ALBUM REVIEW: Sleep Token – Take Me Back to Eden


 

I don’t want to speak too early or jinx anything, but this Heavy Metal idea has been in a resurgence as of late. Bear in mind that a lot of the old promotional tools have been inactive for years. MTV lost its ass and stopped using the first letter of its acronym long ago and whatever is left of commercial rock radio is perfectly content to spin the same Stone Temple Pilots singles until the sun or Clear Channel finally burn out. Yet here we are in the age of streaming and shortened attention spans with several young acts making headway. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Argenthorns – The Ravening


 

This is one of those one-man Black Metal projects, isn’t it? Figured as much. What gave it away, you ask? Well before even listening to Argenthorn’s The Ravening (Avantgarde Music) the band’s name and record label sort of told me everything I needed to know. That and there’s a track titled ‘I Incursion II A Procession of Spectres.’

Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Overkill – Scorched


 

Seems like we’re going to have to score another one for the bad guys. And by bad guys, I am referring to some of Thrash Metal’s pioneers who refuse to acknowledge the passage of time and are still melting amp heads like it was 1986.

Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Suicide Silence – Remember… You Must Die


 

I have one question for the Suicide Silence lads. Why is it that they are perfectly content to settle on terrible studio production and mix? Yes, I get that The Cleansing and No Time to Bleed were popular and well-regarded in the Deathcore circle, but in all honesty, they were never going to be considered amongst the best metal recordings ever.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: All Out War – Celestial Rot


 

When we last heard of our New York heroes in All Out War they were still practicing a charged-up, violent brand of Metallic Hardcore on 2019’s Crawl Among the Filth. Yet it’s now 2023 and a global pandemic later and those gentlemen are again picking up that metallic mantle like it never went out of fashion on Celestial Rot (Translation Loss Records).

Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Ominous Scriptures – Rituals of Mass Self-Ignition


The term Brutal Death Metal is a bit silly, isn’t it? We’re not like the regular death metal with all growling and blast beats. No, we’re somehow more extreme, some may say that we’re “brutal.” We’re death metal for folks who enjoyed the original Four Loko and Taco Bell breakfasts.

Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Bonecarver – Carnage Funeral


 

Imagine being a child and your buddy informs you that an outfit known as Bonecarver has a new album titled Carnage Funeral on Unique Leader. What do you do with that information? That’s like the most metal collection of words ever assembled. Carnage Funeral? Bonecarver? What in the world is a Bonecarver and why does anyone need it? So many questions trying to keep up with a rushing imagination.

Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Armed for Apocalypse – Ritual Violence


 

How to best describe what Armed for Apocalypse’s Ritual Violence (Candlelight Records) sounds like? While I’ve never had the pleasure, I imagine it’s much like jamming a knife into an electrical outlet. Not sure if that analogy will work for everyone. Well, it’s like witnessing the centerpiece car wreck from Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof. Shit, barely anyone saw that movie. Just know that it’s abrasive and the average listener should approach with upmost caution.

Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Revocation – Netherheaven


 

To say that Revocation has another banger on deck seems a bit obvious, right?

Speaking only from this author’s perspective this Boston unit has never fumbled the ball on a studio album. Dispute that amongst yourselves in the comment section, just don’t tag me along in your spirited debates. Last thing I need are more notifications via my phone. So, the point is Netherheaven (Metal Blade) may as well be subtitled “Revocation continues to be awesome and David Davidson is more talented than you, will never run out of riffs and can make out with your special lady friend whenever they like”.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Arch Enemy – Deceivers


Okay, so how do I go about this? Well, here’s the dive into the iciest part of the pool. Arch Enemy has been tiptoeing for quite some time now. Yeah, War Eternal, Will to Power and their latest effort Deceivers (Century Media) are all above the standard metal release, but with all due respect, this lineup of power players should be standing head and shoulders above the competition. I’m thinking what Metallica was compared to the average Thrash Metal act back in 1988. Continue reading