Metal News
February 12th, 2013 at 7:03am
Bullet For My Valentine - Temper Temper (RCA)
Elysion Fields - New Beginnings (Innerstrength)
Expurgate - Dementia Tremens (Comatose)
Glenn Hughes - Live In Wolverhampton (Armoury)
Grisly Amputation - Cannibalistic Tendencies (Innervenus)
Hatriot - Heroes Of Origin (Massacre)
Jungle Rot - Skin The Living Re-Release (Victory)
L.A. Guns - Live In Concert CD/DVD (Cleopatra)
Logic Of Denial - Atonement (Comatose)
Lycosa - Lycosa EP (Innervenus)
Mothership - Mothership (Ripple)
Pinnick Gales Pridgen - Pinnick Gales Pridgen (Magna Carta)
Psychothermia - Fall To The Rising Sun (Self)
Raven Lord - Descent To The Underworld (Mausoleum)
Sink - Holy Testament 2 (Svart)
Spoken - Illusion (eOne)
U.D.O. - Animal House Re-Release (AFM)
U.D.O. - Faceless World Re-Release (AFM)
U.D.O. - Time Bomb Re-Release (AFM)
February 6th, 2013 at 7:59am
Acrimonious- ‘Sunyata’ (Agonia)
Agonia Records
Genre: Black Metal
Sunyata is the second album from Greek black metal outfit Acrimonious.Their sound is typical of the black metal genre, though they spice up their songs with acoustics, Gregorian chanting, and keyboards.
Most of these are contained to the final minutes of a few particular tracks, though songs like “Black Kundalini” don’t bother with anything other than tremolo-picked riffs and gravely vocals. The seven and eight-minute lengths drag out the more conventional material, but Acrimonious put in a good performance on Sunyata.
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Marsicano)
Alpha Tiger – ‘Beneath The Surface’ (Century Media)
Century Media Records
Genre: Progressive/Power Metal
Germany’s Alpha Tiger prove yet again that an album needs to be digested before you can see its true genius. With their second albumBeneath The Surface, Alpha Tiger embody the soul of early Fates Warning and Helloween. Singer Stephen Dietrich sounds eerily like a young John Arch.
The band really hit their stride on “Waiting For A Sign” and “Beneath The Surface.” The choruses are infectious and the latter is a melodic rager. It is great to see young guitarists play their instruments; there’s astonishing melodic playing all over this release. The back end isn’t as memorable as the strong first half. At times the songs get a little long and would be better served edited.
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Drago)
Ancient VVisdom – ‘Deathlike’ (Prosthetic)
Prosthetic Records
Genre: Occult Rock
The difference between Ancient VVisdom’s debut A Godlike Inferno and their new album Deathlike is night and day. On their first offering the band lurked in the sinister dusk, but Deathlike signals dawn and a rebirth—the sun rising on past balefulness.
Blending acoustic instrumentation and flashes of hot-wired guitar,Deathlike is less overtly macabre and infernal than the band’s debut, but lyrical morbidity still reigns. Tracks like “Death or Victory” and “Far Beyond Good and Evil” retain the band’s grimness, and while a prophesying, hypnotic acoustic thrum underscores all, rays of reawakening light shine down.
Rating: 3.5
(Craig Hayes)
February 5th, 2013 at 6:57am
8th Sin - Cosmogenesis (Soulseller)
Acrimonius - Sunyata(Agonia)
Alpha Tiger - Beneath The Surface (Century Media)
Ancient VVisdom - Deathlike (Prosthetic)
Anger As Art - Hubris Inc. (Old School Metal)
Archon - Auroboros Collapsing (The Path Less Traveled)
Attacker - Giants Of Canaan (Metal On Metal)
Audrey Horne - Youngblood (Napalm)
Bloody Hammers - Bloody Hammers (Soulseller)
Cortez - Phoebus (Throatruiner)
Defeated Sanity - Passages Into Deformity (Willowtip)
Destruction - Spiritual Genocide (Nuclear Blast)
Endezzma - Erotik Nekrosis (Agonia)
Frankenbok - Cheers, Beers & Beards! (Fair Dinkum)
Funeral For A Friend - Conduit(The End)
Gloria Morti - Lateral Constraint (Metal Blade)
Hammerfall - Gates Of Dalhalla DVD (Nuclear Blast)
Hanging Garden - At Every Door (Lifeforce)
Hate - Solarflesh (Napalm)
Heart In Hand - Almost There (Siege Of Amida)
Helen Money - Arriving Angels (Profound Lore)
Necrowretch - Putrid Death Sorcery (Century Media)
Primitive Man - Scorn (Throatruiner)
The Prophecy - Salvation (Code 666)
Quadrivium - Methocha (Soulseller)
Riverside - Shrine Of New Generation Slaves (Inside Out)
Slough Feg - Down Among The Deadmen Re-Release (Metal Blade)
Slough Feg - Traveller Re-Release (Metal Blade)
Slough Feg - Twilight Of The Idols Re-Release (Metal Blade)
Sonic Reign - Monument In Black (Apostasy)
Vex - Memorious (Horror Pain Gore Death)
Zombified - Carnage, Slaughter and Death (Metal Blade)
February 4th, 2013 at 8:59am
Lamb Of God frontman Randy Blythe appeared in a Prague, CZE court today, February 04th, as his manslaughter trial commenced. The charges he is facing stem from the fatal injuries suffered by 19 year old stage diving fan Daniel Nosek at a 2010 show the band played in the aforementioned city. The prosecution argure that Blythe had onstage physical interaction(s) with the fan which ultimately resulted in his death due to head injuries.
Blythe has been out on bail for some time now after being detained in the aforementioned city last summer in relation to the charges. True to his word he returned to court to attend the trial, sharing the following photo earlier today on his Instagram with the caption:
“And so it begins. I am calm & prepared. Everyone, thanks for your good thoughts and prayers. Have a nice day, y’all!”
Various Czech media have been covering the event, quoting Blythe as having stated “I never sawDaniel and I never came in contact with him.” Both Blythe‘s bandmate Chris Adler and the bands management also gave testimony in regards to Blythe‘s character, stating that he isn’t an aggressive man.
These were made to counter what appears to be the prosecutions psychological profile of Blythe as an “aggressive and antisocial personality”. Blythe himself is said to have stated: “I’m only aggressive on stage, it’s part of the concert. We participate in charitable activities. I sold one of our Grammys at auction and donated the proceeds to research on children’s muscle atrophy. I contributed to breast cancer research.”
Meanwhile a man named George Choros identified as a “cinematographer” appears to have been brought in to testify that it was not Nosek that Blythe was shown to have interactions with in the widely circulated footage that originally circulated following Blythe‘s arrest.
Interestingly, Blythe‘s poor eyesight was also touched upon with an expert apparently testifying thatBlythe can regularly only see “silhouettes” during the bands performances. Blythe‘s legal team are also have said to been arguing that security at the venue was inadequate as well.
The family of the deceased are seeking compensation of 10 million Czech Koruna—roughly $530,000 U.S. dollars in connection with the charges. The trial is set to conclude on February 08th. Video reports from the preliminary proceedings can be found at both Novinky.cz and Blesk.cz.
January 30th, 2013 at 8:47am
Andy Winter – ‘Incomprehensible’ (The End)
The End Records
Genre: Metal/Post-Metal
Andy Winter is the keyboardist for several groups including Winds and Sculptured. On Incomprehensible he has put together an all-star lineup of vocalists including John Haugm (Agalloch), Lars Nedland (Borknagar), Paul Kuhr (Novembers Doom), Heidi S. Tveitan (Star Of Ash) and many others.
Even with all the different vocalists, the songs on Incompehensible flow together well. They have some metal elements, but are more in the rock/prog/post-metal ballpark, although many other genres are mixed in as well. It’s sometimes experimental, other times traditional, but always compelling and interesting.
Rating: 4
Boarders – ‘R-Existence’ (Roxx)
Roxx Records
Genre: Thrash Metal
In addition to releasing their own music, the Italian band Boarders are also a Megadeth tribute band. And although R-Existence is thrash, don’t expect a Megadeth clone. While vocalist Egidio Casati can sound like Mustaine at times, he has a wide vocal range and busts out some Halford-like falsetto from time to time.
While thrash is the dominant genre, R-Existence also has progressive influences along with plenty of melody and groove. Originally self-released last year, the Roxx Records edition has several bonus tracks. Fans of everyone from Megadeth to Voivod to Dream Theater will find common ground on this album.
Rating: 3.5
Chariots Of The Gods – ‘Tides Of War’
Genre: Melodic Death/Thrash Metal
Chariots Of The Gods have been around for a few years, and the Canadians are now releasing their full-length debut. Tides Of Warcombines thrash riffs with melodic death metal. Their music is very melodic, but the harsh vocals add edge and aggression.
The musicianship is first-rate, with a dual-guitar attack that is extensively showcased with plenty of solos. The production from Glen Robinson (Queensryche, Annihilator) is also excellent. Chariots Of The Gods are a band with a lot of promise, and their debut will certainly appeal to thrash and melodic death metal fans.
Rating: 3.5
January 29th, 2013 at 7:11am
Assassin - Chaos and Live Shots DVD (SPV)
Boarders - R-Existence Re-Release (Roxx)
Circle II Circle - Seasons Will Fall (Armoury)
Cult Of Luna - Vertikal (Density)
Deep Purple - Live In Paris 1975 (Eagle Rock)
Dreamshade - The Gift Of Life (Spinefarm)
Gruesome Stuff Relish - Sempiternal Death Grind (FDA Rekotz)
Hatebreed - The Divinity Of Purpose (Razor & Tie)
Michael Schenker - Temple Of Rock: Live In Europe CD/DVD (Inakustik)
My Soliloquy - The Interpreter (Sensory)
Overtorture - At the End the Dead Await (Apostasy)
The Resistance - Rise From Treason EP (Armoury)
Shakra - PowerPlay (AFM)
Tomahawk - Oddfellows (Ipecac)
Vorum - Poisoned Void (Dark Descent)
Wildside Riot - No Second Take (Livewire)
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:07am
About.com Heavy Metal has released it’s latest heavy metal album reviews, including releases from Aeon Zen, Blockheads, Clamfight, Continents, Corsair, Deceptor, Denouncement Pyre, Fall City Fall, Fen, Giant X, Head Of The Demon, Holy Grail, In Solitude, Jorn, Kromosom, Koldbrann, Lightning Swords Of Death, Nervochaos, Nightfall, Pink Cream 69, Rotten Sound, Royal Hunt, Saille, Sammal, Septicflesh, Snakecharmer, Tellus Requiem, Thy Art Is Murder, Unburied, Void Of Sleep, Vomitor, Wartorn and Yayla.
The rating is on a 5 star scale.
Aeon Zen – ‘Enigma’ (Nightmare)
Nightmare Records
Genre: Progressive Metal
British progressive metal act Aeon Zen’s third album Enigma is a broad collective of wonderful melodies and technical death metal that, while lingering with doubt, is intriguing. A peculiar aspect to this record is its lack of a cohesive definition in direction and purpose, yet this record keeps listeners involved.
It is a journey not only through the band’s impressive talent, but it is also into the broad spectrum of a heavy metal band not bound by limitations.
Rating: 3.5
Blockheads – ‘This World is Dead’ (Relapse)
Relapse Records
Genre: Grindcore
I’m not supposed to use vulgarity in these write-ups, but it’s really hard to describe how much This World is Dead rips without sounding like a complete potty mouth. This is heavy, unrelenting, and above all, memorable. Blockheads have rung in 2013 with an unforgettable offering of maniacal, crushing grind that sounds like it was forged in an underground doomsday bunker.
Some bands can waste away an entire career without offering anything as devastating as “Follow The Bombs,” just one of 25 tracks on this LP. The world might be dead, but thanks to this veteran French collective, grind is still very much alive.
Rating: 4.5
Clamfight – ‘I Versus The Glacier’ (The Maple Forum)
The Maple Forum
Genre: Stoner Metal
I Versus The Glacier from New Jersey’s Clamfight is an honest and organic brew of hard rock and aggressive stoner metal, overall sounding a little further south than Jersey. There’s nothing overly original about them but that’s not the point.
Clamfight is all about the rock. Toe-tappin’, head-bobbin’ rawk. Warm tones and killer riffs combine their myriad influences into their own (fighting invertebrate) animal. The familiarity lends itself to appreciation when the sludgier moments of “Shadow Line” and “Age of Reptiles” etc. accent the blues tinged rock and roll with rough and raw vocals. Let the good times roll.
Rating: 3.5
January 22nd, 2013 at 6:48am
Aeon Zen - Enigma (Nightmare)
Andy Winter - Incomprehensible (The End)
Black Rose - Turn On The Night (Doolittle)
Blockheads - This World Is Dead (Relapse)
Clamfight - I Versus The Glacier (Maple Forum)
Cloud Rat - Moksha (Halo Of Flies)
Continents - Idle Hands (Victory)
Corsair - Corsair (Shadow Kingdom)
Crashdiet - The Savage Playground (Frontiers)
Deceptor - Chains Of Delusion EP (Shadow Kingdom)
Denouncement Pyre - Almighty Arcanum (Hells Headbangers)
Fall City Fall - Victus (Victory)
Fen - Dustwalker (Code666)
Giant X - I (SPV)
Golden Resurrection - One Voice For The Kingdom (Doolittle)
Head Of The Demon - Head Of The Demon (Ajna Offensive)
Helloween - Straight Out Of Hell (The End)
Holy Grail - Ride The Void(Prosthetic)
In Solitude - In Solitude Re-Release (Season Of Mist)
Jorn - Symphonic (Frontiers)
Koldbrann - Vertigo (Season Of Mist)
Kromosom - Live Forever (Southern Lord)
Lancer - Lancer (Doolittle)
The Last Stand - The Time Is Now (Eulogy)
Lightning Swords Of Death - Baphometic Chaosium (Metal Blade)
Love & Death - Between Here And Lost (Tooth and Nail)
Nervochaos - To The Death (Greyhaze)
Nightfall - Cassiopeia (Metal Blade)
Otep - Hydra (Victory)
Phinehas - The Bridge Between EP (Red Cord)
Pink Cream 69 - Ceremonial (Frontiers)
Rivera Bomma - Infinite Journey Of Soul (Retroactive)
Rotten Sound - Species At War EP (Relapse)
Royal Hunt - 20th Anniversary Box Set (Frontiers)
Saille - Ritu (Code666)
Sammal - Sammal (Svart)
Septicflesh - Mystic Places Of Dawn (Season Of Mist)
Snakecharmer - Snakecharmer (Frontiers)
Sons Of Aeon - Sons Of Aeon (Lifeforce)
Tellus Requiem - The 11th Hour (Nightmare)
Vandroya - One (Inner Wound)
Thy Art Is Murder - Hate (Distort)
Viisikko IIII (Svart)
Voivod - Target Earth (Century Media)
Void Of Sleep - Tales Between Reality and Madness (Aural)
Vomitor - The Escalation (Hells Headbangers)
Wartorn - Iconic Nightmare (Southern Lord)
Yayla - Nihaihayat (Merdumgiriz)
January 15th, 2013 at 6:58am
Alastor - Out Of Anger (Metal Mind)
Antimatter - Fear Of A Unique Identity (Prophecy)
Infernal Poetry - Paraphiliac (Bakerteam)
Insult To Injury - Dead Weight EP (Fort Charter)
Kruk - Be 3 (Metal Mind)
The Magik Way - Materia Occulta (1997-1999) (Sad Sun)
Megascavenger - Descent Of Yuggoth (Selfmadegod)
Michael Schenker - Temple Of Rock: Live In Europe CD/DVD (Inakustik)
Mors Principium Est - And Death Said Live (AFM)
Paradox - Tales Of The Weird (AFM)
The Plot In You - Could You Watch Your Children Burn Out (Rise)
Rammstein - Videos 1995-2012 DVD (Universal)
Recovery Council - Plan-Do-Check-Act (Dot Ultra)
Straight On Target - Pharmakos (Bakerteam)
Unburied – Murder 101 (Selfmadegod) Workshop - Made Love To The Dragon (Demonstealer)
