Ihsahn – Fascination Street Sessions Review
The Fascination Street Sessions EP is the most immediately satisfying material Ihsahn’s nailed his name to since 2016’s Arktis. That’s the tweet. That’s the status update. That’s the myspace post. That’s the friendster request. If …
Astriferous – Pulsations From The Black Orb Review
[Artwork by Jason Barnett] I’ll tell you what, it was a lot easier being a death metal freak in the late ‘80s / early ‘90s compared to the 7,000 car pile-up that is the modern …
Gatekeeper – From Western Shores Review
[Artwork by the incomparable Duncan Storr] There is a forever discussion that goes on behind closed doors within the Last Rites Crew Discord concerning the Star Trek universe and whether or not the latest iterations …
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 …