Best of 2021 – Chris C: It’s Been A Year
This has been a strange year in music. Blood Incantation announced their hour-long, ambient Century Media debut. Andi Deris proved the best bobbing head on the new and remarkable Helloween hydra. Melodic black metal not …
Abscession – Rot Of Ages Review
Put simply, Rot of Ages finds the buzzsaw in good hands. It won’t bowl you over with inventiveness. But a good bowl-over will be had nonetheless. Good editing is at least half the battle when …
Monument Of Misanthropy – Unterweger Review
Even ignoring that it’s a concept album about an Austrian serial killer, no one who has had the benefit of looking at Unterweger’s cover art would be surprised to learn that Monument of Misanthropy plays …
Mortal Vision – Mind Manipulation Review
Without playing a note, Mortal Vision accomplish what even the most veteran bands often fail at—wearing band shirts that serve as semi-appropriate reference points for its sound: Sadus, Sodom, Voivod, and Cannibal Corpse. OK, so …
Knife – Knife Review
Knife’s Knife is as succinct as it is, well, cutting. And while the Motörhead, Midnight, and Venom comparisons will take few by surprise, there’s an undeniable vigor and charm to “Inside the Electric Church,” “K.N.I.F.E.,” …
Gus G. – Quantum Leap Review
There are only a handful of name-brand metal guitarists. Gus. G. is certainly one of them, and that was before he joined the Ozzy train in 2009. Firewind, Dream Evil, Nightrage, and Mystic Prophecy—he was …
Brainstorm – Wall Of Skulls Review
A familiar voice is sometimes just enough pick-me-up. Now having Brainstormed for 22 years, Andy B. Franck is that familiar voice to many. More importantly, he’s that familiar voice to me. Franck was the voice …
Oxygen Destroyer – Sinister Monstrosities Spawned By The Unfathomable Ignorance Of Humankind Review
A Washington state-based death / black / thrash band paying tribute to giant monsters with short and sweet albums and awesome cover art? Sign me up. A sonic straight-shooter, Oxygen Destroyer wastes no time introducing …