ALBUM REVIEW: Morta Skuld – Creation Undone


Metalheads are suckers for nostalgia. The very root of its subculture is framed as defenders of a faith that upholds a purity of metal. This did not begin with neckbeards arguing in the comment sections or message boards about what metal is true or false, it came from the earliest days when bands were hosting “anti-disco” shows into the eighties when Thrash bands set themselves against the glam rockers of the Sunset strip that spilled over into parking lot fisticuffs. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Autopsy – Morbidity Triumphant


 

Artificial intelligence is a concept seemingly ever-present in the modern day. But nobody talks about when musical instruments become sentient and develop their own mannerisms and consciousness.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Static Abyss – Labyrinth Of Veins


Chris Reifert (Autopsy, Death) and Greg Wilkinson (also Autopsy, Deathgrave) combined bring sixty-one years of experience to the death-metal scene, the former since 1985 and the latter 1998. It’s only fitting that the two would not only come together to form a new band, but to also unleash an album that immediately sounds simultaneously old-school and deep-rooted.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Mortem – Slow Death


Oh, what a surprise it was to get to do a piece on the re-release of Norwegian black metal legends Mortem’s Slow Death! A huge thank you to Peaceville for deciding to throw this one back out there in a two-disc set containing the original recordings along with some of the demos. Included in the release is the original 1989 booklet with an extended band history and some awesome rare images. I am actually finding it kind of hard to pick a place to begin!

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ALBUM REVIEW: Candlemass – Green Valley Live


With plans to tour with their almost original line up – between the five current members of Candlemass all of them were in the band at some point across the legendary Doom Metal acts first two albums, and all were present and very much correct for 2019’s impressive The Door To Doom (Napalm Records) – on hold, Sweden’s epic morose masters ventured into the world of live lockdown streaming, capturing their 2020 performance from Stockholm’s Studio Gröndahl for release on multiple visual and audio formats under the title of Green Valley Live (Peaceville). Continue reading


Katatonia Announces New Live Album


Metal legends Katatonia have announced a new live album, Dead Air, due for release of their new live album on 13th November via Peaceville. The album captures their live set which was filmed during their May 2020 lockdown session. A live album featuring Katatonia performing av set of fan favourites plus the live premiere of three songs from City Burials, captured during their May 2020 lockdown sessionContinue reading


Darkthrone – Old Star


 

This review was brought to you by many things, but mainly sleep deprivation. It seems the new Darkthrone album, Old Star (Peaceville), is such an objet désiré that it could only be reviewed via a stream released the day before the album hits the shops. So, if I start weeping, and cross-reference any talking squirrels, take some comfort that I am doing all this for you. Continue reading


Katatonia To Celebrate The 10th Anniversary of “Night Is The New Day” with Exclusive Live Shows, Deluxe Reissue


Katatonia, by Hillarie Jason

Legendary prog-Doom band Katatonia is returning from their hiatus with major news. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of their stellar album Night Is The New Day (Peaceville) back in 2009. The band has announced a string of six 10th anniversary club shows to play the full album live as well as a deluxe reissue of the album, due out on May 17th, 2019. Tickets for the shows go on sale Friday 22nd February. Continue reading


Nailed To Obscurity – Black Frost


2017’s release of King Delusion (Apostasy Records) was a watershed moment for Nailed To Obscurity. It was an impressive and emotive effort which began to win them wider press and, as far as the UK is concerned, a coveted main stage slot at 2018’s Bloodstock Festival and signing to titans Nuclear Blast, evidence of a much deserved rise in fortunes and out of, ahem, obscurity. Where a brand new album would have hoped to really build upon this success however, sadly Black Frost (Nuclear Blast) isn’t quite the revelation as perhaps hoped.Continue reading