times and nearly managed to keep its lineup intact. Witchery’s longstanding trinity consists of bassist Sharlee D’Angelo, guitarists Rikard Rimfält and Jensen. Now they return with sophomores Angus Norder on vocals and Chris Barkensjö on drums. And in doing so, breaking tradition of releasing an album every handful of years, having just released the year-old ‘In His Infernal Majesty’s Service’, Witchery havenow  unleashed only their 7th full-length album to date, ‘I Am Legion’. Continue reading “Album Review: Witchery – I Am Legion”

By Ryan Falla

Esteemed German rock trio Kadavar brings us another fascinating musical package with their new album ‘Rough Times’. Kadavar has never been a band to put themselves in a musical hole. Constant reinvention and experimentation with writing techniques keeps this band on top, and their newest release encapsulates the idea that Kadavar exists to avoid musical stagnation. Continue reading “Album Review: Kadavar – Rough Times”

By Francisco Zamudio

A barrage of modern black metal goodness, is how I’d describe the latest outlet by the collective supergroup known as Scour, featuring . Much of the grindcore style from some of the members’ respective groups are apparent in this 6-track EP known as ‘Red’. There’s also a much darker and haunting sound captured here. Dare I describe it as blackened grindcore, these five guys have melded something scary here that I believe will hold up with even some of the purists of elitists in the black metal fanbase. You have the high-end clean guitar sound and blistering blast-beats, blended with lots of atmospheric qualities making it sound haunting. Even though a lot of the riffs are repeated over and over again, the 16 minutes of the EP hold your attention with those same face-peeling riffs carrying through the songs, along with the added dynamic of the drums and vocals, which are seriously quite impressive here. We’ve never really had a serious peek into this extreme side in Phil Anselmo’s style. It is definitely something worth noting and gives you something you didn’t (or maybe you did) know you wanted. Continue reading “Review: Scour – Red EP”

By Ryan Falla

Italian black/sludge metal trio Forgotten Tomb brings us their 9th studio album, ‘We Owe You Nothing’, to add to a long-lived and consistent discography of fifteen years. Inside the package of this album is a brevity of thick, skull-pounding riffage and darkly engrossing atmosphere. This record is overwhelmingly powerful, almost abusive in how heavy it beats you over the head with concrete sludge. Continue reading “Album Review: Forgotten Tomb – We Owe You Nothing”

By Ryan Falla

New Jersey based quintet Toothgrinder looks to blow the world away with their second full-length release. ‘Phantom Amour’ is a wildly varied album that touches on elements of hardcore and melodic metal; there’s a variety that should keep fans from all over the metal spectrum engaged. Continue reading “Album Review: Toothgrinder- Phantom Amour”

By Ryan Falla

Nick Oliveri is the former bassist of desert rock bands Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age. He’s since embarked on a solo journey recording with a multitude of artists and compiling them into volumes, the third of which we’re discussing today. N.O Hits At All – Vol.3 doesn’t stray too far from the desert rock style, and fans of Kyuss and desert rock alike should find plenty of material to enjoy with this record. Continue reading “Album Review: Nick Oliveri – N.O. Hits At All, Vol. 3”

By Ryan Falla

Being groovy may not be the first instinct upon extreme sludge musicians, yet with Iron Monkey’s new record ‘9-13’, a heavy focus is placed upon groove elements; a tone that gives immediate distinction to Iron Monkey. ‘9-13’ follows the steps of bands like Pantera and places an emphasis on grooving out before they apply their brutality. Given that groove is the core of good music, Iron Monkey is already off to a great start on this album, their first in nearly two decades. Continue reading “Album Review: Iron Monkey – 9-13”

By Rosie Walker

Just over a decade ago, the band Savage Messiah launched out of London and has been climbing up the popularity ladder rather quickly. Young, hungry, and eager, this quartet has the means to make a dent in the heavy metal scene. Drawing international recognition with their 2014 record, ‘The Fateful Dark’, for its refreshing creativity and honest heavy metal anthems, folks have been anticipating what these British metalheads would come up with next. On October 27, they released their fourth album,’Hands Of Fate’, and it is one of the biggest new release letdowns of 2017. Continue reading “Album Review: Savage Messiah – Hands Of Fate”

By Rosie Walker

London, The Old Smoke, is one of the world’s leading cities for the arts and culture. To be a band and get noticed in this cosmopolitan capitol is no easy task. The young act, In Search Of Sun, is tactfully showing everyone how it’s done. Their alternative, progressive, vibe is resonating and peaking curiosity in the rock scene. The success of their 2014 debut album, ‘The World Is Yours’, has led them to a worldwide deal with Spinefarm Records. This determined group, with the help of their very successful Kickstarter campaign, is ready to release their second album, ‘Virgin Funk Mother’, on November 3rd. Continue reading “Album Review: In Search Of Sun – Virgin Funk Mother”