All posts by Captain

Last Rites Co-Owner; Senior Editor; That was my skull!

REZN – Solace Review

[Cover art by Adam Burke / Nightjar Illustration] Full disclosure: These days I tread rather cautiously when roaming the realms of stoner rock / stoner metal. Hell, to be honest, “stoner” as a genre modifier

Insomnium – Anno 1696 Review

[Artwork by Sami Makkonen] Not sure if you’ve noticed, but melodeath is enjoying a heck of a resurgence of late. To be clear, the offshoot never fully left the arena, but it’s probably been about

Conjureth – The Parasitic Chambers Review

[Cover art by Mark Erskine] Back in the late ‘80s / early ‘90s, I was convinced people who heard albums such as Altars of Madness and Slowly We Rot blaring from my car were not

Twilight Force – At The Heart Of Wintervale Review

[Album artwork by Kerem Beyit] It’s been four years since we last heard a peep from Twilight Force, Sweden’s answer to Alan Menken stuffed into a mail hauberk. Were they the first power metal band

Anachronism – Meanders Review

[Artwork by Adam Burke / Nightjar Illustration] Despite having spent many years focusing on creative endeavors such as writing, drawing cartoons, and designing book covers, I do not consider myself an artist. I would say

Best Of 2022: Captain – Death Is Not My Enemy

[Content advisory: The following article contains an in-depth and intimate account of the loss of a loved one. If you believe the reading could be traumatizing, you may wish to forgo it.] A handful of

We Have The Power – The Top 30 Power Metal And Power-Related Albums Of 2022

Heartfelt hails, salutes, subtle nods and solemn bows, all you heroes and villains. As implausible as it may seem, it’s time once again to dust off our helms, spot clean those cravats, fluff those poet

Hammers Of Misfortune – Overtaker Review

[Album artwork by Saprophial] John Cobbett is a hell of a dungeon master. Before we get to that, though, please accept the following disclosure: The only heavy metal band (the word “band” being used rather