Generally Impressed With Riffs
[Album artwork: @maldoillustration (drawing) and @branca_studio (concept)] It’s been four long years since we last heard from Sweden’s self-proclaimed ‘adventure rock’ outfit Hällas, and that time away has given the band ample opportunity to explore some new ground that honestly …
[Cover art by Ryan T. Hancock] Boy, that New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal just keeps on rollin’, don’t it? Which is great since, in these times of shitty shittiness, it remains imperative to remember the good stuff, those ostensibly …
A well-executed death metal riff or blastbeat provides a satisfaction comparable to savoring a cup of coffee on a quiet Sunday morning by the fireplace. So, whenever I stumble upon a killer new record, it serves as a friendly reminder …
We’re covering some of our most anticipated albums of 2026 all week. This is the third part of this series. The first is located HERE and the second HERE. GORGUTS – TBA It’s been 13 years since Gorguts’ Colored Sands, …
We’re covering some of our most anticipated albums of 2026 all week. This is the second part of this series. The first is located HERE. IMMOLATION – DESCENT Not too long after 2025’s balls dropped …
Greetings and welcome back, readers and friends. We know you’re still recovering from about 10 tons of 2025 year-end lists, but there truly is no rest for the wicked, and we’re hopping right into 2026 …
Welcome back, friends, to the first Staff Infections installment of 2026. On behalf of Last Rites, I’d like to wish you all a happy new year. On behalf of myself, I’d like to say fuck …
As cyclical as it is — the experience of being a listener of heavy metal — it is exciting, truly, how every new year brings a surprise or two or three. And it doesn’t have …
Is this the final album I’m ever going to listen to? That has been on my mind a lot this year. Eventually, whether it be tomorrow or years from now, there will be a final …
Hello! Thank you for being here. I know you have a lot going on with work, family, responsibilities of many shapes, sizes and decibel levels. Taking five minutes of your valuable time to glaze over …
In these end-of-year recaps, I try to wrap up with an overarching takeaway that extends beyond just music. Last year, I parodied the idea of extraterrestrial life because it was dominating headlines. This year, I …
Like most people, I keep lots of things around the house that mean something to me and nothing to anyone else at all. I hold on to these things because they represent some meaningful time …
