Paladine – Entering The Abyss Review
[Artwork by Jimmy “Dreadjim” Ling] Heavy metal and escapism have been instinctive chums since day one, but a next level of camaraderie exists as it relates power metal (US and Euro variations), more so than …
Herzel – Le Dernier Rempart Review
[Cover artwork by Flog Diver | Illustration & Design] From the perspective of an American fan, one of the true benefits of enduring these many years and still holding true to rabid fan status after …
Warrior Path – The Mad King Review
[Cover artwork by Dimitar Nikolov] Somewhere out there right at this very moment, a power or power-related metal band is putting together a new album and hoping the material is extraordinary enough to tempt the …
Empyrium – Über Den Sternen Review
[Artwork by Fursy Teyssier] How are you fixed for melancholy? All things considered, probably just fine, as I’m sure you’ve likewise had more than your fill of essentially every branch of sadness the universe has …
Mefitis – Offscourings Review
[Album artwork: Pendath] Spend enough time in and around the extreme metal sphere and the likelihood that the following words—progressive, avant-garde, technical, and experimental—will eventually inspire you to pound your head against a brick wall …
Diamonds & Rust: Bathory – Blood On Ice
[Artwork by Jan Kristian Wåhlin / Necrolord] Let’s kick things off by chewing on the following statement: « Blood On Ice is Bathory’s best album » How do you enjoy them apples, Hyborians? Whoa! Put …
Altered Dead – Returned To Life Review: I, For One, Welcome Our New Alien Overlords
[Cover artwork by Matt Sidney] I’ve spent the last couple months taking a deep dive into Cixin Liu’s The Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy (just starting book 3, so no spoilers, please), and I now …
Best Of 2020 – Captain: Caught Between A Bunch Of Hard Rock And Some Sad Faces
I spend a lot of time thinking about balance. We all do, to varying degrees, but I sometimes wonder if I think about balance more than the average human, and I occasionally suspect that this …